Improve trains

There is need to improve facilities such as train-collision avoidance system for safety, provision of shed on the platforms, raising the level of platforms to board trains, medical facilities in running trains and provision of escalators on the platforms for the old and sick passengers.

O P Garg, Patiala

Eradicate poverty

We are protesting the rail fare hike, gas price rise, power cuts etc. In all this, we lose focus of the poor who neither have water nor electricity in their houses. The other day, in our colony, I saw the wife of a daily wage earner fetching water in a bucket from a distance. It is her routine because she has no tap in her house. It reminded me of my mother who used to fetch water from far-off wells in a pitcher on her head in a remote village of Haryana about 50 years ago. The availability of adequate potable water and electricity supply to each house/hut in the country should be the priority of the Modi government.

The next priority should be toilets and sanitation. There are still a large number of houses which do not have toilets and women have to face the awkwardness of going out in the fields. Girls do not have enough toilets in schools and colleges, leading to heavy dropouts.

Col R D Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt

Govt must help poor

This is in reference to news report “Retired judge offers to sponsor studies of tea vendor’s son” (June 24). The humble tea vendor’s sons have proved that with hard work, determination and willpower, one can achieve evreything, irrespective of the financial status. It is commendable that the judge has offered help to one son.

The SAD-BJP government should have come forward to bear the expenses of the brothers.

In the present scenario of drug addiction of youth, such financial help can inspire one to take interest in studies to get benefits from the state. Motivation and encouragement can help the wronged youth more than anything else.

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar, Mohali

Rewinding past

Being an old Tribune reader since my school days during the 1930s, I feel very happy to read the column from the days of yore, “On this day…100 years ago”. The reproduction of this piece serves a unique purpose of connecting one with the past by bringing afresh to one’s mind the news of the olden days. However, another column “Mind Your Language” in the Saturday middle, I feel, serves no useful purpose in a newspaper because a majority of the readers neither have the time nor an interest in it. As for the students, they are taught English grammar in school. And those who are in the writing line, have already burnt enough midnight oil to learn these basic things.

PRITAM BHULLAR, Chandigarh

Promote Hindi

No language in India can replace Hindi. We Indians are highly affected and impressed by foreigners and many of us feel good by speaking English. But only a small percentage of people speaks and understands English well. These days we speak Hinglish, a mixture of Hindi and English. It must be ensured that Hindi is used in a simple manner so that that the masses can understand it easily.

But no language should be forced on any person. The three-language formula of Hindi, English and a regional language should be promoted for better harmony and understanding of the diverse nature of the Indians. It will also result in much better political, economic and social development of India.

M. Kumar, via email

Learning language

I have been reading the column “Mind Your Language” by Dr Sharada Kaushik intently. The style of the writer is very touching and every word or phrase used is in consonance with the subject matter. It not only creates love for the language but also encourages us to make use of the techniques described in our day-to-day life.

I am a lover of the English language and the column has added wings to the paratroop of my heart. I thank the writer from the depth of my heart for teaching us in a wonderful manner.

Simranjeet Singh Saini, Jalandhar

My ‘achhe din’

Recently, there was news of the leakage of the UP medical examination question papers. Two days before that, the CPT papers were leaked and two months earlier, that of NEET was leaked. The government has not paid any heed to the issue. The education system is getting poisoned and we are helping spread this venom by using wrong methods to get admission in reputed colleges. Donations for medical college admissions are specially rampant.

For me, “achhe din” will arrive only when the government takes some action on this issue.