Money in safe haven

Despite towering assurances by the government, no visible progress has been made on black money. The FM has cited a number of reasons which are hard to believe. The excuse over DTA is unwarranted as the clause is applicable on accounted money only. The unaccounted money continues to lie in safe havens. According to experts, much more black money is circulating in our domestic market. Due to the half-hearted intentions, it is hard to trace, recover and plug supplies. Though the Supreme Court has raised questions over the intentions of the government, it has maintained a stance that was once criticised during the UPA tenure, be it on black money or border standoffs.

Deepjot S Thukral, Ambala Cantt

Give tubewells

Apropos the report “Farmers want stay on new tubewells to go” (October 18), before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the government had promised to release lakhs of tubewell connections to farmers. People also suffered the indignity of receiving demand notices through halqa in charges. But because of the stay orders of the National Green Tribunal, the connections were not released. Undoubtedly, in some dark zones, sub-soil water has depleted alarmingly. Yet there are other areas in Muktsar, Ferozepur and Faridkot which have been affected adversely by acute waterlogging. The installation of tubewells in these areas can help fight this menace. The distressed farmers must be helped.

Rupan Kular, Amritsar

Cut bus fares

There is a steep reduction in the prices of diesel. Now, I wonder if the transporter-friendly Punjab Government which has been frequently increasing bus fares will reduce  bus fares.

BB Sharma, Patiala

‘Alive certificate’

Come November and all pensioners, numbering in millions, have to present themselves personally along with their ‘alive certificate’ and photograph for continuation of pension. One who does not conform to this annual ritual has to live without pension. There are scores of old pensioners, many living abroad and some seriously ill, but there is no exception. In the age of the country reaching Mars, the pensioners should be freed from this tribal age disgraceful exercise. There is solution to this. Every October, the banks should send the form of ‘alive certificate’ to all pensioners, who should sign it and send it back to the bank through ordinary post by November. The bank can verify the signatures from its records. The doubtful cases can be verified by personal visits. The government may find any other easy way to spare the pensioners, who are mostly senior citizens, the pain and misery of visiting the bank and standing in queues for long hours every November.

Surinderjit S Sandhu, Amritsar

Punjab debt

The news reports “State faces Rs 400 crore overdraft” (October 15) and “Govt tightens belt, no LTC for employees” (October 18) provide an insight into the fragile financial health of Punjab and the response of the government to the grave situation. This problem is the outcome of the misgovernance of the last more than two decades.

People in general have become mute spectators to the goings-on. The government and the people need a new orientation to ensure dignified and inspiring conditions necessary for Punjab to retrieve the previously held premier position among the states of the union. The medieval mindset in governance must be replaced with a healthy modern outlook.

Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala

HPU fee hike

Students in HPU and its affiliated colleges have been agitating for some time against the fee hike. The government has done well by making a committee under a high court judge to study the fee hike and suggest ways to make it reasonable. The new fees is beyond the reach of many students who may have to give up their studies.

Anil K Jaswal, Gagret (Una)

Drug addiction scourge

The drug addiction scourge in Punjab can be erased only if politicians, police, parents and teachers are sincere in their efforts to check it. Notwithstanding the arrest of hundreds of drug addicts and peddlers in Punjab after the Lok Sabha election, the problem persists. The Supreme Court and high courts should monitor the investigations in the Bhola-Gaba case so that no one escapes punishment. The lives of hundreds of Punjabi youth have been destroyed by drugs and families are finding it hard to reconcile to the loss of their men and material.

Brij B Goyal, Ludhiana

 

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