L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Gender equality

This is in reference to the article “When the victim is treated as accused” by Prof Rajesh Gill (November 4). The issue of stalking and teasing is not new. The important point is that when voices are raised by women against it, some other women don’t let the voices reach the appropriate authority for action. These ‘other’ women could be anyone: your relative, your mother, your grandmother, your friend or even your teacher. They say: ‘Just ignore it.” It is very difficult for a woman to first file a complaint and then fight for it. And when one does so, after crossing all the barriers of a traditional society, the system fails to provide justice to a common woman. Why does a common woman’s case need to be highlighted to the extent of the ‘Jessica Murder Case’ or ‘Manoj Babli (Dis) Honour Killing Case’ or ‘Mukhtar Mai Case’? Can she not get justice at the earliest?

Professor Gill is apt in saying that till the time women are not given due respect for their every small or big contribution, a gender-neutral society will be a distant dream.

Puneet Kaur Grewal, Chandigarh

Shun animal products

The November 8 issue of the Tribune Life+Style supplement covered a story on leather clothes and accessories. On the one side the paper publishes news about crimes against animals and on the other side, it prompts people to purchase leather goods. The article highlighted the fact that the clothes were made of lamb skin. The paper should shun such writings that prompt people to buy products made of animal skin.

Dr Sunaina, Chandigarh

Be creative

Today the youth is pre-occupied by all kinds of activities with technology, such as Facebook, Whatsapp etc. But we forget that real mental development is cognitive development. It is achieved through imagination and thinking.

But, unfortunately, that is not the case. We should opt for better creative activities rather than sitting in front of social media or television sets all day to get vain fame. We must do something productive.

Kamya Bhasin, Jammu

Make in India

Apropos the article “Has Make in India hit the right chord” (November 9), focusing on making in India and making for India can help solve many macro-economic problems such as unemployment, GDP growth, reduction in trade deficit, swelling up of forex reserves. But the moot point to consider is how to save the interests of the Indian labour. It will be good to go ahead in the direction of ‘make in India’, but in an inclusive manner.

Vijay Karan, Chandigarh

Glorious past

"When we were young we were disciplined, never argued with our elders, used to play a lot in the grounds, used to help our mother in household chores, spend our holidays with grandparents and so on and on". This is the topic discussed by groups of retired people. I question myself that the credit for all this goes to our parents and have we failed to raise our children and to inherit the qualities that we could as children?

The changing lifestyle has blessed us with lots of comforts and over time we have forgotten the values of a few basic necessities that were the essential component of our life. Bringing up of children is more focussed on how many materialistic things we can provide to them rather than their parent's time. The most important thing a child need at the early stage tender care and the security which becomes his lifelong asset. I still remember that in our childhood whenever we were in a problem and needed help someone at home or in the neighbourhood, treated as second home, was always available and could help. But now we have closed ourselves in the shells and children do not have the access to sharing their problems with everyone. Most parents these days are away till late evening.

Provided with all facilities, the children are not being raised to be physically strong and independent.

We need to come with solutions so that our children are physically strong and emotionally secure that require the intervention of elders and sensitive to the needs of the family members and society so that they can also take pride in their upbringing.

Neelam, Chandigarh

Coaching centres

Coaching centres are mushrooming in every nook and corner of Punjab. Medical and engineering aspirants are attracted to these commercial institutions which are money-centric. The schools too are not paying required attention to the higher secondary students, especially of the science stream. The HRD ministry's reforms of taking in account the marks of class XII has helped little in improving the situation. Dummy admissions have risen and unfair means are being undertaken. The worrisome fact is that even kindergarten children are being sent to tuition and coaching centres due to the increasing workload of primary classes. The schools, teachers and parents all must deliberate on the fate of the future generations.

Sanyam Bhatia, Amritsar

‘Paris of Punjab’

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM of Punjab, has promised that Amritsar City will be made the most beautiful city of the world. It is a welcome step. But he must realise that big cities have bigger problems and in the present scenario, when there is scarcity of funds, the state can still boast of the ‘Paris of Punjab’ in the erstwhile princely Kapurthala City, which is history. It is a planned city with majestic buildings that were built by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh with assistance of foreign architects. The historic city boasts of Jagatjit Palace (Sainik School), Morish Mosque, State Gurudwara, Panch Mandir, Shalimar Garden, Maharani Ka Mandir, Kamera Garden (Civil Rest House), Jagatjit Club, Clock Tower, War Memorial, Baghi Khana, Darbar Hall etc. The city has a worldclass wetland, Kanjali on the holy Kali Bein. It has the Rail Coach Factory, National Institute of Renewable Energy, PTU and Science City and Kapurthala Cantt and a world class golf course. It has numerous gardens but they are in poor shape due to lack of maintenance. The city definitely lacks a reputed multi-specialty hospital, a star hotel or shopping mall, as small city has smaller problems. But it's proximity to Sultanpur Lodhi and Gobindwal Sahib is an added advantage. If Badal spares a few crores, Punjab can once again boost of a ‘Paris’.

Gurdeep Singh Bansal, Kapurthala