Prioritise safety of students

Refer to the front-page news report ‘Delhi coaching centre deaths spark outrage, owner arrested’; the death of three IAS aspirants in the flooded basement of a coaching institute highlights the negligence on the part of the owners and the authorities concerned. It brings to the fore their utter disregard for the safety norms. The Indian coaching industry, which has been booming, profits off the anxiety of young people desperate to crack recruitment exams. Despite making a killing, private coaching centre owners often don’t bother to instal adequate safety and firefighting equipment on their premises. The onus to ensure the safety of students is on the powers that be and the coaching centre operators.

SK Singh, by mail

Lax enforcement of safety norms

It is a matter of concern that coaching institutes are being illegally run from basements. The centre owners are playing fast and loose with the safety of students. IAS aspirants from across the country struggle to gain admission to coaching institutes so that they can crack the civil services exam and achieve their professional goals. Old Rajinder Nagar is considered a major coaching hub in the Capital. Several private institutes have sprouted up in the area over the years. Many of the centres are being run from little, poorly ventilated apartments that are mostly crammed with students. The Delhi Government must swing into action and crack down on centres that are in violation of the relevant safety norms.

Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur

JeI-Jamp;K’s climbdown is welcome

The announcement by the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir (JeI-Jamp;K) of its desire to re-enter the political mainstream, provided that the ban on it is lifted, marks a pivotal moment in the region’s tumultuous history. The party has been a significant socio-religious force in Kashmir for decades. The fact that the JeI-Jamp;K is willing to engage in electoral politics is welcome. Senior party member Ghulam Qadir Lone has done well to underscore the party’s commitment to democratic principles and public service. Providing a platform for the base of JeI-Jamp;K supporters may help diminish the appeal of militancy. Moreover, the government’s broader strategy to integrate disenfranchised groups into the democratic fold could help restore stability in the region. Significant challenges persist, though. The risk of rifts emerging from within the party and a potential backlash from hardline elements add complexity to the issue. Nevertheless, the party’s climbdown could be a crucial step towards peace and stability in Kashmir.

Gurdev Singh, by mail

Agnipath will do no good

Refer to the editorial ‘Agnipath row’; the recruitment scheme may not achieve the desired purpose of keeping the forces young. Besides, questions continue to swirl about the future prospects of the Agniveers who do not make it to the permanent cadre. It is advisable to raise the rate of retention from 25 to 50 per cent. Many Army veterans have voiced concern about the flaws in the controversial scheme. The drawbacks of the scheme may far outweigh its benefits. And, as many retired officers have pointed out, it is not wise to tinker with the time-tested recruitment system. The fact that PM Narendra Modi mounted a strong defence of the scheme in his address on Kargil Vijay Diwas shows that he lacks knowledge of the scheme, scrapping which would be a good idea.

WG CDR CL Sehgal (retd), Jalandhar

Railways must pull up its socks

The huge investment in the Indian Railways (IR) has not yielded the desired results. On the contrary, the pace of the development of projects has only slowed down. Despite the investment of large sums, several projects continue to hang fire. It is a pity that a well-qualified Minister of Railways has not been able to shake up the IR management. Besides, the Railways must recognise the need to come up with attractive offers for passengers, such as guaranteed travel time and competitive pricing. These are the fundamentals of marketing. The IR must realise that the old days, when shippers used to beg and bribe for the allocation of wagons, are long gone. Shippers have a choice now, and it is not the Railways.

Jatinder Sondhi, New Delhi

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