letters to editor

SOLDIER NEEDS A GUN, NOT BROOM

Apropos “A soldier should wield the gun, not broom: Veterans” HT, September 28), politicians must know that soldiers are there to fight the enemy and not to clean up the mess created by others. Before the 1962 Indo-China war, the army constructed barracks and roads resulting in a humiliating defeat. The latest order shows that the BJP is bereft of seasoned leaders. It shouldn’t be implemented at any stage. Capt Jaspal Singh (retd), Zirakpur

II

I can’t understand what the government is aiming for when it says it wants to involve defence personnel in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Crores are being spent to advertise the flagship scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It’s only diverting attention from real issues such as poverty, illiteracy and stagnant economy. This is sheer propaganda. The PM wants to hand over a broom to everyone. In the past three years, nothing concrete has been done, except creating an emotional wave.

Devinder Singh, Patiala

HOLES IN ‘CLEAN MISSION’

A common sight these days is of people wielding a broom and getting photographed, pretending to be crusaders of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Recently, Sachin Tendulkar was seen on TV engaging with his fans while cleaning roads. What a mockery! Will people emulate him in their daily routine? The government plans to construct 11 crore toilets in five years to check open defecation. But has it ever thought of open defecation by stray cattle and dogs. Shelters are required for stray cattle and sterilisation to control stray dog population. Dr Soshil Rattan, Amritsar

RISKING LIVES TO CLEAN UP OUR MESS

This 2nd October will mark the third year of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Cleanliness drives are organised in schools and colleges across the nation. Pictures with broom and bins, hands and mouth covered with mask and gloves, flood the social media sites. While sewage worker gets into the drain without any safety gear, mask or gloves. This is the daily routine of several sanitation workers in India. Under the swachh mission, hardly any incentive or policy was framed to uplift the condition of sewage workers who risk their lives to clean our drains.

Manisha Rao, Chandigarh

SHAMEFUL ACT

‘Sexual harassment’ of six girls at a child protection home in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh by the staff is inhuman and shameful. It’s surprising that with 34 girls in the home, the department posted only two women staff members. Police have already come under scanner for not cooperating with the shelter home staff. The role played by the police in the Kotkhai rape case in Shimla, is still fresh in people’s minds. The district administration needs to win over the confidence of the people there before it is too late.

RM Ramaul, Paonta Sahib

NAME INFO PANEL CORRECTLY

Punjab has not followed the nomenclature for its information commission as prescribed under the Right to Information Act. Section 15(1) of the Act states that every state government shall by notification in the official gazette, constitute a body named as (name of the state) information commission. Instead, it’s named as state information commission, Punjab. Official websites of others states information commissions show that they have followed the provision. The department of personnel training (DoPT), RTI’s nodal agency, should take note and make amends. Yash Paul Manvi, Rajpura

DEPORTING ROHINGYAS IS UNJUST

The government is trying hard to deport Rohingyas based on assumptions that they’re associated with terrorist organisations and can harm the country. Most of them are helpless and poor, who are striving hard to survive. India has provided shelter to refugees in the past. The deportation of Rohingyas would tarnish our image at an international level.

Kulyash Kaabil, Rohtak

CHECK STUBBLE BURNING

Winter is approaching and smog caused by stubble burning will also make a comeback. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to PM Modi to incentivise farmers for not burning straw. Stronger monitoring is required, which can be done through remote sensing. It’s equally true that cost of processing stubble is unaffordable for a marginal farmer. The solution lies in providing them financial incentives along with efforts to widen avenues for the alternate usage of straw and other crop residue.

Akash Kumar, Jagraon

ECONOMIC ADVISORY PANEL NEEDED

In view of Punjab’ s financial crisis, an economic advisory committee should be setup to find solutions to revive the state’s economy. It’s best not to expect a bail out from the Centre. The state must find its own ways and means. Fear of the government’s failure looms if an immediate solution is not found.

Jaswant Singh, Chandigarh

GOLDEN TEMPLE PHOTOOP

The photo on page 4 (HT, September 27) shows dignitaries visiting the Golden Temple with their backs toward the shrine. A visit to the holiest Sikh shrine by VIPs has just become more of a photo op. It is not the right way to depict someone paying obeisance at the shrine. Devotees must be shown facing towards the shrine, with their hands folded or bowing in respect. Tejinder Singh Kalra, Mohali

BIG DAMS KEY TO DEVELOPMENT

Referring to HT editorial “Big dams are no longer a solution” (September 19), it is not altogether right to say that big dams are not beneficial because of problems like disturbance of ecosystem and settlement of displaced people. Bhakra Dam has contributed a lot towards the development of the northern states. It proved to be a boon for agriculture and industry, by providing water and electricity besides large scale employment. Bhakra Dam authorities have carried out massive tree plantation programmes to aid growth of flora and fauna in the area. Dams despite harms, contribute a lot to the economy of the country. SK Khosla, Chandigarh