letterstoeditor

TREAT PASSENGERS IN DIGNIFIED MANNER

The way IndiGo staff misbehaved with an elderly man on the tarmac, is loathsome to say the least. This reflects the staff’s lack of civility, etiquettes and ethics on how to deal with people. A mere apology isn’t enough. Time and again NRIs and foreigners have expressed their discontentment with the staff at Indian airports, which is discourteous. The government needs to make sure that airport staff is properly trained and refresher courses should be held for them.

BM Singh, Amritsar

RESPECT THE COURT’S DECORUM

A senior counsel walking out of court when the chief justice did not entertain a request is a reflection of the fact that the judiciary in not being given due respect. Such disrespect of the institution by its own constituents is sad and shocking for the citizens of this country.

HL Sharma, Amritsar

II

A fractured court is sure to weaken judiciary as an institution and democracy at large. This necessitates a debate on structural reforms in courts.

Beant Singh Bedi, Mohali

CURB BEGGING MAFIA

The editorial ‘Sweeping things under the carpet’ (November 13) is a thoughtful reflection on the lack of sensitivity on the part of the government towards beggars. However, I beg to differ with the conclusion of begging as an indicator of poverty. It’s not wise to associate poverty with that of begging mafia. According to statistics, in India, more than 60,000 children go missing from hospitals and homes every year. These stolen children form a major component of the mafia. It is a social problem, but to eradicate this organised begging it is only when this mafia is taken care of by law enforcing agencies.

BN Anand, Mohali

REDUCE TAX ON FUEL

With the reduction in the tax on petrol and diesel in Chandigarh, as compared to the price in Mohali district, has increased the gap between the petrol prices in Chandigarh and Mohali. The sales of Mohali petrol dealers have gone down by 40 %. The sales have also come down in Panchkula district. The petrol pumps are without customers and the Chandigarh’s petrol pumps have become overcrowded. The state governments should reduce the tax on petrol and diesel so that the fuel pumps in the city can run smoothly. M Lal Garg, Chandigarh

STUBBLE BURNING NOT THE ONLY CULPRIT

Nearly 30,000 people die every year due to the toxic air. 60% of birds have met the same fate. Stubble-burning is not the only culprit; vehicular pollution, rampant construction work, diminishing green spaces, lack of proper treatment of garbage and a general lack of civic sense also share the blame. The NGT and the Supreme Court have dubbed the ‘odd-even’ plan a farce and have instead suggested alternatives. A long-term plan needs to be chalked out. Usha Verma, Chandigarh

OFFICERS’ RESHUFFLE IN HARYANA WORRYING

The K hat tar Government in Ha ryan a di vested the state chief secretaryof the charge of state vigilance department. Even though this was a part of routine postings/transfers, what merits due reference is that when the chief secretary of Haryana government had been carrying out his charge for many years, what propelled the ruling elite to take this sudden decision? This move sends worrying and unhealthy signals across the state bureaucracy. Hemant Kumar, Ambala City

WHERE ARE THE NEW NOTES?

RBI has been issuing notes to ease currency shortages. People have still not received the new ₹50 and ₹200 notes as many banks don’t have them in large amounts. ATMs have not yet been calibrated for the same, but garland makers are full of them. Garland makers are openly displaying the new note garlands in the market for sale. Authorities should take cognisance of this fact that as to how these notes meant for public distribution have reached them so early?

Niranjan Walia, Jalandhar

DYING HUMANITY

Humanity is fading away. When someone gets hurt in an accident, instead of helping them, or taking them to the hospital, people instead make videos of the accident just so they can be the first ones to share it on social networking sites. Authorities need to be vigilant. Deepak Sharma, Chandigarh

POLLUTION CONTROL BOARDS ARE NO GOOD

With the air quality levels worsening, the governments of the states concerned should shut down their pollution control boards, as they’re proving to be white elephants. These boards have also failed to check pollution caused by industries, mining and construction activities. Many vehicles run without valid pollution control certificates.

Navneet Seth, Dhuri