Concept of welfare state

  THIS refers to the ideas expressed by Mr M.S.N. Menon in his article dated 30-10-1998. Rejecting the concept of welfare state when half of the world’s population lives in pervasive poverty and almost 13 to 18 million people die every year because of poverty, is not only totally unrealistic but also inhuman.

This concept is not an end in itself but a means to enable the downtrodden to share the cake of development. A system can be termed as triumphant only if it has solved problems of the masses. Capitalism is far from this.

It would be unjust to deny the fact that the erstwhile Soviet socialist state put an end to hunger, injustice and inequality to a large extent besides rendering help to the developing countries in their pursuit for economic growth. The effect of a free market economy is being uneasily felt as a result of the increase in the prices of essential commodities.

Man’s ideas are influenced and developed by the surroundings. Therefore, expecting all the people to change in a social welfare state or in the erstwhile Soviet state is unrealistic when ruthless capitalism continues to be the dominant force. A value-based system cannot be built sermons alone. Structural changes in the socio-economic setup are required to bring about this situation.

ARUN MITRA
Ludhiana

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State of confusion

The subdued Independence Day address by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee from the ramparts of the Red Fort this year must have cautioned many about the worst happenings ahead. If the Centre is weak, the units of the administration go apart. This is true to the present scenario.

Natural calamities strike many nations every year. But, then, a mature leadership wakes up to ensure urgent damage control. The BJP government has utterly failed in this direction.

It is total confusion so far as the price rise is concerned. Not only onions, each vegetable is going out of the common man's reach. In the district headquarters town of Pauri (Garhwal) onion is selling at Rs 120 per kg, tomatoes at Rs 60 and cauliflower at Rs 40. Unbelievable and unimaginable! But this is the reality.

The irony is that different party leaders are busy devising schemes to use these sensitive issues for political ends.

This is the time for the Prime Minister and his colleagues to do something concrete to improve the much tarnished image of the government. There is no use blaming the allies or the hostile Opposition.

P.S. RAWAT
Chandigarh

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Row over DSOI

This refers to the letter “DSOI: correct position” (Oct 26). The clarification given by the Principal Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, Punjab, is misleading and factually not correct.

The allotment letter dated August 20, 1991, states of allotment of land to the defence organisation for the construction of the DSOI. Therefore, the land was allotted to this association and not to the Punjab government, as directorate of Sainik Welfare, Punjab, is not a defence organisation.

It may be further clarified that the DSOI at various places in the country is run by the local defence headquarters, and not by the state government. The interest shown by some people to take possession of the land, advertise as DSOI, and then use the Punjab government money meant for defence welfare, was malafide.

The defence officers, both serving and retired, who became members of this institute were under the impression that like other DSOIs this institute would also be under the control of the local highest defence authority. But as soon as they learnt of the truth, they agitated against this and wanted the wrong to be undone. At their annual general body meeting on January 5, 1993, it was debated and unanimously decided that the DSOI should be run on the lines of the DSOI, Delhi. S. Umrao Singh, then Minister for Defence Welfare, Punjab, was present, and he told the members that the Punjab government was not interested in controlling the DSOI. However, when HQ, Western Command, came into the picture at this stage the people put down certain conditions which, as per the service rules, could not be agreed to.

If the Punjab government is genuinely interested in the welfare of defence officers, it should immediately hand over the DSOI to the HQ, Western Command, as the latter would be in a position to provide facilities of a ration shop, canteen, M.I. Room and liquor sale at a concessional rate to its members, and run the institution as per the ethos and customs of the defence services, and not as a private limited company as is being done now.

Lieut-Col J. S. SANDHU (retd)
Chandigarh

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Sickness of politicians

I read on the Internet the other day that former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and a few others were expected to surrender in connection with the fodder scam. The first thought that comes to my mind is that the time has come once again for these leaders to fall sick and go to a cosy room in some hospital.

It is an open secret that whenever some big leader has to go to jail he immediately gets so many complicated diseases that he has to be shifted to a hospital instead of putting him behind the bars. This had made a mockery of the medical practices in India as well as of the judicial process because these leaders bounce back to hectic schedules as soon as they get a regular bail.

By following this route, not only are they corrupting the minds of the simple law-abiding public, but also misusing the tax prayers’ money for their convenience. I wonder how long my beloved nation will take to reach a level where we can really get leaders who will use their grey matter for the welfare of the public.

PAWAN K SHARMA
Iowa (IA, USA)

(Received in response to the Internet edition)

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Examine systemic flaws

The editorial “Death for rapists” (The Tribune, Oct 9) was an eye-opener. Perhaps with a view to demonstrating before the public that they are out to do something great. Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani have been shouting at the highest pitch of their voice that rapists should be awarded the death punishment. If they really care for the dignity of women, they should, instead of demanding the death sentence for rapists, examine the flaws in the current system of investigation of such cases.

They must rise above narrow political considerations and mobilise public opinion against the oppressive “biradari system” in which the sentence of death is passed against women for defying its strict social conduct.

VIJAY SHEEL JAIN
Ludhiana

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Tailpiece

How best can you describe the state of affairs in Amritsar?

Answer: “Ram teri nagari maili.”

KJS AHLUWALIA
Amritsar