M A I L B A G

Posting deputationists as DCs

This refers to the news item regarding the posting of DCs from the Punjab cadre IAS officers (Aug 10).

With effect from 1984, the Government of India introduced the roster system of cadre allocation to various state cadres of India, whereby at least two-third of allocation of IAS officers to a state cadre every year has to be from “outsiders” i.e. those who are not residents of that state. Assuming an average intake of five officers per year for the Punjab cadre since 1984, 85 IAS officers might have been allocated to the Punjab cadre, out of which at least 57 officers, who are residents of other states, must have been allocated to the Punjab cadre.

In January, 2001, the Cabinet put a stop to deputations from other states. As a measure of reciprocity, other states will also stop taking deputationists from Punjab. Thus 57 officers from 1984 onwards and many others from previous batches cannot dream of serving in their home states.

There should be an exchange of IAS officers from one state to the other. This will infuse new blood to the work culture, otherwise the Punjab cadre officers will be just like frogs in the well. For example, Andhra Pradesh is far ahead in the use of information technology in administration and Punjab can learn a lot if officers come to Punjab on deputation from Andhra Pradesh and other states.

Whether to post deputationists as DCs is an administrative matter. Officers come on deputation not to be put on the backbenches and occupying two posts of DC out of 17 is a minor percentage as the lion’s share still remains with the Punjab cadre officers.

GURSHARAN SINGH, Chandigarh

Plans for PSEB

Apropos the editorial “PSEB: towards darkness”, the fundamental need of the PSEB, as laid down by the PL Tandon expert committee in 1978 is that the Chairman and the members must be professionals and given an assured term of three to five years with targets to be achieved at the end of their terms and a provision of mid-term and annual reviews, and then allowed complete autonomy in their day-to-day working. During the last four and a half years, the PSEB has seen eight Chairmen. What improvement can be expected in the PSEB under such uncertain circumstances?

The HRD team of the PSEB, during a one year period from August, 2000 to 2001, built up a practical solution to turn around the PSEB from loss making to a profit-making institution under the guidance of the Adviser, Dr V.P. Chawla.

The HRD plans can bail out the PSEB to a large extent, not only generate an additional revenue of Rs 2,000 crore per annum in the next two to five years at the current tariff rates but also make it function like power companies of advanced countries. Such a performance may eventually lead to even a reduction in the power tariffs.

The irony of the situation is that no one at the helms of the affairs is serious to make the organisation functional. The privatisation of the power sector has failed across the globe and even the USA & Europe are reviewing this process which is now infamously known as “California Syndrome”.

ER M. S. BAJWA, Ludhiana

Disband PSEB: It is more than sure that the PSEB is being thrown into darkness. From a full time Chairman, it has been saddled with a two days a week Chairman. Mr N.S. Vasant had to work 14 to 18 hours a day as Chairman. The result was that from 8 to 12 hours power cuts in 1980, we in Ludhiana have been able to enjoy an almost 24 hour supply for the last 12 years.

The new Chairman is burdened with the workload of the power & planning, besides the huge work of Chairman, PSEB. On the top of it, he has neither a background of electrical engineering nor adequate experience. Never in the history of the PSEB has such a junior person been appointed its Chairman. Even the IAS officers who have held this post have been in the rank of Chief Secretary and equivalent. The engineers holding this position have invariably had an on-hand professional experience of 35 years or so. It is learnt that he is assisted by two very junior IAS officers holding charge of Finance and Secretary, whose inexperienced functioning has totally demoralised the senior engineers and finance experts of the PSEB.

All this sum totals to make the Power Minister of Punjab to work as the culprit, the judge & the hangman for the PSEB. This is a ridiculous situation and a professional organisation is being slowly killed.

The government will do better by disbanding the PSEB and merging it with the power department. This will save the PSEB from profit and loss statements & its officers and employees would be assured pension and allowed to work as inefficiently as their brethren in the revenue, excise, telephone, food and civil supplies departments do. Already the people of Punjab are burdened with these departments, each one patently acting as Ahmed Shah Abdali. Let the PSEB be also allowed to join the “sarkari bandgwagon of Abdalis”.

S. K. SHARMA, Ludhiana

Taliban deserve it

The word Taliban means students — students of religion. But will it be wise to call people like Osama bin Laden and Mullah Mohammad Umar as true followers of a great religion — Islam? No religion teaches its followers to practice hatred and violence with other religions. This is all what they have shown in the past. When they (Taliban) were fighting in their own country for power, they were involved in loots, atrocities, rapes, and killings of innocent Afghans.

Now Mullah Umar rules the country as a dictator. His terrorist groups are doing the same in Kashmir in the name of jehad, with the help of his old ally-Pakistan. The most heinous crime he did was destroying the Bamyan Buddhas — a symbol of love, peace and solidarity by doing this, he clearly showed how much hatred he and his followers are filled with for the people of other religions especially — Hindus.

Now, what they did in New York and Washington will definitely act as a last nail in the coffin not only for Osama and Taliban but for each and every terrorist in this world. Lord Buddha may have forgiven them, but “WE WILL NOT”.

SANJIV, Malerkotla

Harmful vegetables

Vegetables are often sprayed or injected with pesticides to increase output. Cows are injected to increase milk yield. Bananas are dipped in poisonous water to ripen. The health departments should look into this to avoid harmful effects on humans.

H. P. AKLISH, Doraha Mandi

Solidarity against terrorism

Expressing the solidarity of the Hindu community against terrorism and full support to the great American nation, around 300 Hindus assembled at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on Sept 15 prayed for the victims of the horrific acts of terrorism in the USA.

They sang several religious songs and chanted peace prayers for the well-being of the whole humanity and held up many signs, small and big, that read “We share pain, sorrow, anguish”, “God Bless America”, and “Democracy will ultimately prevail”. There also were numerous other signs to create awareness on global terrorism, as Hindus themselves have been the victims of terrorism for more than a decade in Jammu and Kashmir. A well-known community leader, Subash Razdan, echoing the sentiment of the gathering, said “We are all united to eradicate terrorism”.

“It is great coming here and offering our prayers and sympathies for the victims”, said Radhesh Patel one of the attendees from BAPS. The prayers were organised by American Hindus Against Terrorism (AHAT), a newly constituted group in Atlanta and had strong presence of leaders from several organisations.

SHYAM TIWARI, Duluth (USA)