The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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M A I L B A G

English will give a boost to quality education

This has reference to editorial “English from Class I”
(Nov 29). The decision is a step in the right direction. The children from rural areas in Himachal Pradesh will now be able to make an early start which their counterparts in urban areas are already doing.

The basic problem will be the availability of teachers to teach English. It will bring a qualitative change in the educational standards. In the present era of globalisation, students, who have to face stiff competition, will be benefited. Now it will be the duty of parents and teachers to fulfil the mission.

M.S. MAAN, Shimla

The apprehension in the editorial “English from Class I” on the availability of teachers for teaching English is true. The problem is compounded when the state government is reeling under financial crunch. Since it is a new subject, for Classes I and II, the timetable will have to be re-scheduled.

The suggestion to make use of the retired people who can offer voluntary service is worthwhile. It has been rightly stated that the government is now aware that English is a must for employment. As tourism offers tremendous scope for the youth in Himachal Pradesh, they should be proficient in English which is the window to the outside world.

RIKHI DASS THAKUR, Palbhu (Hamirpur)

The vision of Nehru and Menon

Good news for Navy Day — the Gorshkov is to replace INS Vikrant. For all the criticism directed against the much-maligned V.K. Krishna Menon, it was he and indeed the vision of the Nehru government which put us on the road to indigenous production and self-help in naval shipbuilding.

The first Leander class frigate may have taken our designers over a decade to bring out the first ship but we followed it up with six more in the next 15 years. Indira Gandhi laid the first keel of our submarine in 1984 and if there had not been irresponsible opposition to the HDW design, we would have been in the export market today.

Incidentally, in 1975, when our fleet was in Bandar Abbas, this writer heard a Royal Navy officer having remarked about the excellent quality of the Mazagon Dockyard-built INS Nilgiri. And he should know because the British have been in sophisticated ship construction business for two centuries. We, of course, went on to improve on that British concept and produced even more sophisticated warships beyond the expectations of the original designers and dovetailed them with Soviet weaponry. Let us be proud Indians, for once, thanks to Nehru and Menon and their successors.

Comdr. MUKUND B. KUNTE, Former Head (Military Wing), Cabinet Secretariat, New Delhi

CAT fiasco

The leakage of the CAT paper and the consequent cancellation of the exams might have come as a rude shock to lakhs of students who appeared for CAT. All engineering students aspire to secure a place in the prestigious IIMs. They put in all their efforts even when they are still at the junior college level. Parents too pool money from all possible resources to get their children trained properly from specialised institutes. By the time these students appear for their exams, they are under tremendous mental pressure.

Once the students have taken their papers, they are relieved of the intense pressure, at least temporarily. This time though, destiny had something else in store for them. The students will surely reappear for the exams, to fulfil all the dreams that they have cherished. But I request the authorities concerned not to let the culprits go scot-free. They played havoc with the efforts and dreams of lakhs of students across India and must be made to pay heavily for the same.

SUBALAKSHMI P. DURGA, Chandigarh

Make it transparent

Scam after scam, that too, in newer and topmost areas (CAT, for example), is cutting at the root of our system. The octopus of corruption has spread all over in every sphere of life, exemplifying our greed and lust for money. However, this is a passing phase as cosmic laws will come into play and will not allow us to compromise our character and integrity.

The situation, however, calls for devising new modes to check the malpractices in the system. An open and transparent system should be introduced like live telecasting of cricket selection procedure and online examination of CAT and Civil Services. The National Stock Exchange has a good track record of conducting a successful online examination system.

Dr B.L. TEKRIWAL, Mumbai

Impartial probe

The editorial “Probe yes, vendetta no” (Nov. 25) rightly calls for an impartial inquiry against those under cloud not only to bring the guilty to book but also give an opportunity to the honest to get their names cleared.

In general, this axiom is ideal but not in the case of a politician. It takes aeons for one to bring the guilty politician to book. Therefore, framing charges of corruption has become a sea-saw game for them.

RAJINDER MALHOTRA, Chandigarh

Revision of payscales

I congratulate the Punjab Government for implementing in toto the recommendations of the Justice Shetty Commission on the revision of payscales and perks to PCS judicial officers in the state.

The state government also deserves to be complimented for announcing the up-to-date DA slab from July 1, 2003. This is a good gesture on the part of the government which would ultimately promote efficiency of its employees.

HARDEEP SINGH SANDHU, Chandigarh