M A I L B A G

The mirage of rural progress

RELENTLESS migration from villages to towns and cities in search of employment speaks of faulty planning and ineffective implementation of government policies to rejuvenate rural India. In our country, the basic fault lies in the remote control model of administration being followed from top to bottom since Independence. State capitals are in big urban centres, collectorates are located in cities and so are the sub-divisional offices in urban or semi-urban centres. All the officials posted at such offices cater more to the urbanites’ needs rather than villagers who often run from pillar to post to get their grievances redressed.

Hats off to the Indian politician who manages to get votes every five years from the villagers. Perhaps villagers are duped by the mirage of rural progress promised each time by politicians. Ironically, though the voting percentage has always remained less in urban centres, the major portion of funds is spent on them and not in villages. Rural India continues to be neglected even for the most essential services like banks, postal and healthcare facilities.

Our powers that be should introspect on the gross neglect of the villages instead of depending upon the personal secretaries or bureaucrats for formulating plans and policies. Let there be greater vigilance to ensure that the fruits of development percolate to the grassroot level. Let the villagers and their representatives are involved in local planning effectively so that their interests are served best. The idea should be to make a village or a cluster of villages self-sufficient to provide employment to unskilled or semi-skilled workers. The plight of landless workers too will have to be improved.

B.B. GOYAL, Ludhiana

What a fall!

What a fall for a great party called the Indian National Congress which once fought against the British empire and now bowing before one person for petty selfish gains in Punjab! Punjab’s ministers and Congress MLAs are making a mockery of democracy.

M.P.S. RANDHAWA, Dhapai (Kapurthala)

Narrow angle

Apropos of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann’s letter “Commonwealth Standards” (Dec 23), Mr Mann compares democracies of the world from a very narrow angle. With a similar scale, we can arguably reject any of the democracy of the world. Consider, for instance, the US. Why this country never had a woman President so far? Can a person with meagre income or sources ever think of getting a nomination from Democrats or Republican?

Similarly, can the US ever think of appointing a black President. Why each American has different value for the vote. If that was not the case, Al Gore who had thousands of votes more than Bush would have been President. In one county you are given death penalty. In another, county not even life imprisonment (that is why the Indiana Governor was pardoned over 150 sentences last year).

Dr T. SHARMA, Canada

Freebies in Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh has offered Cabinet Minister’s status to the late Beant Singh’s wife, in his efforts to mobilise the necessary numbers for remaining on the chair. This act has raised certain issues. First, it is well known that the Cabinet status to an individual costs the public exchequer over Rs 2 to 3 crore a year. Can any Chief Minister distribute favours like this at the cost of public money? Secondly, Parliament is enacting a legislation to limit the size of the ministries. If distribution of such freebies is allowed, it would defeat the very purpose of such legislation. Already, we have five former Prime Ministers who move with a train load of security personnel costing the exchequer billions of rupees per annum. Our politicians do not bother because it is the general public which has to bear the brunt in the form of taxes. BHARTENDU SOOD, Chandigarh

Corrupt practices

We have submitted applications (dated Nov 20, 2003, Dec 3, 2003, Dec 17, 2003) and an appeal (Dec 18, 03) to the Punjab Chief Minister regarding the anomalies and irregularities being committed by various office-bearers of the District Bar Association, Ludhiana, in the allotment of chambers for advocates, violating the rules. A synopsis of the communications has been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana.

Earlier also, a petition filed by 434 advocates on the same subject has been sent to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Chief Minister and the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. A copy of our representation (dated Nov 20, 03) has also been sent to the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, but in vain. We have not received any response from any quarter so far.

PARMINDER SINGH and DEVINDER PAL SINGH RANA Advocates, Ludhiana

Clash of exams

The CDS and CAT examinations are scheduled to be held on February 15, 2004. This will affect those who want to take both examinations. The authorities concerned should reschedule the examinations.

SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozepore

Book the corrupt

Not that I am a big fan of Daler but before the police presses charges against him, the authorities should ask this question, is he the big fish in the Bollywood involved in such alleged crimes?

Secondly, the corrupt politicians in India, the corrupt officers who have assets disproportionate to their known sources of income should be the first who should be rounded up and locked up. Their assets should be confiscated. They are the biggest suckers in India and not Daler who has only popularised Bhangra world wide.

HARBIR SINGH, Plainsboro (New Jersey)

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