M A I L B A G

Teach a lesson to callous teachers

School managers and teachers will be in trouble if the failure rate in any public examination crosses 4 to 6 per cent in the US, UK, Canada or any European country. In Punjab, however, nothing happens even if the failure rate between 1990 and 2007 has been steadily increasing from 15 to 46 per cent in almost every public examination between 1990 and 2007.

Poor results indicate colossal wastage of educational investment made by the government and the general public. Strangely, this huge loss of money and precious years of children is simply taken lying down. No inquiries are held and no reform is ever contemplated. The greatest contribution to this malaise is that of the well paid but callous teachers who treat schools as places of gossip and rest.

The World Bank, Harvard University and the Planning Commission have repeatedly pointed out that in Punjab 36 per cent teachers absent themselves daily. Among those who go to school, 49.5 per cent do not take classes regularly. Poor to very poor results in hundreds of schools prove this. The government is a silent spectator of this sad spectacle year after year.

I offer a simple suggestion. Teachers showing pass percentage below 50 per cent should be sent on compulsory leave without pay for one year and their place given to ad hoc appointees. The government will gain financially as well as academically. The results will improve and the teachers will learn a lesson.

Dr T. R. SHARMA, Patiala

Nuclear plant

To meet acute shortage of power in Punjab, nuclear power generation is a must. We have produced plenty of hydro power at Bhakra, Beas and Thein dam power plants. Gangawal, Kotla and UBDC power plants are likely to be taken up in right earnest. Besides, major thermal plants at Ropar and Bathinda are generating power. Still, there is huge power shortage.

To overcome this, we have to go for nuclear power generation. The civil Indo-US nuclear deal will enable us to acquire fuel for nuclear power generation. Of course, suitable safety precautions for the nuclear power plant will have to be taken.

The growth of economy and prosperity of the state will require additional power and Punjab cannot in any way be kept starved of power.

G.R. KALRA, Chandigarh

Haryana pensioners

The Haryana Chief Minister has been quite generous in giving concessions and relief to various people. He has given exemption to interest on long standing loans and electricity bills. But he has ignored the pensioners. Those in Punjab get 5 to 10 per cent extra on their basic pension at the age of 65 and 75 years respectively including the LTC benefit.

Pensioners want the Haryana Chief Minister to set an example by enhancing their pension benefit at par with those in Punjab. Many pensioners in Haryana, who were employed before the reorganisation of Punjab and Haryana, get far lesser pension than their counterparts in Punjab.

The Haryana government will get 60 per cent of the funds from the Punjab government if it entertains basic pension as per the agreement during reorganisation.

JAGDISH PRASHAD, Gen. Secy, Haryana Pensioners’ Welfare Society, Kurukshetra

Police reforms

The working of police stations in Himachal Pradesh leaves much to be desired. The hapless common man has to bear the brunt of the unhappy situation. I offer a few suggestions. First, utmost care must be taken while selecting officers for the post of Station House Officer (SHO), the kingpin of the set-up.

Secondly, refresher or re-orientation courses must be organised periodically for the SHOs to update their skills and practices. Thirdly, the Superintendent of Police must be held accountable in case of misconduct on the part of the SHO under his jurisdiction. And finally, the police stations must be insulated from political interference in their day-to-day functioning.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)