M A I L B A G

Centre should protect small retailers

Sensex has touched new heights. We are happy that our economy is growing because the Indian rupee has become stronger compared to the American dollar. There is an impression that globalisation has given a boost to economic growth. However, the multinationals and big corporates are beneficiaries of this while the common masses and those living below the poverty line continue to suffer.

No doubt, the scenario has created a few jobs with good pay packages in the industry. But it is only for the skilled people who were already having good jobs and better pay. Unskilled people have no option but to work at almost the same wages as before the current Sensex boom.

Ironically, the common man is paying more for basic commodities though his earnings have not increased. This affects the standard of living. The multinationals are setting up production units in India to cash in on the country’s skilled and cheaper human resource. The major problem will be in the retail sector with over 100 crore ready customers. Multinationals are trying to exploit the unorganised retail sector.

KARANBIR SHAH, Qadian

Dolphin at Harike

Forest officials spotting dolphin at Harike was indeed surprising (News-item, Dec 17). This is a record. No one has ever noticed dolphin in the rivers of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Bagarius magarius (Gauns) and Himalayan Mahaseer, abundant in the rivers of these states, are often seen jumping. Capture fisheries is so developed in these states that the plastic gill nets used by the fishermen in the rivers and dams do not allow any variety of fish uncaught, small or big. I was concerned with the culture and capture fisheries in Haryana, Punjab and Haryana Pradesh for over three decades but have never noticed or heard of dolphin in any river or dam of these states.

Most probably, it could be Bagarius magarius (Gauns) or Himalayan Mahaseer which are fairly big in size on maturity and while playing in pairs, jump above the water surface up to 3 feet. Spotting of dolphin in Harike sanctuary will remain debatable till any dolphin is actually caught and identified.

J. R. VERMA, Deputy Director of Fisheries (retd), Gurdaspur

Ram and the Ram Setu I read the news-item, “Ram Setu may be man-made” (Dec 9). Lord Rama was born in the Treta yuga which as per scriptures has a span of 12.96 lakh years. Presently we are in the age of Kalyuga which is of 4.32 lakh years. The in between Dwapar yuga is 8.64 lakh years long. Since the period involved is very long and difficult to be chronolised, it can be presumed that Ramayana happened in the middle of Treta yuga and we are in the middle of Kalyuga. The age of Ramayana can thus be worked out as: Kalyuga (4.32/2) 2.16, Dwapur 8.64, Treta (12. 96/2) 6.48, the total being 17.28 lakh years. This approximation of 17.28 lakh years as the age of Ramayana and Ram Setu comes close to the 17.50 lakh years estimated by the National Remote Sensing Agency of the Department of Space (Government of India) as given in its book Images India, tabled in Parliament. This surely refutes the findings of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the statement of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who deny the existence of Lord Ram and his bridge Ram Setu. V. K. RANGRA, New Delhi

Don’t neglect this

I read the news-item, “Homoeopathy to be 2,600-cr industry” (Dec 10). No doubt, homoeopathy is the world’s fastest growing system of medicine. The homoeo medicines act on the roots of the ailments and bring cure without any side-effects.

In Himachal Pradesh, the system is getting a step-motherly treatment. Why did the state government not take steps to popularise it? There are only 14 homoeopathic dispensaries at the district level. The government and the media, print and electronic, should encourage this system. It should take steps to open homoeo dispensaries at tehsils and blocks so that the people of the hill state also get familiar with this system of medicine.

Dr VIVEK PARMAR, Nadaun (Jalari)