M A I L B A G

Decision on PCS posts retrograde

The Punjab government’s decision to fill 100 vacant posts in the Punjab Civil Service (PCS) through promotions from amongst the officers such as Tehsildars and BDPOs is unjustified and highly objectionable. Apart from recruiting incompetent and mediocre people to this cadre, such a reactionary step will be a serious setback to merit and efficiency. After all, these officers are subsequently inducted into the IAS cadre.

The PCS is a premier service and competent individuals of high calibre and rectitude only deserve to be recruited to it. Later these officers hold responsible positions and they are expected to a deliver justice to the people, particularly at the grass-roots level.

Thus, a competitive examination should be conducted to select the best human resource from amongst the young and promising youth possessing tremendous commitment and challenge. If the individuals of mediocre level are enrolled into the PCS, it will cause irreparable loss to the image and prestige of this service.

AMRITPAL SINGH, Mohali

Growth strategy

With the present GDP projected to grow at 9.2 per cent, India can achieve a double-digit growth because of its robust performance in manufacturing and financial services. However, for achieving a sustained growth rate of 9 per cent, savings and investment must increase.

Our agricultural sector is not getting due attention though the majority of people are depending on it. Distress in agriculture will undermine both equity and growth. To help this sector, it needs massive investment, public and private.

We need to strengthen the concept of future markets. It is through future markets that the farmers’ groups and other associations can manage price risks on behalf of their individual members.

Agriculture products, being highly perishable, require quality infrastructure and innovative institutions to equip farmers with the latest technology. We need to move in the right direction by removing the deficiencies and trying to top the list of the prosperity index.

KANUPRIYA, Jalandhar

Marital disputes

I endorse Baldev Singh’s view in his letter (Jan 2) that “If a wife levels false allegations against her husband, who will come to the rescue of an innocent man”? Actually, the dowry laws are being misinterpreted by unscrupulous women, their families and their lawyers. Section 498 A of IPC is misused to terrorise their husbands and in-laws, blackmail them on small matters.

Many cases filed under the Anti-Dowry Acts are fake and cost three to four times the actual amount spent on marriages, supported by fake witnesses. Allegations leveled are of standard nature. The lawyers also create an impression that the courts listen only to the girl’s side to terrorise the boy’s family.

To check dowry disputes, both the takers and the givers of dowry should be punished. Where a complaint and witness is proved false, they should be penalised with jail term and fine. Before filing cases in courts, these should be referred to the district-level women’s cells or committees formed for such purpose.

S. B. BANSAL, Patiala

Give teachers their due The universities and various education boards have prescribed minimum salary to college and schoolteachers working in private recognised institutions. Accordingly, temporary college lectures need to be paid a minimum of Rs 8,000 a month, school lecturers Rs 6,400 and TGT and PRT teachers Rs 5,500 and 4,500 respectively. The Deputy Commissioners have recommended payment of Rs 97 a day to the unskilled labourers under the Minimum Wages Act. A daily wage worker gets Rs 120 a day. Surprisingly, however, despite specific instructions of the competent authorities, the temporary teachers in private colleges are being paid Rs 4,000 a month and in schools Rs 2000 onwards. These teachers are not only competent and well qualified but produce better results than their counterparts in the state-run institutions drawing a higher salary. This is surprising because the private managements, while seeking affiliation, undertake to pay salaries to their staff as per the government’s instructions. The government should evolve a suitable mechanism to ensure that these teachers are paid in accordance with the rules and are also covered under service security and the Minimum Wages Act. Prof N. K. GOSAIN, Bathinda

Goan circus

The editorial, “Goan Circus” (Jan 19) makes an interesting reading. It may be referred to as “political circus” as one or two MLAs can topple the Digambar Kamat government. The Madhu Koda government is also surviving with a wafer-thin majority. A small state like Goa has seen 16 governments in 17 years. Is it not a disregard to the Constitution? The people should give clear mandate to any party to ensure a stable government.

Dr B. R. PARUTHI, Chandigarh

Museum blues

I read the news-item regarding a restoration project at the Chandigarh Museum. Funnily, the museum first lets the works to disintegrate and, then, undertakes restoration measures. A fragile painting of artist Jamini Roy which have now been restored, was unlawfully lent by this museum to decorate the house of a former Adviser.

In response to my RTI query, the museum admitted thus: “the referred object was sent on the instructions/order of the Director after its selection by the then Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh Administration”. This implies that the Adviser is the Museum’s sole custodian.

Surprisingly, our museum officials don’t know that collections should not be photographed by flash cameras. Here you pay Rs 5 as fee and click with your flash cameras any work of art on display, including centuries-old miniature paintings for which this museum is known globally.

BALVINDER, Chandigarh