Quality of leadership

THIS refers to Mr M.G. Devasahayam’s “Politicians and their promises” (July 28). If our politicians lack in national vision and practise double standards, so are we, the electorate. Is it not a paradox that at one moment we feel deeply grateful to soldiers for their patriotism, valour, integrity and sacrifice, and the next moment we bow before the dishonest, selfish and criminal elements wielding political power?

Our politicians have always tried to befool the masses on issues like corruption, communalism, secularism, etc. Rarely have they given their views on the socio-economic development of the country, as they have no such grooming. The so-called self-appointed and self-styled messiah of the minorities have only exploited these communities in the name of secularism.

The hard fact is that the practitioners of politics of opportunism are least concerned with public welfare and development. They have caused an irreparable damage to the national psyche and the system, which has failed to give a fair, just, value-based and development-oriented governance to the people. Whatever be the slogans for the coming Lok Sabha elections, people will have little choice to exercise. We may talk of a “strong and stable” government, “pure swadeshi” leadership or “political and economic stability”, we will still choose from rabid communal elements and promoters of venal corruption.

Don’t we deserve a better set of leaders?

VED GULIANI
Hisar

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Deposit insurance

A former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and a veteran central banker, Mr S.S. Tarapore, has suggested that the Deposit Insurance Corporation should be empowered to withdraw the deposit insurance cover of a bank which does not adhere to its stipulation. This is a long overdue step.

Even the flat premium rate of 5 paise per Rs. 100 charged to all insured banks should be changed. Banks should be asked to rate themselves through a credit rating agency and the deposit insurance premium should be linked to the rating which they obtain.

The banks should also be allowed to offer more than the stipulated minimum of Rs. 1,00,000 for the deposit amount. In a truly competitive era, it is only logical that banks attract deposits by offering higher deposit insurance cover.

In addition to the Deposit Insurance Corporation, subsidiaries of the General Insurance Corporation of India should be permitted to give insurance cover to banks.

M.R. Pai
Mumbai

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Danger from pits

It seems the various departments of the Chandigarh Administration and the Corporation of Chandigarh have the least concern for the safe and healthy life of the residents of the UT. Also those who have to go to the Sector 17 market for their daily purchases and those who go for their daily walk to the Rose Garden or Shanti Kunj through Sector 17 are facing a lot of difficulties.

Near the crossing of Sector 18 A & D and Sector 17, there are a number of deep pits lying open and there are heaps of earth alongside the road leading from the Government Press crossing to the Sector 22 crossing which can endanger the lives of pedestrians. Most of these pits have been dug by the PWD or the Deptt. of Telecommunications for either repair or for laying cables. For years or months there is nobody to keep the earth dug by them away from the footpath.

In front of the crossing, the whole footpath has been covered by heaps of earth. These pose a great danger to the people during the rains. Last week I saw two blind persons making efforts to cross the pits. On seeing this, I helped them to cross the hurdles. Had I not been there it would have been very difficult for these blind people to cross the pits.

BANT SINGH
Chandigarh

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Unjust pension rules

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is engaged in devising measures designed to ensure privileges and concessions in various forms to the elderly during the year 1999, which has been declared by the UN as the International Year of the Old.

It is ironical that far from enjoying any benefit or privilege, Haryana government pensioners of the pre-1975 period have become victims of highly discriminatory pension rules applicable to them. While their pay scales were revised thrice in the past 21 years, on none of these occasions was their pension brought on a par with the post-revision pension.

As a result, the pension drawn by a pre-1975 pensioner comes to a little over half of what his post-1996 counterpart gets. Since these pensioners — over 80 years of age — are mostly a dejected and neglected lot, they have no resources to organise themselves and pressurise the government to give them a fair deal. There is neither urge nor strength left in them to fight for their rights.

In all fairness and to make the International Year of the Old meaningful, the Haryana government should brook no delay in passing orders, bringing about parity in the pre-1975 and post-1996 pensions. The disparity between the two is indefensible both morally and legally.

GURU DATT
Dehradun

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Aid to Agroha college

The announcement for the restoration of aid to Medical College, Agroha, by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is a welcome step. But he should ensure that this situation does not recur with a change of government in Haryana, and the future of students and the staff is not jeopardised. The workable solution will be this: the Haryana government takes over the college and constitutes a committee (predominantly having members of the Aggarwal community) for running the hospital.

R.S. PUNIA
Chandigarh