Building economic muscle

POLITICAL parties, especially the regional ones, are skirting the real issues “Building economic muscle: parties neglecting real issues” by Mr Hari Jaisingh (The Tribune, August 13). Their only aim is to win maximum seats by hook or by crook so that they may bargain from a position of strength at the time of forming the government after the Lok Sabha elections. Parties are least concerned with correlating “various problems and issues and evolving an integrated approach to tackle them effectively.

The common voter is definitely “seeking for an improvement in his living standard.” Instead of correcting the “distorted vision” on subsidy, several political parties indulge in populist tactics of wooing voters by promising the waiving of loans, selling of rice at Rs 2 per kg, providing free electricity, free water, etc. This is a kind of bribing voters at the cost of the state exchequer. Can political parties tackle social and economic ills of the country by making such promises? There should be a ban on parties for making such promises.

Kargil-like success on the economic front can be achieved only if both India and Pakistan, in future, avoid Kargil-like situations and learn to live in peace for the sake of their poor population. No nation can make economic muscle under the shadow of war.

VINAY KUMAR MALHOTRA
Ambala Cantt

ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: Apart from other reasons, economic inequality is a major factor for frustration culminating in terrorism. Policy-making is not deficient. The enforcement is, as society is not interested in one’s work. Only manipulators reach the top. Who would work when there is no work culture and nobody except the self-employed people do their duty honestly?

Why can state and Central Governments not cut all industrial and commercial activities and divert funds for fulfilling universal needs, water and power. The major share of all welfare schemes is being eaten up by vested interests. Why not divert these funds. Economic strength of the people would not require state health or education services. Fifty years back China and India were economically at par. We have more abundant natural resources than China. Under the principle of the maximum benefit to a maximum number of people, China is far ahead. Corruption is inherent in democracy. Unless you change systems, no progress can be made. The degradation would continue. Looking to terrorism throughout India, democracy has failed. Democracy is of the influential, by the influential and for the influential. The presidential system be better.

Permit me to say that criticism has no meaning unless accompanied by positive suggestions. As a society we take pleasure in criticising each other.

One must suggest ways and means to bring 50 per cent of the rural population and 40 per cent of the urban population out of poverty. It has been rightly pointed out the question of subsidies. What about the bureaucracy. Himachal Pradesh has only 68 development blocks. While the number of IAS and IPS officers serving there is about 200, we must have another look on secularism. Is it not a negative approach.

G.C.TOTU
Chandigarh

POPULIST PROMISES: It is unfortunate for a democracy of India’s size and complexity that politicians should win elections only on populist promises and slogans. During the past over 50 years never have the political parties worked out a realistic and growth-oriented national agenda or fixed their priority. Their manifestoes, framed rarely to be implemented, have promised heaven to the people, who cannot have clothes to cover their body and roof to take shelter in inclement weather.

Ironically, in a country lacking in basic infrastructure facilities and whereabout 40 per cent of the people live below the poverty line, our main priorities have been “positive discrimination” for the minorities, choice of “swadeshi” or “videshi”, constitutional amendments for seats in the Parliament for women, secularism versus casteism, etc.

In this dirty competitive politics of coalition (a respectable name given to horse-trading and mass defections), politico-administrative incompetence has only resulted in a bureaucratic stranglehold and social distortion of the ground realities.

A very vital question that intellectuals and media people need to highlight and every voter needs to ask himself at the time of voting is whether our politicians and prospective ministers understand the basic complexities of an agrarian society changing into an industrial and technological one. Heavy subsidy for unproductive sectors; impracticable announcements for foodgrains, electricity and water supply, etc, have only pushed the country to the pre-Independence level of socio-economic infrastructure.

VED GULIANI
Hisar

FINANCIAL MESS: The country cannot afford the huge economic burden of holding elections after short intervals owing to the failure of constitutional parameters. This has a paralysing effect on the economy.

Besides the financial mess, it generates a feeling of uncertainty, thus stalling the nation’s march to progress and prosperity. About the Indian voter the author remarks: “He understands who is what and what is what.” If the Indian voter is seasoned enough, then why has in recent years the country got unstable and hung Lok Sabhas in quick succession after the polls?

Yet the Indian electorates have much to learn and more to forget. This time, in the forthcoming polls to the Lok Sabha, the voters ought to grow wiser to elect a stable government with a thumping majority.

Of course, poverty can be eliminated by checking the rate of population growth. Unemployment is also a factor leading to poverty. It is the prevalent system of education that is responsible for unemployment among the educated classes.

The New Education Policy started with great fanfare, but there are limitations in its implementation. Vocational education, a vital organ of this policy and meant to generate self-employment, could not be introduced in a majority of the 10+2 schools due to the meagre funds available. As such, the new policy of education also lacks direction.

Instead of devising one more policy, the existing one needs to be thoroughly revamped, overhauled, made more purposeful and given the right direction. This step will serve as a long-term management for eliminating poverty.

The bright economic condition holds out a promise for the nation’s wellbeing, security and peace. Every Indian has ample reason to rejoice over this. In India, the economic condition can be further strengthened if corruption in public life is stamped out from top to bottom.

IQBAL SINGH
Bijhari (Hamirpur)

Male-female ratio in Punjab

I read with concern a write-up on August 8 highlighting the most disturbing male-female ratio in Punjab and Haryana.

Foeticide is a crime and must be handled with determination by prescribing severe punishment. It is highly painful to know that this heinous practice is continuing unchecked with the protection of the local administration and in connivance with nursing homes.

To add insult to injury, the operation to eliminate the foetus is done by quacks. Cases of scissors and syringes not being sterilised before their use have also come to notice. It is, therefore, not surprising if the mother along with the unwanted female child also dies.

The time has come to launch a serious movement to ensure that a "kanya" is no longer treated as a "kalank" in our society. She should rather get the due affection from her guardians in particular and society in general, where she grows up along with her male counterpart. Only then can we rectify the growing male-female imbalance in society.

JAGJIT RAI SAGGAR
Ludhiana