How to prevent breaking of laws

AFTER Independence, or we may call it Partition, trade unionism in all fields has tremendously increased, not in true spirit but totally opposed to the ideal principle of “work is worship”. We have become too aware of our rights, little bothering about our obligations. We waste time in agitations without bothering about the fallout in terms of loss of working hours; without compensating for the same by doing overtime later on when our demands are met.

We feel sadistic pleasure in breaking the law. A very simple example being breaking of traffic rules whenever there is no policeman. Interestingly, the Chandigarh Administration had done a good job in diverting the slow-moving traffic to diversions. The day there was no policeman on duty for the purpose, 95 per cent of the slow commuters broke the law and were on Madhya Marg risking not only others’ but their own lives as well.

We need a strong and pungent dose of punishment to make us disciplined, which was evident from the disciplinary nation displayed during the wars with China and Pakistan. It was rightly said by some great man that disaster brings out the good in one’s character.

JANAK KHANNA and two others
Panchkula

Honouring martyrs’ families

It was heart-warming to see the Indian Air Force hold the first-ever function on November 27 to honour the families of all those who laid down their lives in armed actions since Independence (The Tribune, Nov 28). It is a laudable step worthy of emulation by the other two services, the Army and the Navy.

It is high time we built suitable memorials in Delhi and the state capitals in memory of those armed forces personnel who defended their motherland with their lives and made sacrifices during the past 52 years. It would not only be an enduring symbol of our love and gratitude towards the gallant soldiers, sailors and airmen but also go a long way in enthusing the people, particularly the younger generation, and tell them what their country’s sovereignty, integrity, honour and pride mean in terms of human endeavour, dedication and sacrifice.

Concrete measures also need to be taken to obtain all possible information with a view to follow-up action on the Prisoners of War and those declared missing in order to set at rest doubts, if any, still lingering in the minds of the traumatised families of the armed forces personnel concerned. This is a matter that has profound emotional and humanitarian dimensions, and any positive steps thereon would act as a morale booster to the serving personnel as well.

Wing Commander S.C. KAPOOR (retd)
Noida

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Use of plastics

Plastics are a much-exploited, though an equally condemned, raw material used in the manufacture of many products of daily use. Owing to their non-degradable nature it may be essentially desirable to do away with the use of plastics altogether from the standpoint of environment conservation. It might be prudent to at least restrict their use to only those areas where these are a sine qua non. There are certain areas where these may yet be profitably put to use and still contribute towards conserving the environment.

For instance, rapidly dwindling supplies of metals and wood make it imperative that we urgently seek and search for alternative raw materials in order to help conserve these finite natural resources. One such area through which we can make perceptible difference through sincere endeavours at conserving these is to substitute plastic for metal and paper currency.

In order to save on metal can’t we forego coins now, and just have currency notes. And these too not of paper, but of synthetic polymers like polypropene.

The obvious advantage of such currency notes will be that they will not only last much longer but also not get soiled, crinkled, damp or torn readily. Sweat and rainwater will not be able to shorten their life either. This, added to the fact that the production of polypropene is more economical from the energy conservation point of view (the fuel consumed in its production is substantially less compared to that used to produce either metals for coins or paper for currency notes), makes it the ideal choice under the circumstances.

Australia is leading with polypropene currency notes already in vogue. Couldn’t we emulate their experiment to our benefit?

VIVEK KHANNA
Panchkula