Beasts, not human beings

  I WAS shocked to read the news-item “Rape case against 2 teachers” (December 26).

The teachers who allegedly ravished the girl student are beasts, not human beings. According to the Principal of the school, a tour of Anandpur Sahib had been arranged and the girl had gone to their room to get a quilt. It is a pity that, instead of cleansing their souls of the sins at the sacred shrine there, they committed a bestial act.

Can such vile teachers be expected to guide their pupils in the right direction? By their outrageous act, they have brought disgrace to the pious profession of teaching.

Can the honour of girl students be safe in the institutions where such beasts are teachers? Not to speak of keeping them in schools, they are not even worthy of being accepted by society, and deserve to be straightaway ostracised.

Poet Akbar Allahabadi had rightly said about such teachers:

“Ustaad to hon voh magar ustaad ji na hon” (They should be teachers, not rakes).

BHAGWAN SINGH
Qadian

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Declining teaching standard

The missionary schools and colleges, functioning at Shimla have contributed a lot for the development of human resource in India. They have produced many leaders, administrators, teachers, et al, of a very high calibre. The pupils of these institutions take much pride in their alma mater.

However, of late, it is learnt that the functioning of these institutions is not what it should be. Parents are often heard complaining about the engagement of unqualified persons as teachers, and the consequent decline in the standard of teaching. Some parents complain about excessive tuition fees as well.

Keeping in mind the laudable record of these institutions, it is highly desirable that their managements not only refrain from employing unqualified teachers, but also keep the tuition fees at a level commensurate with their actual expenses.

The schools should frequently organise programmes for interaction with parents to know their views as also complaints.

K.L. NOATAY
Shimla

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Insurance: overdue step

The proposed opening up of the insurance sector, freeing it from the rigidities of a state monopoly, is a long overdue step.

It will benefit consumers who will get new products, better service arising from greater choice and competition, and price advantage.

It will provide more opportunities and better salaries to younger employees as also the competent ones in the present set-up, as distinguished from those who are responsible for most of the current scenario of tardy service, and anti-consumer orientation.

Above all, the country will benefit because it will attract huge funds for infrastructure projects which are essential for economic growth.

However, care should be taken to ensure that the Insurance Regulatory Authority functions autonomously and effectively in public interest.

M. R. PAI
Mumbai

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Parliamentarians’ behaviour

The proceedings in Parliament give the semblance of a fish market where, except for pulling the legs of one another, no serious business is transacted. We can broadly call it the demonstration of muscle power. The burning questions facing the nation are the failure of the economy and the nefarious designs exhibited by vested interests. Hardly these issues are raised in Parliament.

May be, these burning issues are not raised either because of some extraneous considerations or there is no capability for this. The members of the august House are elected by a very sacred process of elections where the voters of the country repose their confidence in the elected leaders in order to see that their problems — economic and others — are solved by way of enactment of new laws. They must deliberate in the best interest of the nation. The elected leaders owe at least this much to their voters.

D.S. BALI
Chandigarh