Poll panel’s powers

Mr S. Sahay’s article, “Election Commission’s powers — an alarming development” (The Tribune, November 10), quoting a national daily to give out that a move was afoot to fill the vacancy in the Election Commission caused by the retirement of Mr GVG Krishnamurthi with a person amenable to the interests of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and that the NDA government was also thinking of expanding the commission and so pack it as to neutralise the powers of the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M.S. Gill, makes exceedingly disturbing reading. How shocking and deplorable, if the Press report quoted by the eminent journalist happens to be even partially true!

Indisputably enough, the Election Commission seems to have functioned, over the years, with remarkable efficiency/impartiality. It has virtually delivered the expected goods, generally speaking. The vital organ of the country’s democratic set-up can be tinkered with only at our national peril.

Under the circumstances, I fully share Mr Sahay’s view that any move/design, if true, to subvert the Election Commission so as to make it serve the NDA’s partisan purposes must be opposed tooth and nail not only by the Fourth Estate but also by the public at large. Indeed, the mindless move must be nipped in the bud, as the writer aptly concludes.

TARA CHAND
Ambota (Una)

Entering 21st century

We have got no right to celebrate our entry in the 21st century. It is on record that with all our efforts during the past half a century, our people are poor and backward.

It is on record that half of our population is illiterate. It is also a fact that of every 10 candidates coming out of the schools and colleges only one gets a job and the remaining are on the waiting list of the employment exchanges. It is also a fact that most of the people have got no residential accommodation.

Most people wear rags imported from foreign countries. Some are so poor that they are not in a position to get medical treatment when they are ill because they cannot afford to purchase costly medicines.

It is a fact that the wealth created by the people is snatched away from them through high prices, bribes, corruption and the sale of quotas, jobs and licences. It is on record that crimes against women are on the increase. Women are sold, abducted and raped. There is no end to reports of dowry killings. Some newly wed women had to commit suicide because they could not bring heavy dowry from their parents.

Children are forced to work the people in power are amassing wealth, and surpluses are deposited in foreign banks in secret accounts. The people of India who have been declared masters of this country have been given only the right to vote. Beyond this practically they have got no right because after each election they are pushed back to suffer for another term of five years or so and are always ignored.

We will be entering the 21st century with these and many other problems. We cannot be better the coming century too!

DALIP SINGH WASAN
Patiala

Computers & February

The Y2K problem in the computer industry seems to have been controlled by the experts in India and abroad. There is another similar problem about which no mention is being made.

In the year 2000 February is going to be of 30 days. This phenomenon comes once in 400 years. The computers have to be February 30 compliant. Railway reservations meant for February 30 will not be accepted by the computers if they are not February 30 compliant, which will give rise to a lot of complications. There are many other fields like air reservations and banks where such complications are bound to occur if this problem is not solved.

R.N. MALIK
Panchkula

Tailpiece

Define the UNO?

Answer: Under-Nourished Organisation!

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA
Amritsar

BCG vaccination

This is with reference to a recent report by the ICMR highlighting the futility of the BCG vaccination among children. In the past also there has been a lot of controversy over this. Various studies have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the BCG vaccination for the prevention of tuberculosis, the dreaded scourge responsible for a lot of cases of morbidity and mortality in our country.

The vaccination of newly-born babies and mass vaccination programmes were thought to be the best method of controlling this disease. However, in the light of the recent ICMR report and a previous study at Chingelput, Tamil Nadu, there is a suggestion to drop the routine BCG vaccination.Before we call it a day, we must review the past research.

It has been widely agreed upon by eminent researchers that though there is little difference in the incidence of primary TB among vaccinated and unvaccinated children, the more serious forms of TB like that of brain (meningitis), bone and kidney and definitely widely prevalent in unvaccinated groups. The number of cases of a complicated form of TB like meningitis has been declining over the years after the inclusions of the BCG vaccination in National Tuberculosis Control Programme.

This has happened in spite of the emergence of multidrug resistant types of TB bacilli.So, before we throw it away, let us re-evaluate the various factors which could be responsible for the failure of this vaccine rather than blame its “inefficacy” on the prevention of TB.

(Dr) J.S. CHUGH
Ludhiana