A poor show

Reference to ‘A day to forget for men’s hockey team’, our men’s hockey team surrendered to the Australian squad so meekly that it never looked, at any stage of the match, that this was the team from the same country that once ruled the hockey world. It is said people forget how many goals a goalkeeper saved but they remember the ones he conceded. It seemed as if our team were playing without a goalkeeper to defend the goalpost. It is the biggest loss for our hockey team since the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games when it was defeated (6-1) in the group stage. We can strike back if we forget this defeat like a bad dream and play in the coming matches like a team with determination.

Faqir Singh, Dasuya

Preserving groundwater

Along with Punjab, Haryana is also confronted with rapid groundwater decline that poses a serious threat to human life and environment. The Khattar government’s decision to give financial incentives to the distressed and debt-ridden farmers for crop diversification is appreciable (‘From paddy to pulses’). Proper policy-making and implementation at the micro level for marketing and procurement facilities, and ensured remunerative prices for alternative crops are important prerequisites for breaking the cycle of water-guzzling paddy-wheat monoculture. The government should develop a rainwater harvesting system, regulate the supply of municipal water in urban areas, check illegal construction of borewells and spread awareness to save this elixir of life for our future generations. It’s time Punjab follows suit.

DS Kang, Hoshiarpur

Playing with nature

The Kinnaur landslide is an urgent warning to humanity to stop interfering in the normal course of nature. The unfortunate incident, that claimed the life of nine tourists, is the outcome of playing with nature by disturbing the course of rivers, and deforestation. We must not forget that as and when human beings, in the name of infrastructural development, try to create imbalance between forests, flora, fauna and topography, nature hits back in the form of floods and landslides. Sooner we stop this interference, the better it will be.

VK Anand, Chandigarh

Manipulating data

This refers to the report ‘Excess deaths in West Bengal 11 times official Covid-19 tally’. Majority of the states have window-dressed the Covid-19 data. One cannot appreciate the need to fudge and manipulate the data. Are the governments not reliable and trustworthy? There are hundreds of bereaved families languishing and striving to come to terms with their losses, and such an apathetic behaviour of the government is insensitive.

Aanya Singhal, Noida

Jab for senior citizens

The second dose of Covid vaccine (Covishield) of my wife, who is a senior citizen, was due on July 20. Since then, we have been running from pillar to post to get the second dose, but have been told that either it is unavailable, or the stock has exhausted, and that we should go to a vaccination centre in Chandigarh, or to enquire after a few days. The government should show some consideration for senior citizens. Earlier, we were told that we would be given the vaccination at our residence.

Paramjit Singh, Mohali

Focus on education

Apropos of ‘Health, education neglect’, both the important areas have been neglected since 1947. Education has been given lip sympathy throughout. In the sector of education, administration and finance have not been attended to adequately. Educational administration has become a complex subject, especially after increase in enrolment and digitisation. An Indian Education Service could not be created despite many recommendations. We have also not been able to provide sufficient finances for education, not even to the tune of 6% of GDP, as recommended by various commissions and committees. Nothing much can be expected unless these two reforms are put into action. These recommendations have also been highlighted in the National Education Policy 2020, most of whose provisions may hardly see the light of day without meeting these suggestions.

S Kumar, Panchkula

Reminder to children

Refer to ‘HC: Children expected to look after elderly parents’; the reminder to children that it is their duty to look after their parents, as mandated under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, is appreciable. Perhaps children forget that their parents invest enormously in them. Even in cases of extreme harassment and misbehaviour, parents keep bearing the indifference to avoid stigma. They do not share their ordeal with anybody. The children start nagging them with the aim to usurp their property. Under compulsion, parents choose either to knock the court’s door or shift to an old-age home. The court’s reminder will be a relief for all such distressed parents.

Santokh Singh, Jalandhar

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