A step towards fairness

The Supreme Court’s ruling on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is a landmark decision, one that acknowledges that not all within a reserved category are equal. The ‘quota within quota’ system aims to uplift the neediest and poorest, as some sections have benefited disproportionately. The states must now identify those falling in the creamy layer and exclude them from reservations. This exercise requires a rational and calibrated approach, balancing political and social considerations. Addressing intra-quota imbalances can go a long way towards uplifting those who have long been left behind. The SC verdict has the potential to transform the quota system by ensuring that benefits reach those who need them the most.
Amanjot Kaur, Mohali

Govt punishing the policyholders
Refer to the editorial ‘End the burden’; Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has done well to call for the abolition of the 18 per cent GST on life and medical insurance premiums. It is the government’s inability to cover the cost of the citizens’ treatment that prompts them to sign up for health insurance policies. By levying a heavy tax on premiums, the government is penalising the policyholders for its own failure to provide them with a safety net against the uncertainties of life.
Yoginder Singhal, Ladwa

Skewed allocation of funds
The unfair distribution of funds under the Khelo India scheme smacks of bias. The fact that Haryana has received a meagre sum of Rs 66 crore, while Gujarat — which has sent only two athletes to the Olympics — has secured a whopping Rs 426 crore, is condemnable. Eyebrows are also being raised over the fact that UP, another BJP-ruled state, could manage a staggering
Rs 438 crore in funds under the scheme, even though only six athletes from there are representing India in Paris. Punjab, on the other hand, has netted merely Rs 78 crore. Why is preferential treatment being given to some states where the BJP is in power?
Balvinder, Chandigarh

Invest in robust infrastructure
Apropos of the front-page news report ‘Monsoon mayhem in north’; multiple persons have been killed in three separate incidents of cloudburst in Shimla, Kullu and Mandi. It is deeply concerning that the HP Government has not drawn any lessons from the rain-triggered landslides that wrought havoc on the hill state last year. The authorities concerned have clearly failed to take concrete measures to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies. Besides, the lack of robust infrastructure and evacuation plans leaves entire communities at the mercy of nature. It is imperative that the powers that be invest in advanced weather forecasting technologies and resilient infrastructure. Further, they must ensure a rapid response to calamities to mitigate the loss of lives.
Samridhi Kapoor, Panchkula

Nature unleashes its wrath again
Unchecked deforestation and other human activities that adversely affect the ecology are to blame for the devastating cloudbursts that have roiled Himachal Pradesh. Mother Nature is sending a stern warning to humankind: mend your ways. The least that we can do now is heed her message and vow not to tamper with nature any further. The construction of houses and hotels along the banks of rivers and streams must be stopped immediately. All local residents must be evacuated as soon as possible. Environmental norms must not go for a toss again.
Col RS Narula (retd), Patiala

Rubbing salt in farmers’ wounds
The Haryana Government’s proposal of awarding gallantry medals to six police personnel for showing courage in stopping protesting farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders in February this year is provocative. The move runs counter to the spirit of democratic institutions. It gives one the impression that the agitating tillers’ activities were anti-national. Rather than helping address the farmers’ long-pending demands, the state government is rubbing salt in their wounds. The Centre must step in and resume dialogue with the farmer unions.
Jagdish Chander, Jalandhar

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