Destruction of heritage

The foundation work of Central Vista is in progress. The declared cost of the project is Rs 20,000 crore. But in the process many heritage buildings face demolition, like the National Museum, National Archives, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Jawahar Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan and the Vice-President’s residence. If one works out the construction cost of these buildings at the current prices, it would exceed Rs 1 lakh crore. So the Central Vista project would be a colossal waste of public money, apart from loss of India’s priceless heritage. After completion of the project, the truncated Rajpath would lose all its beauty and grandeur. It will be an obliteration of history.

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AK Sharma, Chandigarh

Health not a priority

Refer to ‘Every govt chose to neglect healthcare, not just this’, politics apart, every Indian is a nationalist. What our leaders should embrace is the ‘power of love’ rather than ‘love of power’. The present dispensation’s focus is bereft of scientific temper and the focus is on four Gs — gau, gobar, gau mutra and Gayatri Mantra. In a country where the ruling dispensation believes that our surgeons millennia ago could transplant an animal’s head on the human body, priorities like health and education will take a back seat. We are spending minimum on health and education, and the nation’s crisis and sufferings are mainly because of this.

BM SINGH, AMRITSAR

Rural healthcare

Refer to ‘Death in the villages’; besides limiting social, political and religious gatherings, what needs to be urgently attended to, and hugely invested in, is the rural health infrastructure. Most PHCs and CHCs are deficient in nurses, doctors, medicines and ventilators and the technical staff to operate ventilators. ASHA and anganwadi workers and ANMs are overburdened. In this situation, the vaccination drive in the countryside will be a challenge to the government.

Abhimanyu Malik, Jind

Back to basic

‘Redefining education as we know it’ rightly infers that present-day education is merely a concoction of cramming up and engulfing the bitter dose of online lessons. The education system lacks the pleasure of nature, as reflected by Tagore. The education system has transformed students into robots with artificial intelligence. Let us introspect and work toward education laced with desire to know and explore the path as enunciated by Tagore and Krishnamurti.

VK Anand, Chandigarh

Implement NEP

Reference to ‘Redefine learning as we know it’; the entire education system is busy deciding about the conduct of examination, promotion of students, finalisation of admission schedule, modification in academic calendar, utilisation of budget, purchase of equipment, creation of infrastructure and utilisation of exchequer at the maximum level. But, no one is thinking about skill enhancement to strengthen health and education systems. Now, there is a dire need to develop infrastructure and intellectual capital to improve the crumbled health and education systems by revisiting the thoughts and ideologies of Tagore and Krishnamurti. The new National Education Policy has shown the ways to revisit these scholars. Being a teacher, I must say that we all have to implement this policy in letter and spirit, and as soon as possible.

Surinder Singh Kundu, Sirsa

Need ‘union’ govt

Apropos of ‘Pandemic has laid bare flaws in healthcare’; the failure in our vaccine policy lies in complacency. Governments have failed the people as much as the people have failed themselves. Our own carelessness and the selfishness of politicians have landed us here. This crisis has given us an opportunity. We either change our attitudes and system through actions, or stay complacent and keep complaining forever. Results can be achieved only through prioritisation and cooperation. Let politics be forgotten and empathy take its place. The Centre needs to be, as the Constitution mentions, ‘union’ government again.

Tushar Aheer, Bathinda

Police initiative

The Mohali police’s drive to help senior citizens get vaccinated is commendable. After booking, a taxi picked me from my house to the vaccination centre. I was vaccinated in the cab itself. A police officer greeted me and took my Aadhaar card to arrange this. After vaccination, I was advised to remain in the taxi for some time. After 20 minutes, the cop approached me and gave me his number in case of any complication. The service provided by the police reminded me of my friends who appreciate the police in western countries. Well done.

TS KHURANA, Chandigarh

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