End of an era in Indian politics

The passing of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh marks the end of an era in Indian politics and economics. He leaves behind a legacy unparalleled in modern Indian history. He will be remembered as the architect of India’s 1991 economic liberalisation. As Finance Minister, his visionary policies transformed India into a global economic powerhouse. His measured approach, humility and quiet resolve earned him the respect of leaders and citizens alike. His leadership during the global financial crisis of 2008 helped shield the Indian economy from catastrophic downturns. His knowledge and integrity made him a statesman admired worldwide. Despite challenges and criticisms, he remained steadfast in his commitment to India’s progress, often allowing his work to speak louder than his words. His humility, vision and contributions will forever be etched in India’s history.

Vishal Mayur, by mail

Architect of economic reforms

With the demise of Dr Manmohan Singh, India has lost one of its greatest economic reformists. His unprecedented contribution to lifting the country’s economy through liberalisation made him the pioneer of economic reforms. The reforms spurred foreign investment and helped in sparking an economic boom in India. He would be remembered as a respected politician whose entire career reflected the principles of integrity and honesty.

Amandeep Bains, Sirsa

Prioritising water security

Refer to ‘Interlinking rivers’; the foundation stone-laying for the Ken-Betwa link project is a momentous development in India’s ambitious river interlinking initiative. This project is a vital step towards addressing water scarcity. It also aims to ensure national water security. It promises to alleviate water shortage, enhance irrigation, generate hydroelectric power and provide drinking water. Its successful implementation could transform the agrarian economy of the region and offer a sustainable model for future river-linking projects. While these initiatives offer immense potential, they must be pursued with sensitivity towards environmental and social concerns.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Need optimum utilisation of water

Apropos of ‘Interlinking rivers’; the Ken-Betwa river-linking project may be the country’s first such project under the national plan, but this objective has been attained previously as well. The Beas-Sutlej Link Project in Himachal Pradesh, the Ravi-Beas Link Project in Punjab and the Saryu Canal Project interlinking five rivers in Uttar Pradesh are among the examples. Many other such projects — pending as well as yet to be explored —need to be conceptualised, accomplished and commissioned by rising above political differences. The optimum utilisation of water will benefit more and more needy people in the country as these projects would help meet the growing irrigation demands of farmers.

Krishan Kant Sood, Nangal

Conduct awareness campaigns

With reference to ‘Student visa fraud’; the revelations have once again highlighted the challenges faced by Canada’s immigration policy. The system is plagued by malpractices such as corruption, involvement of educational institutions, fake acceptance letters and unlicensed consultants. There is a need for comprehensive reforms, including offering effective legal recourse to such students by better coordination between the two countries. Regular awareness campaigns should be conducted in India and abroad to inform students about the established rules of conduct, registered consultancy firms and procedure of recourse.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Address stakeholders’ concerns

Apropos of ‘State-specific agri policy is the way forward’; since the release of the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, farmers’ unions, politicians and agricultural economists have expressed concern over some of its provisions. They claim that implementation of the policy in its present form would jeopardise interests of the farming community, thereby giving an edge to private companies. It will also overshadow the working of the state-level APMC system. The government should involve all stakeholders by providing them with a forum to discuss and debate upon the pros and cons of the document. It would help pacify the farmer unions, which are up in arms against the Centre on MSP and other issues.

Raj Kumar Goyal, Patiala