Need transparency

The editorial ‘Control of varsities’ rightly states that added responsibility is required. Unfortunately, in our country, a teacher at every level is an odd cog in the machinery of education. He does only what the government wants him to do. If the Haryana Government is so serious about streamlining the administration of ailing universities and the standard of higher education, a committee of highly competent and upright teachers, headed by a VC, should select teachers. A great deal of the mischief is due to the secrecy in which the procedures for choosing academics are shrouded. A sound policy would be to let the entire academic community know about the procedure, and the persons available. Over the last two decades, the standard of education in Haryana and its neighbouring states has already gone down due to poor quality of teaching and undue political and bureaucratic interference in our educational institutions. There are no statutory substitutes for the will to insist on right standards. Universities could be well managed, and yet be poorly led.

Muskan Popli, Hisar

Integrity, above all

Several of the recent proposals/decisions of the Haryana Government vis-a-vis higher education are ill-advised, like the proposed transfer of colleges in Panchkula and Ambala districts to Panjab University, appointment of senior IAS officers as Pro VCs, formation of search committee for appointment of Registrars, and recruitment of teachers and senior officers through the HPSC. The later three will be in violation of UGC guidelines. It seems the Higher Education Council is not providing proper advice to the government. It is paradoxical that the government appoints VCs through the search committees, and then doesn’t trust them to make appointments. Efforts should be made to find VCs of very high academic standing and impeccable integrity, and then trust them. All well-established universities and institutions do so. In addition, procedures followed by NITs and IITs can be adopted for appointment of faculty.

Hari Singh, Kurukshetra

More & more sops

Apropos of ‘Pre-poll power sops bleed exchequer’, the doles of the state government have put PSPCL in a precarious financial position. Already it is facing power theft worth Rs 1,200 crore annually. The fresh announcements by the Channi government are to cost cash-strapped Punjab Rs 4,966 crore. To add to the woes of PSPCL, the latest announcement of reduction in power tariff by Rs 3 per unit will put an additional burden of Rs 3,316 crore on the exchequer. Moreover, the payment of power bills amounting to around Rs 2,000 crore of government departments is also pending. Consequently, PSPCL is unable to discharge its obligations properly towards its employees, pensioners and consumers. With an eye on the polls, Channi is making such announcements, but unfortunately, there is no roadmap for making up these losses. Before doling out concessions, the government must chalk out a plan to compensate the department concerned for its survival and smooth functioning.

NK Gosain, BATHINDA

Mafias in Punjab

Reference to the transport mafia in Punjab that could be the major cause of the empty treasury of Punjab. Thousands of farmers committed suicide due to indebtedness, employees were not paid DA and the younger lot did not get jobs. The treasury remained empty because the revenue went into the pockets of the mafia like transport, sand and liquor, for the past 14 years, due to the dubious attitude of both the SAD and the Congress. Politicians are responsible for the woes of the people and will bear the brunt of their deeds.

Jaswant singh, Chandigarh

Political disloyalty

Since elections are due next year in five states, political leaders have started shifting loyalty from one party to another. In order to join a new party, they must praise its ideology and pro-people policies. Such leaders are cheating and playing with the sentiments of the common people who supported them during their previous tenure. They have enjoyed it at the cost of the people. They have no regard for them, but only their personal interests as a leader.

SOHAN LAL BHUMBAK, CHANDIGARH

Change perspective

Refer to ‘Taking stock of security’; more than China’s unprecedented rise, economically and militarily, the real worry is its intentions and attitude towards the world at large. It wants to become the number one power. India is an obstruction in its implementation, and, therefore, it wants to keep the ‘pot boiling’. Keeping in mind the 1.80 billion world Muslim population, we have to refurbish our policy towards Pakistan and other Islamic states, as in the event of an open conflict they will not stand by India. We have limited options. No amount of permutation and combination theory with other distant nations can help, except the immediate neighbours.

SUDERSHAN WALIA, AMRITSAR

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