Regional disparity

Refer to ‘A year of apathy’ (Nous Indica); the migrants’ sufferings pointed to certain ground realities to which we must now awaken. We have disturbing regional disparity in terms of economic growth. Most migrants hailed from UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Odisha. For these states, we need to visualise a blueprint for holistic agricultural and industrial growth on priority. We should train ourselves mentally and culturally to accept them as equal humans. Traders and businessmen need cheap labour for running their factories but they must be bound by law to pay them full wages even during lockdown or any such emergency. We must empower them permanently so that they do not undergo the same ignominy again.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

Akin to bandh

The weak and the poor are always at the receiving end, and sadly, the apathy of the insular elite in the government and society is telling. The Covid resurge points to more lessons unlearnt than learnt. All bandhs impact lives and livelihoods and any lockdown is tantamount to a state-mandated bandh. Let those in the 20-60 age range that go out to work be inoculated first, though vaccination must be opened to all. Strict compliance of Covid protocols and mass vaccination is the only key.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Workers vulnerable

Apropos of ‘A year of apathy’, the Indian economy, especially the informal sector, has been witnessing unprecedented slowdown and unemployment, aggravated due to the pandemic in recent months. NGOs, employers, and even the SC stepped in, in light of the vulnerability of the migrant workers. The local authorities should be empowered to take decisions pertaining to lockdown, as and when necessary.

Sikandar Bansal, Shimla

Structural discrimination

Apropos of ‘Women Army officers’, last year the SC had said short commission women officers were entitled to permanent commission. It has once again affirmed equality, pointing to the structural discrimination against women in a society ‘created by males and for males’. Women have fought a long battle for inclusion in the military, against various forms of patriarchal disregard, protectiveness and hostility. As they continue to press for more parity in the defence forces, the court’s reminder about implicit gender biases and structural justice will serve as a guide to the Army, and also to the rest of us.

MS KHOKHAR, by mail

Women officers

Women have played a vital role in every field of the armed forces. Their induction has boosted their confidence and also gained them the respect of society. Their dedication to duty has benefited all three forces. If they are inducted into technical and non-technical cadres, with little concession or a compromise in respect of their sex, a new structure in the defence forces will emerge that would compete with the forces of other countries.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR, Hamirpur

Out of race

Reference to ‘No CAA if elected to power: Manmohan to Assam voters’; it is interesting that the former PM has claimed that the Congress would not implement the CAA, while urging the people to vote wisely and elect a government that will uphold constitutional and democratic principles. The use of words ‘if elected’ in his pre-poll speech, reveals his ‘out of sync’ party’s real inside story. One wonders if its ‘Jan manifesto’, making a whole lot of promises to gullible voters, will make any dent on the BJP’s poll prospectus.

SK Gupta, New Delhi

Stick to model conduct

Reference to Bengal elections; nonviolence is the very essence of democracy. Violence does not bode well for a healthy political system. It is the moral duty of every political party to give due deference to the election process and refrain from any act which vitiates the political atmosphere. Power or no power, they should not stoop low to garner votes. Governments come and go, but there should be no deviation from the model code of conduct. All political parties should instruct their cadres to act in a responsible manner.

Santosh Jamwal, Hamirpur

Parks not for prayers

Refer to ‘Another bid to disrupt namaz in Gurugram’; should it not have been ‘Another illegal attempt to take over public property’? A park is not a place of worship and neither are roads. This practice of offering prayers on public property needs to be stopped, else it will create law and order issues.

Aman Puri, SHIMLA

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com