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Degree college at Basohli

Sir,

I on behalf of the students' community want to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the long pending demand of the students of tehsil Basohli for opening up of a Degree College at Basohli. It has come to our notice that the Government is contemplating on opening up of a Degree College in the hilly regions of tehsil Basohli, Billawar and Bani. The place most suitable for opening up of degree college is Basohli town. Following are the arguments in favour of opening up of a degree college at Basohli.

The town is having the tehsil headquarters for long. In fact, the other two tehsils were carved out of Basohli tehsil. Without enhancing its status, now if the government is contemplating of opening up a degree college, it should be opened up at Basohli town, as it is the older one.

Due to the construction of dam over river Ravi, the distance of Kathua from Basohli has increased by about 35 kms thereby increasing the journey by about 2 hours and also increasing the fare of the bus. Now it takes 4 hours to reach Kathua.

Moreover, from Bani, it takes about 9 hours to reach Kathua, where the college is situated. So, it has become difficult for the poor and girl students to pursue their study after higher secondary.

The Basohli, town would be ideal due to its location. It is situated at the central place of both Billawar and Bani.

The most plausible reason, for opening the degree college at Basohli is that the Government Higher Secondary School is already having the surplus building of about 15 rooms, which is lying vacant. So, if the Government takes decision to open up a degree college at Basohli, there would be no need for construction of very big building. Moreover, the school is already having the play ground of about 100 kanals, the biggest in the region, but if still the need arises for acquiring the additional land it can be acquired, as the land adjoining the school is vacant.

So keeping in view about points, I again request the Government to open up a degree college at Basohli.

Yours etc....
Manmohit Sharma
Secretary ABVP
Basohli.

Changing lifestyle

Sir,

The news item 'Stress can be managed by changing lifestyles' (DE October 2, 2000). Very appropriately emphasises on changing life styles for lowering the level of stress. Changing lifestyle for the better is the most difficult battle a man has to fight which deals with the inner changes of a human being. We are all governed by our lifestyle which in turn is based on our habits. Our habits, specially those which are not contributing towards our evolution, have a very strong hold on us which we are not even aware. Our external behaviour is guided by such habits and we are literally slave to them. Habit is a practice which we have been following mostly unconsciously over the years and it contributes towards our character. A man may be asked to stop drinking or smoking on medical advice which eventually means giving up a substandard habit. But one should not allow oneself to be dictated by others for changing a lifestyle. One should be able to make a decision on what to follow or what not to follow in life, by his own personal understanding. This requires sensitivity towards finer values of life which one should develop by shaping the intellect so as to discriminate between good and bad.

We have a tendency to live mechanically from morning to evening which gives us no scope for knowing or understanding ourselves. It is not our fault also because a 9 to 5 man in his routine finds little time to attend to himself. But we can all find sometime for ourselves if we have an inclination for bettering ourselves. To change our lifestyle on our own a whole hearted effort is required. We are all capable of doing so.

The other thing which requires the attention of the elders is to keep a watch on the life style of their children. Children are easily affected by the environment and as such parents have to see that their children are not tempted to develop unclean habits. Besides parents, the teachers, should also be watchful as they are also the parents of their pupils in a broader sense of the word.

Yours etc...
Lt. Col R K Langar
Shastri Nagar,
Jammu.

Plight of senior citizens

Sir,

We are thankful to the Government of India who have placed the Senior Citizens of the country in high esteem and have provided a little concession in Railway and Air Fares. Old age is a blessing, as it for all purposes connotes, ''embodiment of experience and wisdom, no more required to be placed in the Laboratory for experiment or test.''

In practical field, we give no credence to it. Taking oldman as useless entity, there is a complete breakdown in moral, & ethical values, Just see the fate of an old man, deserted by his close, nearest and dearest moving hither and thither like a stray dog, counting days for eternal sleep. There is also no plan of programme with the Government to rehabilitate him honourably with the result there is no choice with the old man except to seek the final end through the help of these lines ''when the terrors of life counter balance with the terrors of death man committs suicide''.

Very recently, I laughed gently at myself, when a young clerk working in one of the offices behaved below the degree and spirits with an aged person who had come with some purpose to know the status of the case. The poor fellow left like a wet cat without giving vent to his anger. This amounts to aberration and needs to be discouraged.

Old man expects respect care, and quick-service from the youngsters. Moreover, it all depends upon officers of the department to see that the cases of senior Citizen are attended to with utmost promptitude.

Recently, Minister of Communication announced rent free phone for Gallantry awardees. It is a laudable step. It is requested, purely on humanitarian grounds that similar concessions be extended to Sr. Citizens keeping in view their monthly pensionary emoluments, their health hazards and other allied difficulties.

In the backdrop of it, it is expected that the Sr. Citizens be treated with respect and courtesy giving no place for humiliation, delay and resentment as provided sufficiently under Article 41 of the Constitution.

Yours etc...
P N Sus
129, Surya Vihar,
Jammu