Mail

Changing society

Sir,

We may not be able to accept this but it is a reality that misbehaviour and disrespect have become the latest trends of this modern age. Ours is a 5000 years old civilization. Our country dominated the world civilizations for ages. Our great Indian land was the most civilized country of the world. It is a land of great saints, scholars and social reformers who had always taught love and respect between the people. Our country has been advancing in terms of science and technology, but its society has got transformed dramatically in a wrong way.

In the early Indian society, children were taught love and respect for their elders. People of all sections of life lived a disciplined life. But the modern youth have forgotten the basic traditions of our age old civilization. There is growing disrespect among the youth towards their elders. It seems as if these people have ignored the teachings and sayings of the great men of India. The bond of respect which prevailed between, a teacher and a students, a parent and a child, has got vanished. It is common to see students misbehaving with their teachers in educational institutions. Also, the children are seen not obeying their parents. They want all their wishes to get fulfilled and in turn pay no attention to their parents or elders' aspirations. It has been seen that most of those who misbehave with their elders are boys. Some of the youths have love and respect for their elders but their number is not so encouraging as these youths are very few in number. One can see boys arguing with their teachers in class room and having fun out of them. They even abuse these who try their best to shape their lives. Quite a number of times many teachers have either been brutally beaten or killed by these devil minded youths. To kill a teacher is the greatest crime of humanity. These so called modern or fashionable youths should learn how to behave with a person who is a bridge between them and almighty.

Misbehaviour or disrespect is not only confined to youths. It is also prevalent among the other people. A child grows according to the prevailing atmosphere in his home. If the elders of the home teach a child from the very beginning how to behave in society, then that every child will be an ideal citizen of the country. On the other hand, those who grow up in adverse conditions become a course for the society as well as country. That is what many youths have become for our country today. These men are the future of our country. They have to mend themselves. It is the duty of every to show right way to these people because we know only the worthy people can make a nation great.

Yours etc...
Amit Kaul
Jammu.

Encroachments in Housing Colony

Sir,

The Managing Director J&K Housing Board Jammu under No. HB-116/77/2524-45 dated 19.12.1977 invited applications from permanent residents of J&K State for three categories of developed plots viz. (a) economically weaker sections (b) low income group and Middle income group at Housing Colony Phase I, Udhampur and accordingly allotted the same to the concerned in December 1980 for ensuring the construction as per the approved plan. No change in covered areas or front elevation was permissible. All other in the initial stage made construction as per standard designs supplied by the Board but after passage of sometime the remaining allottees got the design of the houses at their sweet will and are also at present making construction accordingly which is well within the notice of management of Board and thus exposed the adjoining houses already constructed and this menace is going on. Thus those who have already made the construction as per design of the Board made some modifications under compulsion in order to make their Houses safe. However, the people have now begun converting the whole houses or parts of it into commercial one there by making the conditions of other residential people miserable. People have set up shops, works shop and other commercial units in the Colony. This is not only violation of the guidelines laid by the Housing Board but these have increased the nuisance value in the form of noise and pollution.

The helpless plot holders have great expectations from present Managing Director J&K Housing Board Jammu Mr. A S Wazir who will get all the violations/encroachments removed as early as possible.

Yours etc...
Inhabitants of Housing
Colony Phase I Udhampur.

Increasing Urbanisation

Sir,

It may be predicted that India will no longer live in villages. Many states can no longer maintain rural set-up. At present, about 300 million people already lives in its towns and cities. It is estimated that this figure will be jumped up to 500 million in the next two decades. According to the latest studies made by the Centre for Policy Research, it is revealed that above situation is inevitable. Besides, this forecast also states that in near future the situation will be like that: fifty percent of Maharastra urban; forty percent of Gujrat and the southern states urban; alongwith dramatic movement and urbanisation in the East and North-East; also significant urbanisation in Punjab, Haryana and Western U.P. Saurastra would be looking at major urban industrial concentration inspite of huge water problem.

The centre for Policy Research has been looking into the issue lately. The study started with Maharashtra, Gujrat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The main growth would be along the major transport corridors that seem to be developing. It means clearly that much of the urban areas would be a "sprawl" rather than concentration. Its also warned that it would be polynodal and functionality of it may not be assured. Actually, distinct feature is the growth of large cities.

By next year, there are million-plus population going up from the present 23 percent to 51 percent. New entrants in this list are Ranchi, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Agra, Jodhpur, Nasik, Vijaywada, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchinapaili. In this way, these cities alongwith others, comprising 51 in all, would be home to 110 million, people i.e. 40 percent of the total urban population. Ultimately, the new urban centres, are unlikely to be another Chandigarh or even Fatehpur Sikri. This structure will be more like the familiar "naan" i.e. with bulges here and there, thin at the edges. It will be shapeless and running out up land, water and even clear air. Alongwith formidable problems, people would provide a host of opportunities, inspite of the cruel fact that none of these conditions seems attractive.

Regarding these conditions, it is felt that we treat urban problems as merely municipal problems (e.g. growth of stray dogs) but the time has reached to change this attitude. Now question is raised will the urban-rural distinction remain relevant or do we require to look at the total settlement picture? The study made by the Centre for Policy Research also revealed that strong, even spectacular, urban growth along what are essentially transport corridors; and, the Golden Quadrilateral Highway Plan, to strengthen links between Delhi-Mumbai-Calcutta-Chennai, has been taken as the pointer to existing patterns.

This shapeless urban growth can ultimately dismantle even our rural set-up and Indian villages may face heavy set back due to this hard fact of urbanisation.

Yours etc...
Dr. Shubhankar Banerjee
G-30, Dhakka Colony
Kingsway Camp, Delhi