Mail

Re-induction of George

Sir,

This is in reference to news item "PM rejects opposition demand on Fernandes Re-induction" (DE October 16,2001). It is not surprising as he has already been given clean chit and again made NDA Convenor. In Net Poll published in HT October, 15 2001, 76.31 percent people have voted against the re-induction of this man in the cabinet without being cleared by the Vankataswami Commission which also has no effect on the PM. If R K Hegde interview in the electronic media is to be believed, Fernandes demanded from Vajpayee at the point of a gun in return for the Samata Party support in the formation of the Government in 1998. The re-induction of this man into the cabinet without clearing by the Commission and that too as a Defence Minister, again shows that the BJP when was in opposition its leaders used to cry hoarse over corruption, scams and the like in high places but after tasting power at the centre only for 13 days in 1996 it rushed into alignments and alliance with all sort of shady character thus compromised with party principles for lust of power. The people had much expectations from this party but they also shaken their confidence and thus are puzzled whom to vote as no political party is clean and this all is dangerous for the whole nation. The slogan Dus main se nau beiman, phir bhi mera desh mahan (nine out of ten are dishonest, yet our country is great) which deserves a place on the four sides of vehicles of our political leaders and other VIPs who are responsible for this condition of the country.

Yours etc...
B L Balwal
Udhampur.

Nobel prize and controversy

Sir,

It refers to the controversy generated over Vidyasagar Naipal being honored with Nobel Prize for Literature! It is great for India that world has followed India in initiating controversies in Nobel Prize, like our country usually has in National awards including Padma and Arjuna awards. It is also great of India that it feels proud to acknowledge such winnings by persons of Indian origin; even crowning them with Padma awards in some cases. It is other thing that such honoured persons expose that they had to leave India because they could not get jobs in 'system' prevailing in our great country!

At least Nobel committee should try to rise above controversies by proper selections. It should make the selection-procedure public to maintain supremacy of prestigious Nobel Prize as the only ones of their kind in the world!

Yours etc...
Madhu Agrawal
1775 Kucha Lattushah,
Dariba Delhi 110006

Pittance of Private teachers

Sir,

Kudos for the editorial of your esteemed paper entitled "Private Teachers". Their tale of woe will bring tears to the hardened anchorites. They are caught between devil and the deep sea, as they cannot raise their eyebrows for fear of termination and they have been bearing the brunt of low wages for decades together. Now some voice of God has ringed your ears to highlight their miseries. They have become victims of ruthless exploitation. They have no alternative except to be tongue tied as they are under the beck and call of their callous management. They do a Yoeman's service for the betterment of their institutions and accept the pittance in a low profile.

Want, poverty and swelling unemployment compels them to act according to the whims and wishes of their bosses and be content with their lot, despite their talents capabilities and creativity. The retired employees can do, as it is a supplement to their income, but is a supplement to their income but the youngsters cannot eke out a living and are caught in the web of misery and misfortune, as their wages are abnormally low.

Let the same judgement prevail among the management of private (Public) schools and employ youth preferably to solve the problem of unemployment and pay a good salary according to their talents.

Yours etc...
K L Dhar
House No. 40, Ustad Moh.
Jammu.

Sustainable agriculture

Sir,

In the new millennium, the challenges in the agriculture sector are quite different from those met in previous years. The shortage of food and immense increase in population are two closely interwined factors that are the crux of most problems faced by regions across the world in the present global scenario. With the population boom a sustainable increase in the production of foodgrains to feed the every increasing hungry mouths in becoming of difficult task. As population grows land scarcity increases and water and other natural resources decreases. As a result, mankind has had to face food shortage, hunger and malnutrition.

It has been estimated that by the year 2020 South East Asia will have less than a hectare of arable land per head. Land in one of the inputs required for agriculture and is an important natural resource. The shortage of natural resources gives rise to vicious cycle of malnutrition and poverty. This cycle can be broken if people have means to generate income to purchase food or there are adequate resources to produce food for their needs. Hence, the greatest challenge facing mankind, today, is to ensure sufficiency of food for hungry millions.

In order to achieve food security and nutritional well-being at gross -root level, it is the individual who need to adopt viable strategies at house hold level so that they can optimally utilize whatever food is available to them. By achieving food and nutritional security for each household we can attain food and nutritional security for the community, State, nation and world as a whole. A household community and nation can become self-sufficient in food if they opt sustainable agriculture.

Sustainable agriculture involves growing of crops with Judicious utilization and conservation of natural resources like soil, water and protecting the environment at the same time.

Natural resources must be used in a viable manner providing equal opportunity to everyone regardless of their socioeconomic conditions. To begin with, concerned departments must foster active dialogue with farmers about how to use their land optimally for agriculture purposes, gain access to farm implements and equipments, increase the budget for research in agriculture, promote education and extension work and provide environmental monitoring in order to reduce the existing damage of ecological system. Traditional methods of agriculture, irrigation without proper scheduling excessive exploitation of soil etc. have caused the environmental social and ecological problems. To overcome these problems sustainable approach is the right solution.

Yours etc...
Narinder Paul "Jyotu"
Kathua.