Mailbag

Need of simultaneous elections

Sir,

While considering demand for fixed 5-years term for Lok Sabha, thought must also be given for restoring to a systematic cycle of simultaneous elections of President and Vice President. Post of Lok Sabha Speaker may be upgraded to that of a Vice President. President and two Vice Presidents may be simultaneously elected by all MPs and MLAs within three months of formation of new Lok Sabha in the manner President is elected. One of these highest three posts of the country must be reserved for women! Senior Vice President may be made President in case a vacancy is caused at the post of President in between the term. However an interim Vice President may be elected by MPs only in case of vacancy is caused in between the term at this post ! Vice President as chairperson of Lok Sabha, will ensure impartial functioning of Lok Sabha proceedings in this present era of politics.

Deputy chairpersons of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must also be elected by secret ballots by respective houses immediately after formation of new Lok Sabha, avoiding unnecessary delay as happened in electing present Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.

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

Emphatic win !

Sir,

Indian hockey team's gold medal winning performance at the 13th Asian Games which just concluded at Bangkok is worth-mentioning on two counts. Firstly, going by India's pre-games performance only a supernatural power could have predicted such a win. Secondly, the win ensured Indian team's direct entry into the Sydney Olympic to be held in the year 2000. The much awaited hour of glory for Indians came after a drought lasting not less than 32 years. It was same Thai capital, 'the city of Angels', where India last won hockey gold in the Asian games of 1966 beating archival Pakistan by a solitary goal. It is important to mention here that India's last major hockey achievement was a gold medal at the Moscow Olympics of 1980.

India started her campaign at the games on a winning note netting nine goals against a hapless Singapore team and it was followed up by 7-0 thrashing of the Bangladesh team. Then China 2-1 in the next encounter, before knocking down the Koreans by the same margin in the last league match. In the semi-final Indians were pitted against the Japanese team who were made to lick the dust by the Indians, beating them by a 3-1 margin. In the final, Indians were against the mighty Koreans again and what a match it turned out to be. India won the tense final in the tie breaker to claim the gold. Indian Captain and the mercurial forward Dhan Raj Pillay led from the front slamming 11 goals in matches. We would be failing in our duty if we don't mention the name of Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, the India Hockey Coach, without whose able guidance, the win won't have been possible. With Sydney Olympics less than two years away let us hope Asian hockey team continues the winning spree.

Yours etc..
Aditya Sharma
Jammu.

Privatisation of Insurance Sector

Sir,

The P V Narasimha Rao's Government was in favour of opening up of India's Insurance sector to foreign players. Its move was then opposed tooth and nail by the BJP. But now the BJP led coalition Government has decided to open up the Insurance Sector to Foreign investment, which is indeed a step in the right direction. After all, it is always better to be late than never. As per the Union Cabinet's decision, foreign Insurance Companies will be allowed to hold upto 26 per cent of the equity of a private Indian Insurance Company, while other foreign institutional investors NRIs. etc. can hold another 14 percent. Now one can hope that the Indians will have access to a wider range of insurance products at lower cost.

At the same time, the left Front, the BJP friendly Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manchan ally of the ruling BJP, and other small parties opposed to the process of liberalisation and are planning massive protests against the opening up of the insurance sector. All of them opposing the opening up of the insurance sector say that they are acting in national interest. But who will decide

what is in national interest? The elected representatives of the people or those who have been rejected by the people at the hustings.

The Rakesh Mohan Committee report of 1996 estimated that the country's total requirements to finance infrastructure such as power, roads, ports, telecom, et al would aggregate to 115-130 billion US dollars over the next five years. There is practically no prospect of mobilising resources of this magnitude in the public sector. And over the next ten years, according to one estimation, India needs at least Rs. 325,000 crore for major infrastructural areas. One has to think where from money of such magnitude will come. Can the left Front and other parties opposing the privatisation of the Insurance Sector answer this query? The privatisation of the Insurance sector has therefore, become imperative for infrastructure development. After all, allowing more players in the field will channel more funds for infrastructure development.

India has the potential to achieve an annual growth rate of seven to eight percent. But without removing the infrastructural bottlenecks, a GDP growth of seven to eight percent is just a pipe dream. Reforms in the Insurance Sector by injecting competition are therefore, of crucial importance for financing infrastructure investments. Unlike the BJP and its allies, the Congress has long been in favour of opening up the insurance sector. Yet, there is no guarantee, the Congress will stick to its earlier position, afterall if the Swadeshi camp can have second thoughts so too can the liberalisers. But let's hope the Government will succeed in its endeavours to steer the necessary legislation through both Houses of parliament. After all, hope sustains life.

Vishal Salgotra
Poonch Road, Akhnoor

Implementation of CCE Scheme

Sir,

In my last letter on December, 18, 1998, I could only highlight the importance and operational drawbacks of the CCE scheme and now I would like to suggest some measures to implement the scheme effectively.

Firstly, the concerned higher authorities including JKBSE and Directorate of School Education should make appropriate arrangements for training of all school teachers. Manuals of CCE scheme should also be made available in Hindi, Urdu and English to all school teachers so that they (teachers) may be able to understand the meaning, concept and objectives of this scheme. Secondly, a time bound calendar showing dates of various tests should be framed in the beginning of every academic session and the same should be made available to each teacher well in time. All the heads of the schools and administrative units should be made responsible to follow and implement the calendar as per norms and directions and the defaulters should be booked as per rules framed in this regard.

Thirdly, the non-scholastic activities and physical education should be included in the syllabi and be made compulsory for all. There should be one PET in each primary school and two to three PETs in each middle and high school respectively and their job should be specified. They should never be assigned with the job of teaching subjects other than physical education. All of the DIETS should be placed under direct administration of school authorities. The present offices of the District Youth Welfare Officers should be converted into Research and Training Centres for physical education. The students should be evaluated formally in non-scholastic and physical education activities through theory and practical tests.

Fourthly, parents participation should also be involved in all schools. At least one parents'-teachers' meeting should be held after each unit test or examination for which appropriate funds should also be provided/created. In this parents'-teachers' meeting progress and weaknesses of the students should be discussed and appropriate remedial measures should also be worked out.

Fifthly, the answer scripts should be evaluated well within time and the same should be returned to the students for their self evaluation and satisfaction. These should be re-collected by the teachers for keeping records after inspection by parents. Subsequently, reasons for poor teaching-learning should be determined and remedial coaching for poor learners be provided. This would make the process of teaching-learning not only more effective, but also more realistic and democratic. The problem of wastage and stagnation may also be reduced to great extent.

And lastly, the administrative authorities should also spare sometime to inspect schools for visualising performance and problems of school teachers. Their inspections should not only be limited upto finding faults and awarding punishment but also to provide proper guidance and support to the teachers. And all these steps would create a pleasant atmosphere in Government schools whereunder majority of our younger generations are under cultivation.

Yours etc.....
O.P. Sharma
Bagnoti (Nowshera)