Mailbag

Saraswati Vandana and Education-I

Sir,

A few days back there was an uproar over the issue of 'Saraswati Vandana' in the meeting of Education Ministers' held in New Delhi. The entire opposition opposed the 'Sarawati Vandana' which according to them was an act of idolatory and hence non-secular. If 'Sarawati Vandana' is idolatory, then why do these people lay wreaths on the statues of national leaders-social, political as well as religious on specific occasions. It seems as if some politicians are interested in giving every issue a political twist. They have their own views about secularism depending upon the ideology they preach.

'Saraswati' is the goddess of learning. It is not the goddess of the Hindus alone. It must not be forgotten that there are certain issues that are really secular in nature and spirit. They are the products of the soil and are not imported from out side. They donot preach hatred. Rather they inculcate the sense of emotional unity and oneness among the people. 'Saraswati Vandana' is one such issue. It can go a long way in creating communal harmony among different sections of the people. Unity and integrity of the country will rather be strengthened by such issues.

I appeal to all the concerned to give a second thought to their views about 'Saraswati Vandana' and resist from making it a controversial issue.
Yours etc....
.Subash Chander
President,
State Teacher Welfare Forum.

Saraswati Vandana and Education-II

Sir,

This is in reference to News Item "Non-Official Agenda dropped" (DE October 23). The walkout by Education Ministers of non-BJP parties in the conference of Education Ministers' for exclusion of "Saraswati Vandana" from conference has shocked every one. This is a matter of shame not only for Hindus but for whole of India which is terming itself as a secular nation. Saraswati no doubt is Hindu Goddess but is also the symbol of Education and culture. It is by the good will of Maa Saraswati that India is moving ahead in the field of education. Madrassas are O.K. but Saraswati Vandana is a threat to secularism. Missionary schools are O. K. But Indianising education is anti secularism. Government should do according to its wish as it is the need of the hour.
Yours etc....
Kapil Bhat

Publish Compendium

Sir,

The devotion of Shri Sain Dass Sumbria to the cause of employees is worth emulation. He could, with the help of some well meaning persons, start publishing small book-lets on the rules which affect the employees. It is no secret that pay fixations made in 1974, 82, 87, 92 or even 98 are incorrect mostly in case of the lowest rung of the employees ladder. As these rules are not readily available the affected individuals have to fall back on self-proclaimed store-houses of the rules. In the process these poor people are the worst victim of exploitation. The charges fees claimed are right from 'consultations fee' to fee for each entry of pay or DA. Some-time back one Shri P. N. Dhar Dy Secretary (retd.) through the columns of your paper volunteered to give all the information available with him to any organisation who would publish it. No one is better suited than Shri Sumbria for this yoeman's service. I can assure him that I shall be the first man to purchase the books if he or any other person prints them. He should, as also others press the Government for making up-dated reprints of pay rulers available for the benefit of the public. Is it not strange that Pay Revision Rules from 67 on wards are not reprinted by the Government Presses, and if ever available, not issued to every-body at the prescribed price. Finally, no compilation of DA/ADA is available either in the Press or in the Finance Department, as an evil consequence thereof pay fixations continue to be faulty and mostly incorrect. In the age of automation and computer making this information available is no difficult. If our bankrupt State Government cannot afford it free let them make it a priced publication thus it can be made self-financing scheme. It is a long time now that the State Law Deptt. has published the compendia of Statutory Rules and Orders as it used to. This too has accentuated the misery of the poor employees. Similarly, compilation on Recruitment Rules and other Rules earlier brought out in Constitution Volume-II (in four parts is not available in the press). It is being told that such compilations have bene given up for ever. If it is really so the Law Department should come up with an alternative. It should specify the Volume of J&K Laws wherein these are now available so that poor employees are able to get to them. It is irony that none of the publication available in the Government Press at Jammu has a price mentioned/printed on it. Why! Is it to facilitate arbitrary pricing?

If I extend the scope of his letter, it would be of interest to the readers that most of us cannot have a copy of J&K Consumer Act, J&K Constitution, Motor Vehicle Act the Civil Procedure Code and the like from the Press. The concept of a catalogue is foreign to the administration of our Presses either at Jammu or at Srinagar. The timing of the so-called Book Depot too are irritating and even harrassing. Why should not it be open for full day as a commercial organisations like the Super-Bazar?

It is high time that all concerned citizen extended all kind of assistance and help to Shri Sumbria and his tribe to mitigate the hard-ships of employees in particular and public in general. If Shri Sumbria want we can make a contribution of our mite to this noble cause.
Yours etc.....
Arpit Kandhari
36 Lower Laxmi-Nagar,
Jammu.

Adhoc teachers

Sir,

We have been teaching the degree classes at college level which need expert knowledge, high degree of involvement and latest developments about the subjects. This require additional books and magazines which each one of us have to buy from our own pocket money.

That though we work for whole of the session yet we are drawing salary for not more than seven months. The salary paid to us is much below the dignity of a college teacher.

That we are paid a consolidated amount of Rs. 4000/- per month which is below the amount paid to a primary teacher. It will not be out of place to mention here that a post graduate teacher working in Kendriya Vidyalaya is paid Rs. 7500/- per months. Not only this the adhoc teacher working in Engineering Colleges were getting Rs. 6000/- per month according to the old pay scales. We fail to understand as to why colleges teacher working on academic arrangement are given the lowest priority though they are teaching in degree classes.

That it was the policy of the Government that all adhoc appointees were getting a consolidated pay in which they were appointed. The same was true of college teachers also. We would like to request your goodself to revive the same old Government policy and place us in the minimum grades of lecturer recommended by University Grant Commission.

That all other Government employees are getting enhanced Dearness allowance city, compensatory allowance, medical allowances, and house rent allowance. Unfortunately we also have to bear the same expenses and face the rising prices but our present salary is much below our dignity that can suffice our basic economic needs.

We, therefore, sincerely request you to look into our genuine problems. Keeping in view our status and dignity and raise our consolidated amount to atleast Rs. 8000/- per month as recommended by the University Grant Commission.

Yours etc.....
All teachers working on
Adhoc arrangement.

What about real astrologers?

Sir,

Apropos to Mr K.B. Raina's letter under the caption 'Fake Astrologers' in your esteemed daily dated 28th instant, I would like to say that fake astrologers apart, what about those who are supposed to be real ones? And one 'Astrological Magazine' from Bangalore did make absolutely a wrong prediction in the 1977 annual issue of the said magazine. In the forecast for the year 1977 among other things, he did forecast that Mrs Gandhi would retain power but she lost two months thereafter say in March, 1977 when elections were held.

What Mr. K.B. Raina has to say about such astrologers supposed to be well versed in astrology?

Yours etc............
Pran Nath Tikku
C/o Vikas Nagar,
Jammu-Tawi

Real tribute

Sir,

The Police Commemoration Day was observed on 21 October 1998 to pay tributes to the valiant and patriotic officers and jawans of the police and paramilitary forces who fought with the militants to the last ditch for protecting the unity and integrity of the country. On this occasion it was befitting to remember the brave young men of J&K like SI Daljeet Singh, DSP Gulbadan Singh Bhau, ASI Mohd Siddique, S I Ajay Gupta and countless others, who sacrificed their precious lives for their motherland without caring for themselves. How can the people of J&K over foreget the selfless sacrifices of these martyrs? The least we can do to honour their sacrifices is to render all possible help to the security forces in tracking down the militants and anti-national. This will be our real tribute to these martyrs.

Yours etc............
Rajesh Bargotra,
H.No. 5, Haji Pura, Jammu