Mailbag

Employees on Agitational path

Sir,

Once again the State employees are on a collission course with the Government over the non-fulfillment of their demands which if left unattended may prove detrimental to the interests of the state which is presently reeling under severe financial crunch. The Government on its part is committed to the release of DA installments which have become due to the employees since Jan 1999 and any dilly dallying by the Government on this count may result unwarranted and unnecessary confrontation with the vast chunk of state employees who have been discharging their duties in the most trying and extreme circumstances on account of the wide spread terrorist activities in the state against which the employees are braving all odds with sheer purpose of honesty, sincerity and devotion to their duties. The Government's plea that the state economy has got crippled because of Vth pay Commission recommendation implementation do not augur well as the Govt, always chalk out such policies and programmes without any effective and constructive planning which kills the very purpose of these programmes as every thing gets out of gear in very short course of time. The fault not lies with the politicians alone but also with our top echelon in the administration who do not exercise their mind over the heavy budgeting and mounting pressure on the economy. The examples can be cited of the above 40,000 recent appointments which have left such a huge pressure over our economy and resource crunch that this state instead of receiving huge funds from the Centre may still fail to control the situation which in bound to deteriorate further. The Govt, instead of adopting rigid and confrontationist course should take bold and effective initiatives laid as under :-

''The Government should immediately withdraw all the vehicles from the Govt officials except a few which may be required in emergencies. The Government should without any further delay issue orders banning the further appointments for a period of one to two years.

The Government should cut down expenditure drastically incurred over official function & etc.

The Government should stop all the renovations repairs and other allied things of the official quarters of ministers bureaucrats etc.

The Government should set up of a higher financial regulatory authority to monitor the expenditure over productive and non-productive schemes.

The Government should cut down the size of ministry to nearly ten so that this small state is not over burdened financially.

The Government should stress over the implementation of the self employment schemes through effective mobilisation and scheming of things.

The Government instead of adopting rigid postures should talk to the genuine representatives of employees to resolve the issues to the best interests of the state.

The Govt should like other state Governments embark upon a programme of housing colonies for employees on society basis through the involvement of HUDCO and other agencies etc..

Yours etc...
H L Bindroo
Bohri Talab-Tiloo
Jammu.

Pillars of society

Sir,

Recently on Nov. 26, 1999, the Supreme Court; the highest seat of justice, celebrated its Golden Jubilee Year. On this occasion, the honourable Chief Justice of the Apex Court of India, Dr A S Anand inaugurated the NJC (National Judicial Council) and highlighted the speedy justice for the criminals languishing in jails accused of petty offences. Such a statement gives ray of hope to the innocents, victims of oppression, falling into the vicious death trap of corrupt bullies and bureaucrats, who harass and calm them by callous and authoritative statements without a grain of sympathy for these honest souls, alleged of various violations. They try to share the blood of these meek and mild people and chop their flesh like ravenous rooks.

In this critical age, when corruption has entered into every nerve of public life, the helpless meek mild and socially deprived people have no alternative excepts to approach the jurists and journalists to seek the redressal of their just and genuine grievances. Thus jurists and journalists are the two vital pillars of Democracy.Democracy can survive only when these two indespensable wheels run smoothly without succumbing to the pressures of influence and power. The role of jurists has assumed more significance than ever before, because they have to act as saviours of the suffering souls, being deprived of their reasonable rights to live with honour and dignity.

The role of journalists can not be underestimated, as they serve a noble social cause, by bringing into lime light the evils of corruption, favouritism, nepotism and exploitation of the innocents without fear and favour. They serve God in the best way by exposing how his noble creations suffer from denigration deceit, trouble and torture.

Now we are on the threshold of the next millennium and the world has squeezed not a small neighbourhood due to the impact of internet facilities. Let us pray to Almighty to give enough strength to these two lofty pillars to flourish so that they can leave no stone unturned to plead the cause of the disillusioned, denigrated, and deprived sections of the society living under the shadow of fear, poverty and exploitation.

Hence, if these two pillars dedicate themselves without prejudice, the 21st century shall become an ''Utopia'' for the honest sincere and dedicated people, who can breathe freely to serve the nation so that this land shall again revive her noble traditions of peace, love, gaiety, honesty and valour as cherished by the well wishers, being the ''soil of sages''.

Yours etc...
K L Dhar
Jammu.