Mailbag

Vigyan Rail

Sir,

I express serious concern over exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir State from the intinerary of Vigyan Rail - a science exhibition on wheels. The route map finalised by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has sent a wrong signal in this part of the country.

At a time when army, police and State administration were encouraging "Bharat Darshan" tours for school children from Jammu and Kashmir State. This decision of excluding the State from Vigyan Rail’s itinerary has sent a wrong signal all over the State. The people in the State were feeling neglected in such a big national event which has been flagged off by none other than Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

It is urged to the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to take up the issue with Prime Minister and ensure that the train also makes a halt at Jammu Railway Station for a weeks time so that children from far flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir could witness the magnificent achievements of the country in the field of science and technology. Once the rail touches Jammu platform, special arrangements should be made by the State Government to ensure that children from far flung areas of the State are transported in Government transport for witnessing great national event.

The train, will be touching Pathankot and not Jammu, which speaks of sheer discrimination. At a time when India and Pakistan were making all out efforts to bring in peace in this part of sub-continent, it is strange that Jammu and Kashmir has been dropped from the list of stations where the Vigyan Rail will be making halts.

Yours etc......
Dr. S S Dua
Member IHRPC

A welcome change!

Sir,

Recently, BJP won state elections in three states by keeping aside their temple-mosque ideology and approached to public with a clean mind . It is surely a welcome change. But three praise-worthy things about recent election are:-

a) Large turnout of women and other voters because of which we have two new women as Chief Ministers.

b) Free and fair elections and

c) Understanding of dirty politics played in Chattisgarh and for that voters of this particular state deserve a lot.

Let us hope that new government will work for women's empowerment as well as development and also hope that some thing similar will happen in Bihar, so that people can live a happy life.

Yours etc...
Satish,
Jammu.

Maligning noble profession

Sir,

Refer letter "Doctors loath of work in rural areas" by CR Khajuria DE Dec. 17.

It is a matter of grave concern that people are now-a-days becoming more and more selfish and thankless. Without knowing the actual facts and by sighting just one example, they form a notion about whole of a professional class-be it doctors, teachers or even bureaucrats.

We should know that there are many doctors who have spent whole of their life in rural areas (being regular) and have come to Jammu city for just 3 years for doing PG and that too on their own merit and efforts i.e. out of 20 years of service, they get 3 years in city.

It is not money but zeal in doctors which takes them to rural areas to serve people. They have qualities of self-dedication, knowledge and endurance which bring them job satisfaction. And it is a matter of shame and disgrace if the people whom all this is being done say words like Doctors' purpose is to earn more and more money and lead a luxurious life.

And all this is being done when there is a simple way out i.e to tighten the noose around neck of those doctors who are found guilty of negligence of their duty and that job is being ably done by the Health Minister Ch. Lal Singh. But on one account he is for transfers of doctors. I don't know reason why some doctors are confined for rural work for whole of their life while others are posted in the city for whole of their life time. Isn't this unjust? The result is the increasing carelessness on the part of those serving in rural areas, knowing that there is no body to listen to their woes. The ultimate brunt is borne by people. Some of them keep quiet and follow the right path of pin pointing the doctor an error whole others forget the fact that to see the light of this world and to come to life, even he had to seek help from a doctor and none else. Could such a job of bringing a person to life be measured in scale of money, I don't think so. Today, we can proudly say that such doctors who have zeal to work for people do exist but if people kept on harassing doctors and if the media kept on supporting them, day is not far when we will have none of them.

Yours etc...
Sidharth Verma
Jammu.