Mailbag

Removing hunger

Sir,

This has reference to the article 'International alliance against hunger, published in the Daily Excelsior.

Ample food production in the world today notwithstanding a good number of children die due to non-availability of adequate food. The problem has particularly plagued some African countries which are war ravaged. The condition there is quite horrible.

It has been seen that development nations which are producing food articles are not ready to sell it at cheaper rates to the deserving countries. Rather they want to make a huge profit out of it. Once international alliance against hunger is forged it will work out a mechanism to deal with the problem. Its first priority should be to identify the places which are facing starvation and accordingly meet the challenge. Moreover, it will have to ensure safety of food products. Every year large quantities of food are destroyed by animals, pets and rats. The prevalence of pesticides in food items is assuming alarming proportions. Alternatives will have to be developed to overcome the pesticide problem. The storage space too has to be further increased.

India too is facing the problem of storing food. In India too large quantities of food get destroyed due to nonavailability of proper storage facility.

Once initiaties are taken quickly and efficiently, perhaps, no child would die due to starvation before adulthood. The idea of international Alliance was floated by Johannes Rau, President of Federal Republic of Germany in 2001. He urged the formation of an alliance to counter the faltering political will that prevented nations from allocating adequate resources to fight hunger and poverty according to Rau.

Yours etc...
Ramesh Kumar
Kathua.

Peace with Pak

Sir,

I may invite reference to your editorial titled "Why human touch", DE dated 10.10.2003 which has promoted me to express my feelings about the episode. When our TV channels were telecasting the departure of baby Noor from India after undergoing successful heart surgery, alongwith her happy parents and almost every Indian who viewed the TV may have raised his head high.

Almost on the same night Pak sponsored terrorists brutally tortured with rifle butt two innocent young sisters Nazia and Shazia in Thanamandi area of Rajouri, killing the former on the spot. What harm the two babies have had done to the terrorists or their mentors?

Pak sponsored terrorists have committed all sorts of crimes against humanity from merciless killings of thousands of men, women and children to outraging the modesty of girls and women folk on this side of the border during last about 15 years and the process continues. They will realise their fault if they are death with severe punishment.

No doubt we are also able to reply in the same language but our high human values do not allow our conscience to do so due to which we are suffering more. Instead our PM has extended hand of friendship and brotherhood towards the trouble shooting country unilaterally.

Now it is the turn of Pakistan to extend hand of friendship towards India.

Yours etc...
M R Gupta
Reshamgarh Colony,
Jammu.

Upgradation of GMC Jammu

Sir,

The decision by the Central Government to upgrade Jammu Medical College to the level of All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi is really worth praising.

The Rs. 120 crore project would certainly benefit a huge population of Jammu region. At present, in the absence of such a facility, people have either to go Chandigarh or to Delhi to seek medical treatment. This puts a poor patient to innumerable problems. Some people to have sell assests to meet the expenditure. People who are not aware of such places have to go through various ordeals. Though rich can afford such expenditures, it is quite impossible for people of lower income groups especially belonging to rural areas to reimburse medical bills.

Moreover, it is expected that the existing facilities at the hospital are improved further. Despite stringent measures taken by the Health Minister, Lal Singh GMC is not fully meeting the expectations of the people. It is quite surprising that small instruments like Blood pressure machine is inadequately available in such a prestigious Institution. Moreover, the patient doctor ratio needs to be enhanced. The number of doctors is inversely proportional to patients there. One gets disappointed when one does not get proper attention there.

At a time when doctors are fleecing the patients at their private clinics, the importance of Government Institutions has increased further.

The dream project whenever it comes into existence, it is hoped, would fulfill the dreams of the people of this region.

Yours etc...
Ravi Kumar
Gandhi Nagar,
Jammu..