PSLV launch

Sir,

The recent PSLV launch was achieved in a copy book style. PSLV satellite launch vehicle has become a workhorse for ISRO (Indian space and Research organisation).

This latest launch was highly important because it carried to space a very sophisticated Israeli technology Satellite weighting about three hundred kilograms. This is the twenty fifth launch from the spaceport of Shriharikota. PSLV has proved its worth as a proven launch vehicle. This launch was 11th successful flight since 1994 when PSLV was first launched. Designed to hurl into space into Sun synchronous orbit PSLV has become a symbol of India's space strength.

ISRO has created a commercial arm called Antrix corporation. Antrix sees over the Commercial launch of satellites using Indian launch vehicles. This was the second Commercial launch for Antrix. As the highly competitive and lucrutive market of space launch vehicles there are only five players in the world. With our country joining the fray there is a huge market for smaller satellites. Many countries in the world want to have access to space technology especially to satellite technology. They want smaller satellites to be launched into space. PSLV is suited rather tailor made to their needs. Hence it assumes more significance. Meanwhile for India's prestigious moon mission named Chandrayana-I the same PSLV will be used for launch. ISRO has done the country proud. For heavier satellites. ISRO is building GSLV Mark III satellites which will have a capacity to launch three to four thousand kilogram multipurpose satellites into space. All seems rosy for ISRO. Thanks to ISRO's, application and hard work.

Yours etc...
Jagpuran Lal
Panjtirthi
Jammu

Crime against women

Sir,

Reacting to spate of incidents against women President Pratibha Patil gave her advice to the young girls and working women (DE, Jan 18). She was speaking at the Ministerial SAARC conference. Obviously she seemed to have been annoyed and anguished at the spate of incidents of everteasing and molestation against women.

Every individual in this country is ashamed of the behavior of some goons and mal contents. Whether it is in Mumbai, Delhi or in any other parts of the country. We are confronted with a new problem that this country had never seen. The rise of crime against women is perhaps as a result of dwindling values, an overexposure to sex related things and even the highly objectionable dress code that some channels seem to encourage. The level of education in our country is not as high as it is in the west. In past it was compensated with a stress on moral values and a life where Dharma played a sheet anchor role. With such support structures already getting diluted the nation is confronted with this problem which is grave in magnitude.

The attack on tourists and alleged rape on them has not done the country proud. It is bound to affect our potential as being a hot tourist destination. That is one side of the sorrow tale. The other is that our girls and women are not safe in our own country. Hence there is a need to impart self defence techniques to the working women and girls so that they can defend themselves in the event of some bad situation. The law has to make amends so that any molester, rapist or eveteaser when caught is given severe punishment without wasting time in long judicial debates.

Yours etc...
Rohini Khajuria
Parade
Jammu

Power shortage

Sir,

The State is reeling under power shortage. Despite the much acclaimed statements of the Government in the past power situation has not improved much.

There is an immediate need to device a long term policy that would help to improve the power situation in the State. It is a well known fact that consumers of the Power comprise of the general public, Government departments and Industries. Previously it was thought that power theft occurs because consumers (General public) do not pay for power. That notion has gone into thin air because the general public has welcomed the installation of e-meters. People have not resented the installation of electronic meters. Now if the job of e-metering of consumers is not complete it is the fault of PDD.

In this regard I would like to add that a newspaper was published in this paper (Jan 22) which carried the news in which an effigy of PDD was burnt. The industrial areas of the State are also feeling the brunt of power shortage. They are also piqued at the unavailability of power to the industries. If such a glooming scenario about power continues in the state what will happen to the whatever little industries we have in the State.

What is more interesting is the fact that Government Departments owe the PDD hundreds of crores in power bill. For the last so many years this huge amount that the Govt. Departments owe the PDD has not been paid. The result is that PDD is suffering enormous losses. With Government and its departments failing to pay for the power it consumers the onus of responsibility for the worst state of power availability falls on the Government itself.

Yours etc...
Jugal Kishore
Narwal
Jammu