Editor,
It is all very fine to a have a sense of pride in one’s job but when the importance of a post which a person is holding goes to his head then that sense of pride turns to arrogance. The office which a person holds is only a sacred trust to be discharged with utmost honesty, sincerity, dedication and with sense of fair play and justice. Importance of a high level post lies not in the power and authority that a person wields but in how much difference he is able to make to the society at large by putting in place systems and processes that ensure transparent and corruption free governance so that each penny of tax payer’s money is utilised on developmental activities. In the final analysis, it is only a good human being who can make a good officer. And one of the defining characteristics of a good human being is humility. A good person who makes it to a so called important post always remains humble and rooted to the ground. Whether a person holding an office behaves arrogantly or with humility actually reflects on his upbringing. A person who held a high office once is remembered not for the power or authority that he had wielded then but for the difference that he could make while holding that office. While holding a high office, each day, indeed each waking moment affords an opportunity for making a difference which a person wouldn’t get once he ceases to hold that office. Therefore, what is truly needed is to make the most of the high office that a person is holding in terms of the services to the society at large.
Yours etc.,
Prem Singh, IPS retd,
Via email
India must change its development policy!
Editor,
This refers to Dhurjati Mukherjee’s timely article, “India vs western world” (ST, July 6, 2017). India has been following the model of capitalism in its very primitive stage, in the name of liberalization of economy since 1991. But we must not forget that this kind of barbaric capitalism has been discarded by the countries in North America, Europe and Australia. They have graduated from police states to welfare states and are according top priority to human development.
A welfare state which ensures freedom of an individual as well as guarantees his or her social security is a synthesis of the thesis of capitalism and antithesis of socialism. Surprisingly, India is made to walk backwards from a welfare state as guaranteed in Article 38 of our Constitution to survival of the fittest raj of archaic capitalism. The disinvestment policy and the policy of gifting education and health sectors to private players without meaningful control negates the concept of a welfare state as they cause unemployment and robbing of one’s social security. The employment to population ratio is a clear indicator of what is the general outcome of our liberalization policy. While employment to population ratio was 58.6 per cent in 1994, it has, alarmingly, come down to 52.2 per cent in 2013. Thanks to this policy, 2011 census has witnessed a phenomenal 5 per cent increase (23 to 28) in just 10 years in the number of households with unemployed members. The liberalization policy helps carry coal to Newcastle leaving the suicide door open for the unemployed who have, now, become almost half of the employable persons in our country.
Unemployed persons receive a handsome allowance from the state in the US but there is no such security in India although protection of life (Article 21) is a fundamental right and right to work (Article-41) is a directive principle in our Constitution. India needs to review her policy of liberal lopsided malignant growth that has catapulted her to the seventh rank in the list of top wealthiest countries in the world leaving the average Indian quite poor on per capita basis (New World Wealth Report). While the richest 10 per cent of our population has 76.3 per cent of nation’s wealth, more than half of our population is reeling with a meagre 4.1 per cent.
The sucking of blood of our labour force by the much pampered market players has come to such a pass that it has trapped 18.35 million Indians as slaves (Global Slavery Index, 2016) and 10.2 million child workers that tell tales of gross human rights violation. It is a constitutional duty of the government to take India to the path of inclusive growth that can make our country a welfare state and rescue her from abysmal 131st position in Human Development Index.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Drug abuse among children
Editor
Apropos the news item, “No space , manpower for drug abuse rehab centre” (ST July 3, 2017) this is a very serious problem that Shillong is facing today. Innocent children’s lives are getting ruined. Previously there was only alcohol, now drug abuse has been added to intensify the problem. Kripa foundation, Sanker, Asha Bhawan etc are some of the institutions which have been working with dedication for several years in this field. But it’s not enough. To solve the space problem, the old T.B. hospital in Jhalupara area may be used for an ideal drug rehab centre. Manpower may be managed by engaging experts from the field both from the state and outside – if government so desires. Merely observing International Drug Abuse Day in the schools through some lectures and posters can never solve the problem but only create awareness only. Can government first stop drug trafficking because after treatment the victims should not be trapped by the traffickers again
Yours etc.
Reeta Ghosh
Shillong-4
Pilgrimage, transgressions and Chinese threat to North East
Editor,
India and China have disputes over the long 4,057 kilometre border. But Sikkim is the only state in India which has demarcated borders with China based on the 1898 treaty. After a referendum in 1975, Sikkim voted to merge with India. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through the mountains terrain of the Tibetan Autonomous Region takes place from Nathula Pass since 2015. It is a 1500 KM long bus journey. The other older route Lipulekh Pass is there to trek through rough terrains of Uttarakhand, Nepal and Tibet. The abode of Lord Shiva is believed to be there.
Recently, China forcefully entered into the 89 square km Doklam (Doko La for India and Donglang for China.) plateau. The unmarked disputed border of China and Bhutan is strategically important to Chumbi valley at the intersection of India-China-Bhutan. Bhutan army protested that the construction of a road there violated a bilateral agreement and raised an SOS. The tri-junction is just 20 KM away from the brigade HQs. The specialized mountain force ITBP marched ahead and have been locked in a standoff with PLA for a month. Indian Army displayed utmost restraint. In retaliation for the alleged Indian Army action, Beijing blocked the entry of Indian pilgrims. Chinese refusal has frustrated a large number of pilgrimages from Hindus to Buddhists and Jains. Interestingly on both the sides 33 Corps HQ and 141 PLA Division are accusing the other of territorial intrusions and illegal troop encroachments.
China does it often to gain strategic edge over monitoring movement along the international border. Their game plan is to conduct military manoeuvres aimed at blocking the Siliguri corridor (chicken neck) the narrow stretch of land that connects India’s seven north eastern states. Both the countries even exchanged war of words over escalating border dispute. India’s presence in Bhutan has irritated China, where they have no diplomatic relation with Bhutan. The construction of road near tri-junction would cause serious security implications for India and Chinese have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Is North East now in real danger of a possible military conflict after Chinese strategic calculus? Delhi and Beijing have been at loggerheads over the situation. Will China go safeguarding its border sovereignty even at the cost of war? China and India should help each other to bring hope for the depressed world economy and illuminate the world. Also India should keep an eye out for further Chinese transgressions in the future.
Yours etc.,
Kamal Baruah,
Rukminigaon, Guwahati