Editor,
In front of the Rhino hall and before reaching the Civil hospital I see an advertisement for recruitment in the army with the headlines, ‘LIVE A LIFE LESS ORDINARY.’This is quite misleading! It could have been ‘LIVE AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE. or LIVE A LIFE WITH HONOUR, DIGNITY AND PRIVILEGES. I hope through this column the concerned in the ARMY may take note and corrective measures.
Yours etc.,
P Naik
Chairman ARRRAC
Govt of Meghalaya.
On Reservation
Editor,
Apropos your editorial, “When words come to haunt” (ST, July 11, 2017), we must not forget that the policy of reservation in the government is not a charity but to make our government inclusive. Reservation in government sector is to ensure proportional representation of all the people of our country in it. Our Parliament is an ideal example of proportional representation where every state sends as many Members of Parliament in proportion to its population. No federal country can afford to do away with this system and introduce meritocratic yardstick. Indian cricket team where merit is the sole criterion of selection does not have any representation from many states of India. This is alright for a cricket team but it would be ludicrous if our Parliament fails to have representation of all the Indian states. Some people argue that such provisions of proportional representation should not get extended to the post of cabinet ministers, prime minister or president. But we must not forget that the President of India is very much a part of our Parliament. Article 79 of the Constitution of India says, “There shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.” Likewise, a Council of Ministers is just another part of the Parliament. Article 74 of our Constitution says, “There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President…”
So, what is indispensable (proportional representation) to the whole (Parliament) must also be indispensable to its parts (the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Minister).
Moreover, India is not just a conglomeration of States and Union Territories but also of languages, religions, castes and cultures. Therefore, proportional representation of Dalits, women, minorities as well as of all States and UTs is absolutely necessary in every legislative and administrative machinery from cabinet to bureaucracy to make our government truly federal in character, inclusive in nature and a perfect reflection of our unity in diversity. Indians from North East to South, from Santhal to Bhangi, from Tamil to Gujarati and from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Lakshadweep must get a chance to make our government a perfect example of a democracy of the people and not just merely an aristocracy by the people. It takes 24 spokes to make a wheel (Ashok Chakra) at the centre of our multi-coloured national flag to represent India. It also requires the representations of all the people of our country in every machinery of our government to eliminate inequalities among groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations as has been directed by Article 38(2) of the Constitution of India.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Iconic blue and white sari
Editor,
It is our immense pride that Mother Teresa’s simple white cotton sari with three blue borders has been acknowledged as an Intellectual Property of the Missionaries of Charity. The sari, particularly in white with three blue borders was chosen and bought by Mother Teresa herself for Rs 2.50. It is said that she chose the colours for the sari as the white stands for truth and purity while the three blue stripes on the border represent the vows that the nuns take. The first one represents poverty, the second one is for obedience and the third wider stripe represents the vows of chastity and whole hearted service to the poorest of the poor. In those days, female sweepers in Calcutta used to wear a similar kind of sari. So, perhaps it is symbolic to serve the poor by making them comfortable with her. It is also noteworthy that for the first time a uniform has been protected under the Intellectual Property rights.
Yours etc.,
Sanjukta Maiti
Shillong – 6
Human trafficking
Editor,
This refers to the article, “Human trafficking in India” (ST- July 12, 2017). It is clear that Nepal is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude. About 7,000 sex workers cross over from Nepal into the country every year, and children from Bangladesh enter via West Bengal, lured by marriage or job offers. Trafficking through India should be stopped immediately. Hapless women, especially young ones, are lured on false promises and taken to various countries by unscrupulous and anti-social elements and sold in the flesh trade. India, like many nations, is a signatory to these conventions, but implementation is poor, because of factors such as corruption, lack of capacity and expertise and cultural norms, attitudes and stigmas. Indian Govt. should alert the Nepal Govt and prevent human trafficking. In India, children from poor and rural communities, especially those with emotional, physical and learning difficulties, are particularly vulnerable to inter-country trafficking. The culprits should be brought to book and exemplary punishment to be imposed.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad – 15