Editor,
The news item in your esteemed daily (ST Dec 1, 2016) where MPSC threatens a five-year ban on candidates who canvass for jobs during the recruitment process in the MPSC, is a welcome step. It will curb corruption and bring transparency in the Commission. We applaud such steps taken to prevent manipulation especially during personal interviews for various posts to be conducted in the future by the Commission. MPSC Chairperson, LM Sangma’s efforts to bring transparency would definitely build up the confidence of many dedicated job aspirants. The MPSC order says any person canvassing directly or indirectly or approaching any member of theCommission, its officers or staff would be disqualified and debarred from applying and appearing for any examination or personal interview conducted by the Commission for a period of five years. Stern action should be taken in “letter and spirit.” Only then there will be no room for nepotism and corruption in the Commission. And even after this notification if some persons still try and use influence directly or indirectly then immediate action should be taken against them and they should be punished as per law. The Police department had already done its bit to prevent cheating in the current recruitment process for various posts while conducting the physical test at 1st MPL Battalion Shillong. Some candidates had been caught sending someone else to appear for the physical test. A public notice appeared in the newspapers the next day. This has a salutary effect on future job seekers. Therefore, such stern action is highly appreciated. The MPSC needs to adopt similar measures to restore public faith in its functioning.
Yours etc.,
Vincent Thyrniang & Emmar. Lyngdoh,
Via email
Social media lies!
Editor,
Given the magnitude of false news items that were doing the rounds in social media during the 2016 US Presidential campaign; a part of Facebook, Twitter et al., appear to be in the shoes of Joseph Goebbels who said, “A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.” The chemistry of a repeatedly told lie becoming truth is inherent in our potentiality for obedience. According to American psychologist, Stanley Milgram, human potential for obedience is the prerequisite for social organisation but this potentiality can also come to a sticky end as human vulnerability to tyranny. Indeed, tyranny is based on mass obedience. So, our obedience must be combined with a spirit of inquiry. Otherwise, our gullibility can reduce democracy to dictatorship and nationalism to jingoistic hysteria. We need to verify the veracity of a news story before believing the same to stop the juggernaut of such social media.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Plastic notes a welcome decision
Editor,
The then Union Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 12.03.2013 had stated that Union Government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had decided to issue polymer/plastic currency-notes of rupee-ten denomination on trial basis in five select cities namely Kochi, Mysore, Jaipur, Bhuvneshwar and Shimla with varied geographic locations and climatic conditions. It is a matter of regret that the experiment could not be completed on time, otherwise new currency post-demonetisation could be of plastic/polymer with long life and least chances of being printed as fake currency.
It is heartening to know that the present Government has decided to issue plastic-currency. But now it will be senseless to experiment on notes of 10-rupees denominations because coins of this denomination are already plenty in circulation. A complete series of plastic-currency should be issued in notes of rupees 20, 50 and 100 with reduced sizes on permanent basis rather than further delaying in the name of experimenting, as plastic-currency has already been successfully in circulation in seventeen countries with Australia being the first one to do so since 1988 and then completely switching over to plastic currency in 1996.
Yours etc.,
MADHU AGRAWAL
(Guinness Record Holder for letters in newspapers)
Delhi – 6
On Demonetisation
Editor,
The article on demonetisation (ST Dec, 9, 2016) was most enlightening. However, may I ask the Government to put a price for the stress, strain, high BP, anxiety and mental agony for drawing one’s own money when it makes a final cost benefit analysis of this surgical strike?
Yours etc.,
W Swer, Via email
