Sorry sight

• Sir - Calcutta goes to the municipal elections today. Over the past few days, nearly every street in the city has been decked up with massive billboards and banners bearing the faces of different candidates. The beaming face of the chief minister or the flags put up by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party are a common sight. The political symbols - banners, festoons and flags - are a sight for sore eyes. The chief minister's ambitious plan of turning Calcutta into London has gone awry.

Yours faithfully,

Akash Chowdhury, Calcutta

Too late

• Sir - "A tale of two prime ministers" (April 11), by Harsh V. Pant, is timely because the National Democratic Alliance government has begun a tradition of honouring individuals, irrespective of their political affiliations, who have made meaningful contributions to the nation. The tenure of P.V. Narasimha Rao as prime minister was exemplary. The positive outcome on the economic front would not have been possible had Rao not taken the bold step to move away from the Nehruvian economic model. The nation was in such a dire state that the government had to airfreight 47 tonnes of gold from its gold reserve to a financial institution to save the country from bankruptcy.

Rao was a scholar with interest in various subjects. He was also well- versed in numerous Indian and foreign languages. The policies that were crafted by the finance ministry under Manmohan Singh (also a former prime minister) were implemented by Rao's government. The policies created the conditions for mass entrepreneurship and introduced an element of competition.

It is a pity that Rao's own party, the Congress, decided to ignore his contribution to the nation. However, the Congress can rectify its mistake by lending its support to the proposal to build a memorial in Rao's honour. But can such courtesy be expected of the Congress? The party, which decided not to extend minimum courtesy to Rao after his death, is unlikely to do justice to Rao's legacy.

Yours faithfully,

Gajanan Ukhalkar, Akola, Maharashtra

Parting shot

• Sir - Kailash Satyarthi made history by winning the Nobel prize for peace in 2014. His monumental achievements and dedication to the cause of child labour are praise worthy. He has launched a struggle to free children from the clutches of those who profit by employing them illegally. Satyarthi winning the Nobel prize is recognition of the battle he has waged against the social injustices prevalent in the subcontinent. His courage deserves special mention because he had survived physical threats.

Various countries and organizations have honoured Satyarthi. However, he is yet to receive any of the coveted 'Padma' awards. This is because India has failed to recognize those who have dedicated their lives to a noble cause. But politicians with dubious credibility have been awarded for their contributions in this nation.

Yours faithfully,

Saikat Kumar Basu, Lethbridge, Canada

Blind spot

• Sir - The debate over free speech as opposed to State regulation is quite old. The conviction of citizens for 'cyber crimes' is relevant in this context. In fact, the blame lies with law-makers because they harass citizens with the help of such legislations. Politicians forget that the people are not their subjects or vassals. Party leaders are supposed to be public servants.

Politicians say that the law is equal for everyone. However, there is one set of laws for the high and mighty and another for the common people. It takes ages to convict powerful politicians. Yet, ordinary people are put behind bars on flimsy grounds. That is how the law operates in this country. Ironically, people's representatives claim legal immunity even though they are guilty of wrongdoing. The sheer number of cases pending in the courts also indicate the pace at which law works in India.

Section 66A of the Information Technology Act had been misused on several occasions. A woman in Mumbai was punished for questioning the need for a bandh on Bal Thackeray's demise. With the Supreme Court quashing the provision, the focus would, hopefully, shift to the conduct of public servants.

Laws are invariably misused by those who are at the helm of affairs. Every law, especially those that have a bearing on individual liberty, runs the risk of being abused by those who wield power.

Yours faithfully,

Amit Vasudev, Patna

Parting shot

• Sir -The health department had launched a special drive to nab doctors of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences for indulging in private practice in spite of receiving 'non-practicing allowance'. Private practice by doctors should not be banned. Doctors should be free to treat patients and earn money in their free time. None seems to mind when other professionals do the same thing. Manoj Tiwari, a parliamentarian, earns his keep by working in films. Then why should such restrictions be imposed on doctors? We can understand if doctors are punished for neglecting patients. But it is unfair to punish doctors for treating them for a fee. Doctors are also blamed for charging high fees. But lawyers escape such censure even though they demand hefty sums. Relatives of patients who die in hospitals often assault doctors. The state government has failed to provide doctors with adequate security. Doctors would not be willing to treat patients if their lives are at risk.

Yours faithfully,

Gopal Kumar, Patna

Shameful neglect

• Sir - The death of three women within hours of undergoing caesarean section deliveries at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla has triggered a public debate about the existing facilities related to childbirth in our hospitals ("3 women die post-delivery", April 12). The incident reflects as much on the inefficiency of our doctors as on the available infrastructure in hospitals.

An inquiry has been ordered into the deaths. Even if - as the hospital sources have claimed - the deaths occurred because two of the women were suffering from sickle cell disease, the fault ultimately lies with the authorities. It is the duty of the authorities to check the medical history of the patients and administer drugs accordingly. There is no denying the fact that our health infrastructure, when it comes to medical colleges and hospitals, is not up to international standards. Be it the machines or the facilities for the safe-keep of medicines, everything is below par. It is time we plugged the loopholes in the medical system.

Yours faithfully,

Ranjan Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar

• Sir - The death of three mothers has left everyone shocked. The government should take stringent action against those responsible. This is the not the first time that such an incident has taken place at a premier hospital. In July 2013, nine new-born babies under treatment in the hospital had died within 24 hours. An inquiry committee had been set up to find out the cause of the deaths. The probe team gave a clean chit to the hospital. It could hardly pinpoint the reasons behind the deaths.

Yours faithfully,

Priyabrata Patnaik, Sambalpur

 

• Sir - Doctors are often at the receiving end of the anger of the agitated kin of patients if anything goes wrong. They are often attacked, even if they are not at fault. In October last year, the physicians' community felt threatened following the murder of the orthopaedic surgeon, Atulya C. Meher, near Khandagiri. Doctors are of the opinion that the Orissa Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, should be strictly enforced.

Yours faithfully,

Pitambar Samal, Cuttack

 

• Sir - The report, "Doc held for girl death" (April 12), showed how the delinquency of a doctor resulted in the death of a girl. The police acted commendably by putting the doctor behind bars.

Yours faithfully,

Sangram Das, Paradip