Cruel joke

• Sir - According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 15,978 farmers have committed suicide in Maharashtra in the last five years. The state government informed the Bombay High Court that 124 farmers have committed suicide since January 2016 alone. The high court suggested that the government could encourage collective farming as a solution.

The National Democratic Alliance government, led by Narendra Modi, has been facing criticism for ignoring rural India as farmers grappling with unseasonal rain, hailstorms, drought and debt are being forced to end their lives. During the Kisan Kalyan Mela in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister highlighted the initiatives that have been taken by his government for the development of agriculture and the welfare of agriculturists. Modi attempted to woo farmers with a crop insurance scheme. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been framed to protect 700 million farmers from natural disasters. This initiative might help fend off criticism that the government remains indifferent to farmers' plight.

However, the advantage that this scheme might have gained was lost because of the insensitive comment made by Gopal Shetty, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from north Mumbai. Shetty made a mockery of the issue by calling farmer suicides a "fashion trend". He later claimed that he wrongly used the word, fashion, and that he had meant to use the term 'competition' instead. Shetty was apparently alluding to the growing competition among states to hike the compensation for the families of farmers who commit suicide.

While Modi tried to restore the farmers' faith in the government, Shetty's comment shows that the BJP remains non-committal about addressing the issue. Stringent action should be taken against Shetty for suggesting that farmers take their lives so that the survivors gain monetarily.

Yours faithfully,
S.S. Paul,
Chakdaha, Nadia
 

Law breakers

• Sir - It is common knowledge that policemen do not follow the traffic rules even though they themselves are expected to ensure that people obey such regulations ("Cops rule roads, choose to ignore rules", Feb 15). The police in Calcutta should be reminded of the English proverb, people living in glass houses should not throw stones at others. Most of the policemen riding pillion on motorcycles do not wear helmets. When they do wear helmets, they are not the kind prescribed by the law. Also drivers of police cars seldom stop at traffic signals. Just the other day, I saw a police car standing beyond the stop line at the Rashbehari Avenue crossing. Had it been the car of a civilian, the driver would have been fined. The police are serial traffic offenders, but they go scot-free as they are the ones who enforce laws. Bikes and cars of police officers and police vans are often seen entering a one-way lane without any good reason. If the police commissioner wants citizens to follow rules, then he should first discipline his force.

Yours faithfully,
Sanjay Kapoor,
Calcutta
 

Drive for equality

• Sir - The project, 'Women on Wheels', can be an effective step towards ensuring the safety of women in Calcutta ("City debut for women chauffeurs on call", Feb 15). The chauffeur-on-call service will have women drivers. Women, preferably, would avail of the service. Working women and women who have to stay out late for various reasons can now heave a sigh of relief. The rise in crimes such as eve teasing, molestation and rape shows that Calcutta is no longer safe for women. Eve teasing and molestation are common problems for those using public transport. It is difficult for women to cope with these problems, and such a service could be an effective solution.

This initiative can also make women economically independent. Professions like driving were open only to men so far in India. Now women too can become drivers, thereby reducing the gender gap. Other cities can also implement such a service, not only as a safety measure, but also to promote gender equality. It is a welcome step that should soon become popular.

Yours faithfully,
Rituparna Mahapatra, 
Joypur, Bankura
 

Parting shot

• Sir - India lodged a strong protest against the United States of America for agreeing to sell F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan. It has been reported that the maker of the F-16 Falcon jets, Lockheed Martin, has expressed its readiness to build manufacturing facilities in India. The Rafale deal is said to be uncertain because of disagreements over the price of the fighter aircraft. If that is indeed the case and if the F-16 jets are offered to India at a competitive price, then India should accept it. India should demand that 40 F-16 jets be delivered to it in flyaway condition right away.

Yours faithfully,
Arun Malankar,
Mumbai