Educating Indian While there is absolutely no question that a 100-fold increase in higher education seats is an imperative, serious thought needs to be given to the avenues available to millions of educated youth who are currently unemployed or underemployed. An engineering graduate cannot be permitted to hibernate in a call centre, nor should a masters in arts or commerce be employed as a peon. What is needed therefore is a manifold increase in overall growth, particularly in manufacturing, infrastructure and transportation, which will generate adequate employment commensurate with educational qualifications. It is also worthwhile pondering over whether the basics of our education are sound. Can we really assume that our schools and institutions are turning out brilliant students merely because so many of them are able to secure over 90 per cent marks in board examinations? Finally the removing of licences and restrictions to the opening up of universities in Chhattisgarh in the recent past has not really helped. So your recipe of SEZ in education may not be the magic remedy (‘The SEZ we really need’, IE, June 27).— Gautam Mookerjee, KolkataUgly legacyn It is rightly said, “Sorry does not make a dead man alive.” The LTTE should know this very well (‘India doesn’t see Balasingham words as an apology’, IE, June 28). Rajiv Gandhi was the hope of India. If he was alive today, India would have been years ahead on the road to progress. The country cannot forget the explicit joy expressed by LTTE cadre over his assassination. Their sorry is gory. It is not surprising that the organisation has lost the sympathy of the world and its own credibility. It now wants India as a prop. That is the reason for its 180-degree turnaround.— Geraldine H, MumbaiSense about roadsn The PM’s remarks in Bangalore on “road sense” was timely. Having spent about six weeks in Bangalore recently, what I found surprising was the absence of policemen — leave traffic constables — on the roads. Consequently, there is no enforcement of driving norms. More shocking was the want of proper and well-laid roads. What one rode on were mere apologies for roads. How one wishes the CM, who claims his government is infrastructure-friendly, will pay urgent attention to this aspect of city life.— M.K.D. Prasada Rao, GhaziabadNew approach?• Is there a lesson in Shekhar Gupta’s ‘Aam admi as the fall guy’ (IE, June 24)? We had four decades of a socialist economy followed by 15 years of liberalisation and the market economy. It was popular at one time to say “all right thinking people should be left thinking” but in all these debates on have-mores versus have-nots wouldn’t it be right for India to try out a new formula: to each (aam admi) according to his need; from each (corporate, broker, industrialist, entrepreneur) according to his ability?— Mukund B. Kunte, New YorkSex-neutral army• Apropos of the report ‘Pranab’s women-in-combat move meets with General disapproval’ (IE, June 27), in case it’s decided to pursue the policy proposed by the defence minister, a visit to the forward areas in J&K and the Northeast should become a mandatory part of the selection process, prior to candidates appearing before the Services Selection Board. Only those who still wish to join the army should be welcome to do so. Once selected, they should undergo the same vigorous training as the men. Another question: why induct women only as officers and not in below officer level vacancies?— Dalip S. Ghuman, Chandigarh
