Letters to the editor

But the public sympathy is with the judiciary, for they know very well how the politicians have gone overboard to undermine its authority. Instead of criticising the judiciary, Justice Anand should have given sound advice to our netas to mend their ways and respect the courts. For they are responsible for ensuring law and order, and decide if a politician is honest or a crook.

8212;Behram Aga Mumbai

Cash for crops

8226; It is true that farmers are committing suicide owing to apathy of the government policies, schemes and officials. Illiteracy among farmers allows government employees and money-lenders to take undue advantage and extort them financially. The ignorance of the farmers results in either fleeing villages and selling their farms in order to find a better alternative, or committing suicide.

And those who dare to stay alive or stay put in farming take hefty credit card loans and so on to meet high cultivation costs, and they do not even have a guarantee or back-up policy if the crop fails. And even if they do, the transactions are too cumbersome and technical for them to understand. Thus frustration results in deaths from suicide, heart attacks, high blood pressure. We need to tend to the backbone of our country.

8212; Krishna R. Patel, Narsinghpur MP

Still need a hand

8226; The history of hand-pulled rickshaws in Kolkatta invented by an American blacksmith, Albert Tollman, in 1850 can be traced back to the late 19th century when Chinese traders used them to ferry goods. In 1919 the British permitted them to ferry passengers. Today, they survived in Kolkatta alone till the other day.

It is disgusting how the West Bengal government passed an order to abolish the rickshaw-puller from the city8217;s streets. Kolkattans have a great sentiment attached to these hand-pulled vehicles. The government should take necessary measures to improve their living conditions and lifestyle, without denting their existing profession.

It is good that the chief minister has proposed a compensation package for them, especially since many of the aged cannot switch to another profession. The rickshaw-wallas served the city for a whole era or rather more than one era. They should not feel left out at such an advanced point in their lives.

8212; Probir Kumar Bose, New Panvel

House minus civics

8226; Apropos of your editorial, 8216;Time to question8217; IE, December 12, it seems that members of Parliament are not actually aware of how the House is meant to work. Storming out of it and often throwing chairs, and 8212; let8217;s not forget 8212; catching up on sleep seems to be the order of the day. Not making use of Question Hour and Zero Hour is, of course, the way of their world.

Children studying civics in middle school would probably have a better understanding of how the MPs should work. Such is the sad state of Indian democracy. It8217;s taken for granted when it should be respected. And the chase to sit in Parliament is more thrilling than actually working in it.

8212; J.D. Sawhney, Pune