On quick alert

8226; In the United States, storm warnings are flashed on television and radio di...

8226; In the United States, storm warnings are flashed on television and radio directly without intervention of any other organisation. In India, the tsunami warning was first referred to Delhi where it waited until the emergency group met at 1 pm. The proposed National Disaster Management Authority IE, December 31 would add another 8216;silo8217; to the decision making process. Authority connotes power and not service. Bureaucrats in charge of the authority would be faced with disasters once in years and would be found wanting when disaster actually occurs. Setting up an emergency response team of 3000 policemen will also be ineffective, for in the absence of frequent disasters they would become lax. We need to authorise the meteorological department to communicate news of typhoons, etc, directly to the media. The local population and community groups would then be able to take immediate defensive and remedial measures.

8212; Satya Prakash Garg Ghaziabad

Tripped, once again

8226; This refers to the report 8216;Week after killer waves, survivors lost in sea of red tape8217; IE, January 4. It is a typical phenomenon here in India 8212; after every grave tragedy involving loss of human life, predators in the garb of the authorities dictate how aid would be distributed. Here is another example of the red tapism which will subject the already battered people to another cruelty. What if a police station has been wiped out by the tsunami? Will people falling under its jurisdiction be left high and dry? Why cannot the authorities set up a string of facilitation centres where the affected people can be dealt with in a humane manner instead of making them run from pillar to post?

8212; Satyen Mehta Mumbai

Be solemn

8226; I don8217;t agree with your editorial which says we should not cancel or scale down Republic Day celebrations 8216;R-Day in tragic times8217;, January 4. We need to be more practical, and understand what such commemorations really mean to the common man. Even after 30 years, I am not really sure what R-Day means.
If a majority of the people do not cherish such occasions, it is better to scale down the parades or to avoid them altogether.

8212; Kumar Hyderabad

Ideas of India

8226; The petitioner has deliberately tried to hurt the feelings of a community which sacrificed their state for the Indian Republic 8216;Delete 8216;Sindh8217; from National Anthem8217;, IE, January 4.

8212; Dhanesh Khatwani Mumbai

A rare diplomat

8226; The sudden demise of J.N. Dixit, a seasoned career diplomat and a great strategist, comes as a huge loss to the country. His approach was always pragmatic, and he stood for improving relations with all our neighbouring countries. Dixit8217;s look-east policy that is now being carried forward paid rich dividends. His visionary role in reviving cordial relations with Pakistan and removing the cobwebs of suspicion in relations with China has been widely acclaimed in diplomatic circles.

8212; K.L. Batra Yamuna Nagar