Opinion A safer divide
Khaled Ahmeds The Abbottabad omissions (IE,July 26) was an engrossing read,as it lays bare some important issues
A safer divide
*Khaled Ahmeds The Abbottabad omissions (IE,July 26) was an engrossing read,as it lays bare some important issues,such as the fission between English and Urdu in Pakistan. The writer makes a passing reference to the possibility of a similar divide in India,between English and Hindi. Yes,such a divide indeed exists,but its nature and context are far removed. While the English-Urdu divide has a strong religious undertone,the English-Hindi one is largely on economic grounds. Its a divide between English and almost all regional languages in India. Although a language-driven economic schism is not desirable,its more acceptable than a religious one.
Abhimanyu Bishnoi
Gurgaon
Five rupees and full
*Congress members,without thinking about the repercussions,make statements that generate controversy. Raj Babbar said one could have a full meal for Rs 12 in Mumbai,Rashid Masood said the same can be had in Delhi for Rs 5,Farooq Abdullah (UPA,not Congress) stated that one can eat for Re 1,and then Digvijaya Singh made a very sexist remark about Meenakshi Natarajan. The Congress immediately shirks responsibility,stating these remarks are the members personal views. These leaders should be warned not to repeat such statements.
Vijay D. Patil
Food first
*This refers to Food,by all means by Deepak Pental (IE,July 26). The writer has highlighted diverse motives behind the midday meal scheme,and seems to think these overshadow and undermine the purpose of MDM. The emphasis on techno-industrial solutions seems good,but its not the way out. Solutions like the fortified supplement can,at best,be an add-on,but it cant replace the daily meal,which helps retain kids in schools,since a full stomach is more of a reason for a kid to attend school than a nutritious biscuit. Adding on the supplements may go a long way in addressing malnutrition.
Abhinav Sharma
Mumbai
PPP for MDM
*Deepak Pental has aptly described the importance of bringing in fortified foods in the MDM scheme. Recent developments necessitate the provision of packaged fortified food products to malnourished and undernourished children. Packaged foods will be more hygienic,less likely to get spoiled and these will pre-empt sickness. In a country like India,with 47 per cent children under five malnourished,70 per cent suffering from deficiencies,and 30 per cent recording a low birth weight,innovative methods in the MDM scheme can work wonders. The PPP arrangement can be used to tap the potential of packaged fortified food for this purpose. All big corporatised NGOs have industrial partners who can provide them part-funding and meet their infra
structural costs.
Bablu Gupta
Vadodara
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