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I am not in full agreement with Ashwani Kumars article Make NREGA new. NREGA suffers from bureaucratic control...
• I am not in full agreement with Ashwani Kumars article Make NREGA new. NREGA suffers from bureaucratic control,but giving full autonomy to the panchayats would not ensure transfer of funds or benefits to target groups. Most Indian villages are caste-based societies where power relations play a major role. People in power at the village level always prefer people of their own caste. The problem also lies with NREGA it has been implemented following uniform procedures across states,although villages across states differ demographically,socio-economically,politically and culturally. Discounting this fact is enough to jeopardise the entire policy implementation. More factors should be included for formulation and implementation before giving NREGA a new life.
Debasish Maitra
Anand
Talk to whom?
• For any negotiation to be meaningful there should be a potential meeting point. Is there one between the Maoist approach and the Constitution under which our democracy functions? P. Chidambarams call to Maoists to come to the negotiation table reveals either a defeatist approach or confusion about steps needed to eliminate them. Lack of development in backward areas is just one of the reasons for the rise of Naxalism,the chief one being extremists obsessed with an ideology based on violence and able to exercise their power due to inadequate security strategies.
S. Rajagopalan
• Coming after the beheading of an inspector by Maoists,the Union home ministers remark that the government does not treat the confrontation as a war lacks plain reading of the ground situation. Everyone knows that these are our own people who are the victims of developmental failure. But is it not naiveté to fail to distinguish between demand and strategy? There seems to be a tacit acceptance of ruthless killings perpetrated by Naxalities. Unfortunately,this ostrich-like attitude of the government has given unfettered licence to Maoists to carry on their butchery.
Rinku Sharma
New Delhi
What about Rafi?
• It is gratifying that Manna Dey has been nominated for the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2007. He richly deserves the honour,although it has come his way a bit late. My regret,however,is that the government has ignored Mohammed Rafi,arguably Indias best and most versatile male playback singer. Theres a Rafi song for every occasion; he was Mukesh,Talat Mehmood,Mahendra Kapoor,Manna Dey,Kishore Kumar all rolled into one. He was the most complete singing package a one-stop,single-window shop for all music composers,film directors,producers,lyricists and actors. The least the government can do now is confer both the Bharat Ratna and Dada Saheb Phalke Awards on him posthumously.
Mohd Yahya Ansari
Meerut
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