Opinion Special effects

There are several welfare plans for women,youth and elders,but these need proper supervision if they are to be successful.

The Indian Express

March 29, 2013 03:32 AM IST First published on: Mar 29, 2013 at 03:32 AM IST

Special effects

The editorial Being special (IE,March 28) is right to stress the role of political leadership and efficient governance in development. There are several welfare plans for women,youth and elders,but these need proper supervision if they are to be successful. Bihar has schemes for power,water,health and roads. If massive Central funds are to be released for such projects,there must be strict accountability to ensure money is not siphoned off. The revision of norms for granting incentives will be effective only if Central aid is used in a transparent manner.

S.C. Vaid,Greater Noida

North and south

I WAS surprised to read the editorial Sum of bailouts (IE,March 26). It is deeply misleading and based on unsustainable assumptions. Consider this sentence: The EU is an idea promoted by the European north. Enlargement accommodated the south,which is fiscally less prudent and disciplined than the north,and more inclined to stray from goals and standards. Leaving aside the gross parody of history in the first sentence,can I ask readers for a moment to imagine the uproar if a similar statement were to be applied to the geography of India? I am sure that it would quite rightly be met with derision. There is no reason to imagine that such an insight is more acceptable in Europe. The underlying idea appears to be a Kiplingesque notion that Europe is riven by a north-south divide and that never the twain shall meet. Indeed it is even stated that contact can only be in the context of contagion. No reading of the history of the EU or of the current complex and difficult economic situation can justify such an exercise of the imagination.

João Cravinho

EU Ambassador to India,New Delhi

Under pressure

THE UPA government has repeatedly buckled under pressure from regional satraps,just to stay in power. First,it let West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee scuttle the Teesta water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh. Now,J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi are competing to mount pressure on the Centre to change its stance towards the Sri Lankan government. All that their tactics have achieved is greater distance between India and its neighbours. The anti-Sri Lanka sentiment will only push that country further into the arms of China.

A.M. Limaye

Pune

AS ALWAYS,the Indian Premier League is dogged by controversy. This could mean the loss of valuable players in crucial matches,including Kumar Sangakkara,Muttiah Muralitharan,Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera. The Tamil Nadu government should not mix sports with politics. The CM of Tamil Nadu and parties like the DMK should hold meetings with the Centre to come to a consensus on the countrys stand on alleged human rights violations against Sri Lankan Tamils.

Srishti Ghai

New Delhi