HAD technology been used to control the crowds and manage pilgrim facilities, the Sabarimala tragedy could have been avoided (Death on the hills, February 11). It is surprising that in a State with the highest literacy rate in the country, neither the Travancore Devaswom Board nor the State government use modern technology for crowd management as is done in temples at Tirupati, Madurai, Shegaon, and in Katra, Jammu. The Sabarimala temple does not even have its own website. Queue management should be on the lines of Tirupati, where devotees are given electronic paper bracelets that show the allotted time of darshan. In Tirupati, queues move in an orderly way, and there are benches, eateries, and toilet facilities for the pilgrims alongside.
The recommendations made by Justice Chandrasekara Menon in a report way back in 1999 suggesting the creation of an alternative route to Pulmedu, and pilgrim facilities such as resting places, toilets, eateries and proper lighting have not been implemented to date. Pilgrims also need to be protected from wild animals. The minimum the State government can do is to have aerial surveillance of pilgrims.
Deendayal M. Lulla MumbaiInflationTHE neoliberal economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance government appear to be the number one reason for the high rate of inflation, rising food prices and the resultant erosion of incomes of all sections of society (Cover Story, February 11). The across-the-board rise in prices of essential commodities has put a vast majority of people under severe pressure. What is ironical about the whole issue is the inability of policymakers to save the situation.
The plight of the people in many States has been vividly portrayed through the interview with them. In a country where more than 70 per cent of the people live on less than Rs.20 a day, the government cannot afford to remain apathetic.
The need of the hour is to take strong action against hoarders, ban futures trading in essential commodities, and establish a universal public distribution system.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan Srirangam, Tamil NaduTHE worst thing about the price situation is that the government consisting of top economists is unable to do anything to control it. Perhaps it is because unlike the UPA-I, the government does not have the Left by its side to advise it or to act as a check on its policies.
Jacob Sahayam ThiruvananthapuramIT is quite naive to think that prices of agricultural produce will stabilise automatically with the introduction of foreign direct investment in retail trade. The conventional comparative advantage theory on international trade has been revived and the significance of policy interventions by governments through induced comparative advantage along with natural and acquired comparative advantages has been widely acknowledged.
The debate in the U.S. over government role in economic recovery should be a good lesson for those in India who project the Efficient Market Theory as the panacea for all economic ills. Food inflation in India does not seem to be a simple issue that can be resolved through the operations of free market players.
A durable solution to the food inflation is to make agriculture a viable economic activity by building up supportive infrastructure, improving rural technology, developing research in hybrid seeds and providing market support for both inputs and outputs.
Leaving food security to market forces is a serious issue. It is a political power game in tune with the international strategy to find opportunity in every crisis anywhere in the world to benefit market leaders.
Johnkutty Lukose Punalur, KeralaTHE Cover Story was thought-provoking. Attributing demand side pressures such as NREGS and supply side pressures such as essential commodity prices as reasons for the inflation will be a distortion of facts.
The list of India's richest individuals, which saw a record number of 69 billionaires this year, points to the concentration of wealth in our fast-growing economy where 40 per cent of the 1.2-billion-strong population is impoverished. Good governance is lifting vulnerable sections out of poverty through policy initiatives with a human touch.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation has opined that rules are needed to curb speculation in commodity prices, and has cautioned that higher prices and volatility will continue in the next few years if we fail to tackle the structural causes of imbalances in the agricultural system. Over the next 40 years, a 100 per cent increase in agricultural production will be needed in developing countries.
India should see an opportunity here and shift its focus to agriculture. Opening the retail sector to FDI will amount to placing people at the mercy of multinational corporations. Let us hope that UPA-II will present a pro-poor, agriculture-oriented Budget.
Ettirankandath Krishnadas Palakkad, KeralaTHE Cover Story boxes titled What people say truly reflected the effect of neoliberal policies on the common man. They spoke volumes of the intensity of people's sufferings much more eloquently than the write-ups. The total malfunctioning of the state apparatuses has led to people losing faith in them.
S.S. Rajagopalan ChennaiSpectrum scamKAPIL SIBAL'S outburst relating to the spectrum issue seems to be aimed at safeguarding his predecessor in the Telecom Ministry and the Central government (Offence as Defence, February 11). How can he say that the views of the CAG are presumptions? What the country needs is the truth behind the heavy loss caused to the exchequer.
B.P. Pereira MaduraiCorruptionA.G. NOORANI'S essay was excellent (Make Ministers pay, February 11). Although corruption exists in every part of the world, its magnitude in our country is extremely high and has reached unacceptable levels. The money that should have been spent for the uplift of the poor finds its way into the pockets of some greedy and corrupt politicians.
The hands of investigating agencies such as the CBI are tied by the parties in power. Those who indulge in corruption must be brought to justice, irrespective of their position and power.
N. Venkata Sai Praveen Kozhikode, KeralaSabarimalaTHE gruesome death of 102 pilgrims in a stampede at Pulmedu near Sabarimala explodes the myth about the divine light (Death on the hills, February 11).
Many rationalists had questioned the authenticity of the Makarajyoti in the past; renowned writer V.S. Naipaul wrote in his India: A Million Mutinies Now that the divine light was the work of a human agency. N.C. Sreedharan
Kannur, KeralaSocial justiceMIRAKLE COURIERS is a fine example of a socially conscious private employer working for the cause of differently abled persons (Miracle workers, February 11). Its founder, Dhruv Lakra, has really created miracle in the lives of hearing-impaired young people.
Mirakle's employees deserve appreciation for proving that they are second to none in their field. Allocation of monetary grants for training and tax concessions by the State government concerned will prompt large organisations to initiate employment drives to utilise the potential of differently abled people.
B. Rajasekaran BangaloreAarushi caseTHE article on the Aarushi murder case (Tangled web, February 11) carries extensive quotes from a DNA-testing scientist, G.V Rao, who has adversely commented on both the competence of and DNA work done on the case by scientists at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad. G.V. Rao, who is described as a former employee with the CDFD, was in fact removed from the service of the organisation following disciplinary proceedings.
The correspondent is wrong when he states that experts in the various disciplines of genetics and genomics are not DNA experts. With regard to the issue of touch DNA test' mentioned in the article, the CDFD wishes to point out that the touch DNA test, more appropriately referred to as low copy number DNA analysis, has generated considerable scepticism amongst scientists around the world on its reliability to meet the standards for admissibility as evidence in courts of law (see Nature Review Genetics, 2008; Volume 9; page 325).
Finally, the CDFD is in broad agreement with the opinion expressed by the CBI in its closure report. The CDFD's examination of the DNA evidence in the case had clearly established that the vaginal smears purportedly taken from Aarushi's body at the time of the autopsy were not from the victim but had been swapped. This fact has not been mentioned at all in your article.
The answer to many queries on the real culprits might perhaps emerge if this mystery of the swapped vaginal smears in the case can be solved.
Dr Ankkur Goel Staff Scientist (Science Communication) CDFD, Hyderabad
IPL auctionTHE Indian Premier League is a commercial enterprise (Cricket Bazaar, February 11). The IPL auction reminds one of the days of slavery when slaves were bought and sold.
The commercialisation of cricket is not in the best interests of the game. Cricketers should also stop endorsing products until they retire from the sport.
Mahesh Kapasi New DelhiAnnouncementLetters, whether by surface mail or e-mail, must carry the full postal address and the full name, or the name with initials.
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