THE Union governments decision to suspend the production of vaccines in three public sector units is ill-conceived (Vaccine worries, April 11). The contradiction in sourcing a vaccine (JE144) that is not pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation to meet domestic demand and closing domestic production facilities citing the lack of good manufacturing practice certificate from the WHO is too glaring to be ignored. Further, the choice of another public sector unit with a different kind of expertise to set up a vaccine park, too, is puzzling. The governments actions are suspect and one could discern in these moves an attempt to favour private drug manufacturers. Though the goal of meeting international standards is definitely desirable, one expects the government to give primacy to national concerns as the Chinese do.
P. Prasand Thampy Thiruvalla , KERALAIT is strange that Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss ordered suspension of vaccine production in the three public sector units that met the nations vaccine requirement to a large extent. If his Ministry was worried about the quality of the vaccines produced by these units, it should have taken action to modernise and upgrade them.
K.R. Srinvasan ChennaiTHE Cover Story was timely and informative. The articles have brought to the public domain an issue that was debated largely within scientific circles. The recent trend of introducing newer and newer vaccines that do not have relevance to the disease profile of the county needs to be questioned. Vaccines have become big business and we are pained to see Indian experts siding with private interests.
Dr. M. Ganapathy Dr. Sweta Mohanty Soma Sen New Delhi
KERALA is Indias vaccine-friendly State. Vaccines, necessary or unnecessary, are purchased in bulk and thrust on the public. Frequent deaths of children after administration of spurious and out-of-date vaccines are played down by the media at the instance of manufacturing companies and the Health Department.
R. Sajan Aluva, KeralaNikahnamaTHE third Nikahnama from the All India Muslim Womens Personal Law Board is a bold step and is important for Muslims not only in India but the entire world (Womens charter, April 11). Followers of all religions, including Islam, need to introspect and broaden their outlook. The self-appointed custodians of religions do not want to relax the fundamental tenets of their faiths lest their influence over their communities wane. It is in this context that the struggles of people like Shaista Amber assume significance.
Nutan Thakur LucknowIran & IraqCRITICALLY analysing Irans expanding influence in the Gulf region, John Cherian has highlighted the fact the countrys participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2007 produced positive results (Building bridges, April 11). Global powers must understand the emerging good relations between Iran and Iraq. With his visit to Iraq, Iranian President Ahmadinejad has laid a strong foundation for bilateral relations. Along with Saudi Arabia, Iran can help create stability in West Asia. Iran must prove to the world that it is not a threat to world peace and that it does not sponsor terror.
Thomas Edmunds ChennaiTibetTHE protests in Tibet are likely to invite a tougher response from China (Trouble in Tibet, April 11). What is surprising is that the Dalai Lama is talking of greater autonomy at a time when his people are prepared to die for Tibets independence; they no longer seem to be enamoured of his doctrine of the middle path. Instead of trying to please China by issuing diplomatic statements, India should stand by Tibetans in their struggle for independence.
S. BALAKRISHNAN JamshedpurBhopalI APPRECIATE Frontline for highlighting the plight of thousands of victims of the gas tragedy in Bhopal and the UCCs attempts to evade responsibility (Veil of deception, April 11). Bhopal offers a perfect example of massive administrative and political failure and corporate irresponsibility.
Dr. Vitull K. Gupta Bhatinda, PunjabAge of consentTHIS has reference to the article Child redefined (April 11). The Law Commission has recommended lowering the minimum age of marriage for boys to 18 years from 21 years. A boy of 18 would be too immature to take on the responsibilities of a family. When a boy decides to get married, he should also be financially stable. Considering these factors, the minimum age of marriage for men should be 21 years.
Mahesh Kapasi New DelhiDefencePRAFUL BIDWAIS column (Military overdrive, April 11) was insightful and brought to light the apparent and not-so-apparent costs of defence. But I do not agree with him when he says: The defence allocation is more than twice the amount (Rs.60,000 crore) of farmers loans written off, which has attracted much adverse comment. While the loan waiver involves money that offers no returns, defence is a priority area that needs attention in order to protect the countrys sovereignty.
S. Revanna Tumkur, KarnatakaArtI READ with interest the article Tradition in bronze by Benoy K. Behl (April 11). There is more information about bronze sculptures.
In his work The Nagapattinam and other Buddhist Bronzes in the Madras Museum (published by the Director of Museums, Madras, I Edition, 1954, Rpt.1992), T.N. Ramachandran gives details of Buddha bronzes in various museums in India and aborad. In my doctoral work entitled Chola Nattil Boutham (Buddhism in the Chola Country) in Tamil, I have identified granite Buddha statues found in the Chola country and documented Nagapattinam Buddha bronzes exhibited in various museums. During my field work in the Chola country I identified more than 60 granite statues of Buddha. I was also able to document nearly 100 photographs of Nagapattinam Buddha bronzes exhibited in museums in and outside India.
In Benoy Behls article and photographs, the art gallery in Thanjavur has been referred to as Sarasvathi Mahal Art Gallery of Thanjavur. Sarasvathi Mahal and Art Gallery are separate institutions.
B. Jambulingam Thanjavur, Tamil NaduKeralaTHE Special Feature on Kerala (Future perfect, April 11) gave a fine picture of the development of information technology, the States emergence as a knowledge hub, and the role of Kinfra in spurring industrial growth. Kerala may emerge as one of the top five IT destinations in the country by 2012. And it may be the first State to bring IT to the common man. The Akshya project aims to make every family in the State familiar with the use of computers.
A. Jacob Sahayam ThiruvananthapuramAgricultureI APPRECIATE the article Neoliberal roots by Utsa Patnaik (March 28). She says that on the day Finance Minister P. Chidambaram made the announcement on loan waiver, 10 farmers committed suicide in different parts of the country. Unfortunately, no newspaper or television channel highlighted this news; they were repeatedly showing farmers of prosperous States celebrating the loan waiver.
Pooja Gupta 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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