— M. Mukundhan

Chennai

Not just pay pal

•The Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation of only three declared public holidays and eight optional holidays is commendable. One hopes this will be accepted by all political parties and implemented. Bringing government holidays in line with the private sector’s practice will ensure that government offices and banks remain open on most days of the year.

Moreover, while accepting and implementing the recommendations of the pay commission the Union government should create monitoring bodies at all levels of administration. These bodies should study and periodically evaluate every individual’s performance to decide on awards and punishments. The incompetent, inefficient and corrupt employees should be shown the door. This is the only way to have a healthy and efficient administration.

— K. Venkataraman

Mumbai

All about might

• This refers to Inder Malhotra’s article, ‘On history’s plateau’. China has never accepted Tibet’s claims to sovereignty. The term ‘sovereignty’ has had several connotations in the past. But now, it is defined in terms of a state either ‘having it’ or ‘not having it’. The erstwhile Soviet Union dominated a dozen nations for more than half a century, and few could protest then. What, for that matter, is being done for Iraq reeling under the boots of Western armies? India itself has not come clean in the case of Sikkim — which was never an Indian province but now is an Indian state. The fact is that the strong rule the weak, regardless of place and time.

... contd.