— Shariq Alavi

Lucknow

Too young

• No one will disagree with the observation that “plus two” or 18 years is probably too young for joining the prestigious Indian Administrative Service. A person of this age isn’t mature enough for to handle the demands of the civil services. However, there’s enough scope for an open debate about the examination system and overall recruitment policy. The evaluation of IAS officers also ought to be free from political intervention.

— S.K. Gupta

Chandigarh

Waterways

• While the global trend is to optimally utilise water transport, there’s little awareness of this in Maharashtra. Maharashtra is blessed with a coastline of about 720 km. There are half a dozen major, several medium and many minor ports along this coast. Till 1984, ships used to ferry passengers between Mumbai and Goa. Not only passengers but also cargo can be transported at a fraction of the cost incurred otherwise. It’s sad that neither the government nor the public is serious about sea transport. With many SEZ projects coming up in the Konkan region, it is advisable that ports like Rewas, Dighi and Bhagawati are developed to their maximum potential without delay. This will also generate employment and promote industrial activity.

— Firoz Batliwala

Mumbai

Watch them blossom

• The educational reforms proposed by Kapil Sibal are long overdue. As it is, current exam procedures are only a memory test. Ironically enough our educational institutions focus on preparing students for answering exam questions; there’s no attempt to develop their intellectual abilities. The need of the hour is to reform the teaching process so as to redesign the educational system to facilitate each student’s development of her native talents.

— K. Gopakumar Menon

Pune

Hold on

• One hopes Kapil Sibal will not back down. Sibal’s proposals may not be perfect, but they are admirable and revolutionary. But these must be thought through, analysed and dissociated from the “100-day” rhetoric. Sibal should stand his ground but not rush in. There’s also the danger of over-centralisation (single board) and education for those who can afford (privatisation) he should consider.

— Vitull K. Gupta

Bhatinda