• The statement by the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, in regard to our defence preparedness vis-à-vis China is shocking. Undoubtedly, he had obtained clearance for such a statement, considering its long-term implications. But what about its effect on our armed forces’ morale? At Independence, India was certainly not behind China in any field, and the case remained so for almost a decade thereafter. Then, the Chinese government single-mindedly concentrated on building its military strength; India was left far behind. How long till we decide to begin closing the military gap?

— P.L. Purohit

Air Vice Marshal (Retd)

Pune

Poor execution

• The Indian Express should be thanked for drawing attention to the poor contribution of Industrial Training Institutes in providing industry-required skilled workforce. It may be recalled that, in 2004-05, the government had chosen 500 ITIs for upgrade, with a 100 of these to be developed with domestic resources. It also set up an Institute Management Committee of 11 members from the industry and government to promote public-private partnership. Unfortunately, the laudable scheme does not seem to have gathered much momentum —one more example of good planning failed by poor execution. The editorial makes some useful suggestions to make these institutes come close to the 2004 concept of turning select ITI into Centres of Excellence.

—Y.G. Chouksey

Pune

Pandemic protection

• When the swine flu pandemic was spreading across Latin America and the US, the Indian government should have been alert. Measures being introduced now should have been in place months ago. Thereby, we’d have been spared the mounting death toll. The Union health ministry must immediately compel all capable private hospital and laboratories to undertake tests and treatment. No effort should be spared to stem the spread of the H1N1 virus. Health care is a sector that needs largescale public-private partnerships and massive investments to utilise existing infrastructure and build world-class facilities. Otherwise, every future pandemic will devastate us.

... contd.