The NREG outlays are huge, and the bureaucracy gives a go-by to procedures or ‘guidelines’. The government has to take this scheme out of the hands of the bureaucracy, and find the Arun Bhatias and Kiran Bedis to ensure that the targeted people get the intended benefits.

— M.K.D. Prasada Rao

Ghaziabad

Political ratna

• While L.K. Advani raised an uncalled for controversy over the Bharat Ratna by proposing publicly the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Left sounded magnanimous. Jyoti Basu himself has said that he is not in the race, and the CPM too has averred that Left does not believe in such imperial regalia. E.M.S. Namboodiripad had refused such a civilian honour decades ago.

Let us debar politicians of all hues forever from the list of candidates and consider those who laid down their lives for the country working selflessly. On this criterion few will fit the bill, we know.

— Dankesh Oza

Vadodara

Bats off to cricket

• Hats off to Indian cricket team for their superb performance in the Perth Test match. India’s victory at Perth is the victory of cricket. In Sydney, the umpiring was pathetic and totally biased. There was a strong public opinion in the whole Indian subcontinent that the Indian team should boycott the rest of the series. But in the interest of cricket, BCCI didn’t do that. Australians should realise that no team is unbeatable. India and Pakistan are capable of beating Australia on Australian soil.

... contd.