The real tribute

The real tribute

I share the grief and outrage of the nation about the death of the girl who was gangraped in a moving bus in Delhi. We must hope that a law is enacted soon to mete out stringent punishment to those who commit such heinous crimes ('Remaking ourselves', IE, December 31). Let us hope that this nationwide indignation is not a temporary phase. This struggle for justice should also continue for women from marginalised social groups — Dalit, Muslim, adivasi, poor, uneducated and voiceless. That would be the real tribute to the memory of the departed soul.

— K.Z. Amani

Aligarh

Out of sight

THIS refers to the report, 'Hurried morning cremation for rape victim' (IE, December 31). The whole sequence of events that unfolded after the 23-year-old girl's gangrape had one sad but common thread: the Manmohan Singh government's inept handling of it. The government's response lacked confidence and maturity. It was marked instead by high-handedness, a represssive stance and token sympathy for the victim and her family. The victim's body was brought back in the wee hours of December 30 and hastily cremated. The prime minister and Sonia Gandhi might have been present at the airport when the body arrived. But the huge mobilisation of police and security forces near the place of cremation in Dwarka suggests that the government wanted it to happen fast and out of the public eye.

— M.Ratan

New Delhi

Good company

THIS is apropos 'Big measures for small investors in Cos Bill', (IE, December 31). The concept of mandatory corporate social responsibility in the proposed Companies Bill, 2011, is a welcome step. But the companies required to fulfil such requirements are only those who have a profit of

Rs 500 crore and a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore. These cut offs should be lowered so that more companies are covered by the bill. The government could also provide incentives like lower excise duties, subsidies and tax exemptions. That will ensure that companies do not shy away from responsibilities by citing government apathy to business.

... contd.

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