Only vigilance can help

Sir: Apropos your editorial ‘Towards transparency’ (IE, May 21) the prime minister’s repeated letters to his ministerial colleagues to submit the statements of their assets and liabilities are like persuading the peacock to shed its feathers. The PM can indicate a time limit by which ministers should comply with his order or resign from their ministerial positions. Politics is the fountainhead of all corruption and if politicians are not corrupt no civil servant can dare to indulge in corrupt practices.

Representation of People Act should be amended so that those who file nominations for elections for state assemblies or Parliament should submit a statement showing their assets and liabilities on the date of nomination. In case it comes to light at a later stage that false information has been given, the presiding officers should have the power to suspend the members or dismiss them after satisfying themselves about the nature of information contained in their statements. Similarly, all aspirants should submit an affidavit that their income is below taxable limit or that they have paid all the taxes due from them. In the absence of these two documents the candidature should be rejected straightaway.

B Krishnamoorthy
New Delhi

Sir: Apropos the letter ‘Sacred peak’ (IE, May 22), I fail to see the (mis)adventure Somesh Goyal smells in the Spanish mountaineers’ attempt to scale Mount Kailash. A spirit of adventure and thrust for knowledge are universally sacred. It would be rare indeed, for this to hurt sensibilities. For centuries, the moon has been sacred to one and all, yet when man walked on the moon it became a landmark in human progress and achievement. Why can’t we make an attempt to conqu- er Mount Kailash in this spirit?

Avinash C Tripathi
New Delhi

Sir: In spite of the government dithering on the issue of the privatisation of the civil aviation sector in the country, things are looking up. With the entry of private players, there has been a marked improvement in service. Air travel today is no longer merely about a confirmed seat. The competition that prevails in domestic civil aviation has spurred the airlines to be innovative with their marketing strategies. The magic mantra seems to be freebies and similar schemes to complement value-added services. Private airlines are competing with each other in offering freebies to passengers. There are ‘Fly n Smile’ schemes, insurance and holiday plans. Lucky passengers actually get to win a Merc, or a holiday to an exotic locale. Those not so lucky have to satisfy themselves with a Maruti 800!

Aimed at creating value for customers, such schemes and offers have been met with an overwhelming response. This in turn speaks of the changing trends in travel business. Domestic airlines are doing more than just helping passengers reach their desired destinations.

Shriya Bajaj
New Delhi

Sir: Apropos Pamela Philipose’s report ‘India’s children: A report card with red marks’ (IE, May 20). As per the Supreme Court of India, the right to health is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. However, now, health care has been bought over by the private sector. The goal of ‘health for all’ by 2000 AD is still a distant dream.

As many as a little over 37 million children in the country are suffering from malnutrition, of which about 2.15 million die every year. The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau has reported that 81.5 per cent children suffer from mild to moderate malnutrition and 8.7 per cent suffer from severe forms of malnutrition. The rate of infant morality in the developed countries is as low as 14 in North America and 6.7 in Sweden. On the contrary the IMR in India is 79 and under five 111. Kerala has the lowest IMR of 17.

Raising living standards, education of women and a healthy diet must get priority to achieve the goal of health for all. This will depend on political will and contributions by NGOs and developed countries towards eradicating hunger and malnutrition in the poverty-stricken developing countries.

Pritpal Singh
New Delhi