Powerful tool

This is with reference to “Education is the magic key” by Rana Kapoor (November 4). The writer has rightly pointed out that education is a powerful tool for the advancement of one’s career. The Government should take more steps to reach education to everybody. Qualifications should be given due consideration for promotions. Maths, science, English and the mother tongue should be given emphasis.

Vedula Krishna

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

It is true education is a magic key. But in India it has remained neglected especially after liberalisation because the Government has not shown any inclination to keep the standard high. There is no match between demand and supply of educated manpower and hence there is sub-standard employment. There is acute shortage of skilled manpower.

To some extent, urban areas have succeeded in setting up private schools and although the interest is profit-making some good education has been delivered, but the rural areas are completely neglected. Even if enrolment has gone up the standard has fallen considerably. While most urban graduates are interested in white collar jobs, rural inhabitants are not considered fit for skill development training as their basic education is too poor.

NGOs seem to have lost credibility. The Government budget is too tight. But what it can do is keep a vigil on the standard of professional education; merit should rule in all institutions. No unworthy candidate should be employed in teaching institutions. States should be made accountable for delivering quality education especially where funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan are provided. Foreign investment in skills education needs to be strengthened. The old universities and colleges need to be revitalised and made accountable and responsive to the needs of industries and employment.

RK Arya

Faridabad, Haryana

What use Aadhar?

This refers to the report, “Service book of every employee to include Aadhaar number” (November 3). The Supreme Court had ruled that Aadhaar should not be mandatory. But the Government has been continuing the system of Aadhaar cards introduced by the UPA government. At present the card does not contain adequate information.

If the present dispensation feels it is useful and expects every citizen to have it, then it should provide adequate information including ration card number, driving licence number, PAN card number, gas card number, voter id number and so on. It should be an all-in-one document. The issue of documents from the respective departments cannot be dispensed with but Aadhaar should provide as much information as possible so that for any purpose, a photocopy of it is enough.

KV Seetharamaiah

Hassan, Karnataka

Well said

Three cheers for the suggestions made in “Between need and greed” by Sandhya Rao (November 4) underlining that labour reforms must aim to improve the quality of life of workers. The Prime Minister has said labour problemsmust be seen through the eyes of the shramik (worker) not industrialists. The question then arises as to how the proposed Bills to amend labour laws that satisfy the greed of industrialists would improve the quality of life of workers?

KVA Iyer

Kochi

The article makes a valid point about distributing the employment market by cutting down working hours. Mahatma Gandhi said “There is enough in this world to meet man’s need, but not greed.” EF Schumacher’s book, Small is Beautiful , reflects the same spirit. But we live in a world where everyone wants to make more and more. Where will all this stop? Bapuji, describing the attitude of the British Empire had said, “It should not be mass production, but, production by the masses.”

KP Prabhakaran Nair

Email

Googling India

Google’s new initiate of launching Indian Language Internet Alliance (ILIA) will certainly increase its mass usage across non-English speakers. Google is hitting the nail on he by tapping customer requirement and bridging the gap between technology and people. Google at the moment is the only platform that recognises the Indian accent so well, unlike Apple and others. If it continues to bridge this gap between people and machines, Google will soon have a monopoly in India.

Avnish Rana

Gurgaon, Haryana

Competition is key

This refers to the article “Between need and greed” (November 4). Labour reforms should be looked at as a enhancer of our competitiveness and not as a curse to our workers. The cost of running a business is part of how competitive we are. So hiring and firing is part of managing costs and becoming more competitive. If a business cannot take these difficult decisions when they are staring at an adverse business environment, then the ultimate loser will be the labour when the situation gets worse and the business is forced to shut down. Let us have sensible labour reforms that try to balance both the expectation of labour and give entrepreneurs the liberty of managing business cycles.

CR Arun

Email

Wagah incident

The suicide bombing at Wagah border has shown that there is no lull in senseless violence in Pakistan. The futility of such violence is not realised by the perpetrators. Seen from a human angle, any act of violence involving loss of life causes pain and should not happen. With forces within the country torn by conflicting loyalties and interests fighting among themselves to the finish, Pakistan appears to be in a self-destructive mode.

The Wagah incident debunks the view that Pakistani military and Islamic extremists are on the same page on most issues and abet each other in bomb blasts. India must appreciate the difficulty Pakistan is in and resume talks with Islamabad as part of efforts to strengthen forces of moderation and reduce the level of turbulence in the region. Given Pakistan's proximity as an immediate neighbour, its stability is in India's interest. Pakistan’s descent into a “failed” state is no cause for glee to India. Before things slide into chaos, Pakistan must rediscover Islam to end fighting between the warring forces and usher in a new era of peace and progress.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

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