I think there are blabberers everywhere who create headaches for their faith, political party, government and so on. Examples of such people are Azam Khan, Digvijay Singh, and Giriraj Singh. They cannot keep quiet and they do not bother about repercussions. Therefore, it is better to simply ignore them instead of giving them the limelight they long for.

VS Ganeshan

Bengaluru

Put Railways on track

This refers to the editorial, ‘Off track on rail safety’ (April 2). The growth of the Railways should be commensurate with the growth of the population and the operational system should employ the latest technological developments in order to eliminate accidents and provide comfortable travel. Many aspects such as the seating arrangements, toilet facilities, and advanced booking call for improvement. The elimination of accident liability should receive top priority. An infrastructural sector of the size of the Railways requires a permanent panel of experts in all sections to continuously monitor its operational problems and initiate appropriate steps without delay.

TR Anandan

Coimbatore

For every kilometre of travel by rail, it costs the Railways 68 paise, but we are being charged only 30 paise. The Railways doesn’t have the resources because it is not a commercial operation. Until we make the Railways operate on commercial terms where will the resources come for railway safety? The Railway Budget did not raise passenger fares. But it wants to spend ₹8.5 lakh crore in the next five years. How are they going to pay the interest on the huge debt they plan to raise? Without basic reforms the Railways is being directly driven into a debt trap.

CR Arun

Email

The insightful analysis resolutely identified appropriate initiatives. Fissiparous tendencies, regional hegemony and political prejudices are the determinants of the span of control forming unviable zones and linguistic divisions causing avoidable problems for the railways and its users.

The Railway Board should be above subjective considerations to connect India. It suffers from too many committees. The Rakesh Mohan Committee Report on transport development policy was doing the rounds and now that has been put aside for the Debroy Panel. At least this must be followed through.

B Rajasekaran

Bengaluru

Avoidable tragedy

The horror that unfolded at the Pragathi School and PU College in Kadugodi where a trigger happy office attendant went on a killing spree, should make the authorities see red. The toll would have been much bigger had the killer not taken to his heels after the other girls rushed to help.

It is unfortunate that the college authorities paid no heed to the complaints relating to the attendant’s wayward ways. Neither was there adequate security for the girls. The manner in which the country-made pistol used for the shooting was procured and those responsible for its supply should also be probed. The growing gun culture in the city and easy access to guns and small firearms has set alarm bells ringing. The city fathers must take up this matter right away.

NJ Ravi Chander

Bengaluru

Sanitation and sadhus

In his article ‘Spirituality and the seventh goal’ (April 2), R Srinivasan expresses scepticism about the effectiveness of utilising religious leaders to achieve the goal of sanitation in India. But the capacity of spiritual leaders to change devotees’ minds and habits is phenomenal.

There is no dearth of them, but not many of them qualify to be called saints and thought leaders. If such persons are identified and they agree to be a part of the sanitation mission, it would go a long way in influencing the masses. Similarly, opinion leaders in villages along with the elected representatives of gram panchayats could be involved in this. The main hurdles to achieving the goal of public and public hygiene are our living habits and indifference to cleanliness. It’s a deep-rooted malaise.

YG Chouksey

Pune

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

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