Chhattisgarh gives India lessons in public hygiene
It was interesting to read Ejaz Kaiser’s report Terrific toilet training (Big Picture, November 20). The people from tribal villages of Chhattisgarh’s Sarguna district, who have ensured that every house has a toilet, deserve appreciation. Their attempts at maintaining good hygiene and cleanliness in the area, which have halved the cases of dysentery, malaria and diarrhoea are worth emulating. The report is an eye-opener for state governments that don’t give importance to the issue of public conveniences.
Mahesh Kapasi, Delhi
Freedom of the press is above all
The attack on a media office in Mumbai and Pune by activists of both the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is shocking (Sena smash and grab at TV channel offices, November 21). The incident highlights the Sena’s frustration at its defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra. The news channels whose offices the Sena goons attacked were doing their duty by showing the real picture of Maharashtra politics, which is in the grip of hoodlums and thugs today. The government should take stern and immediate action against those responsible for Friday’s attacks to ensure that the freedom of the press remains intact.
Purushottam Shrivastava, Delhi
II
If the Maharashtra government fails to punish Sena activists who attacked media offices last week, it will encourage them to spread violence and hold the state to ransom in the future too. Thanks to the MNS and the Shiv Sena, Maharashtra is slowly becoming a fascist state. Unfortunately, even the people of the state seem to have adjusted to political parties’ violent way of protest.
Bapu Satyanarayana, Mysore
Well done, Ramesh
Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh deserves appreciation for publicly acknowledging the problem of uncleanliness in India (Jairam: India deserves Nobel for dirt, filth, November 21). For all these years, the government has been trying to hide from the world the problems of corruption, pollution, poverty and unemployment that plague our nation. Instead of
criticising Ramesh for his sarcastic take on the problem, people should laud his boldness in taking note of the grim reality.
J.S. Bali, Dehradun
Well done, Ramesh
Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh deserves appreciation for publicly acknowledging the problem of uncleanliness in India (Jairam: India deserves Nobel for dirt, filth, November 21). For all these years, the government has been trying to hide from the world the problems of corruption, pollution, poverty and unemployment that plague our nation. Instead of
criticising Ramesh for his sarcastic take on the problem, people should laud his boldness in taking note of the grim reality.
J.S. Bali, Dehradun
Repair sealink cracks
It is disheartening to learn that just after three months of its inauguration, the Bandra-Worli sealink has developed leaks and there are cracks on the road surface (Leaks and cracks in sealink, November 23). It implies that materials used in its construction were of poor quality. The government should demand an explanation from Hindustan Construction Company, the contractor, and ask it to repair the damages at the earliest.
Komal Mahashabdey, Mumbai