Reaching out to J&K

• Over a thousand people in J&K have perished because of...

• Over a thousand people in J&K have perished because of the recent quake. I am disgusted with the scant amount of coverage being accorded to this disaster and its effects on the Indian citizens who reside in the affected regions. It appears that unless 20,000 people die, the media will just not provide enough space for such tragedies. Additionally, our premier news agencies could have been expected to raise sharp questions about the government’s handling of this crisis, so as to ensure that the nation is in a better state of preparedness when the next calamity hits us. I hope that over a period of time our media gives less emphasis to the India Shining type of propaganda and focus more on the real India.

— Anshul Bangalore

• Apropos of the report, ‘India Inc rushed to Gujarat, where are they now: Mirwaiz’ (IE, October 12), India has poured more money into Kashmir than any other state of India. It is just that corrupt politicians devour it before it reaches the people.

— Dave Baroda

• The comments of the Mirwaiz — that Indian companies are not coming forward to help victims in J&K, as compared to their response to Gujarat — are irresponsible. He cannot equate the two states. Most NGOs and industries have a significant presence and infrastructure in Gujarat and can deliver help easily. In J&K, people like the Mirwaiz are responsible for not allowing Indian industry to establish a base. Without any infrastructure in the state, no NGO or industry can extend help in a consistent manner.

— Atul Gupta New Delhi

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• The tragedy is definitely of huge proportions and every sane Indian and human being will be praying for the speedy relief and recovery of the affected people. However, I am not surprised at the reaction of India Inc or even the public reaction to the J&K earthquake. People are less forthcoming because J&K is seen as a site of war and insurgency.

— Chandra Mouli Chennai

• Perhaps the reason why India Inc is hesitant to reach out to J&K is because it fears it will become a pawn in the hands of the terrorists.

— Jaajvel E.P. Kochi

• The comments of Mirwaiz are most unfortunate. He is trying to inflame passions in an area struck by natural calamity and, in the process, trying to gain political mileage out of the disaster. This was not expected of the Hurriyat.

— Abdul Ansari Jammu

• Is it possible to post, along with the sad news from J&K, information about how common people can help and addresses to send aid to? It’s so sad to learn about children dying in the cold without sweaters.

— Archana On e-mail

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• I am a civil engineer and have always been interested in designing seismically stable structures at optimum cost, using local materials. Our minister must pool these resources of knowledge and put them together for dissemination (‘Using technology to save lives, be it a tsunami or quake’ (IE, October 12)

— Eric Pinto Panaji