Opinion School scourge

Corporal punishment in schools has become as mortal a scourge as ragging in institutions of higher learning....

The Indian Express

June 21, 2010 12:20 AM IST First published on: Jun 21, 2010 at 12:20 AM IST

Corporal punishment in schools has become as mortal a scourge as ragging in institutions of higher learning. Mani Gupta’s article ‘Sparing the rod’ (IE,June 18) will spur a lot of thinking in this regard.

Barbarism can be fatal both in the hands of the taught and now,as it turns out,in the hands of teachers as well. The shocking death of Rouvanjit Rawla has jolted the conscience of the nation. The school education minister,Partha De,sums up the general attitude when he pleads helplessness. The code of conduct that lists disciplinary measures against teachers is almost always observed in the breach. Worse,teachers get away with corporal punishment either because it is tacitly condoned after the tension subsides or,as often as not,they are protected by virtue of their political affiliation. A show-cause notice or a freeze on increments is too feeble a response to counter calculated barbarity. As the recommending authority for action,the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education must come down hard. Thus far it has failed. In the event of further failure,judicial intervention,as in the case of ragging and many other spheres of public life,may be the only option.

— Subhayu Saha

Murshidabad

Reign of peace?

This is in response to ‘Reign of Terror’ by Subhomoy Bhattacharjee (IE,June 17). Nobody wants to involve oneself in mindless violence. If people living in Naxal-affected areas were presented with an environment conducive to growth and with entrepreneurship opportunities,they too would like to show their potential. Corruption and other forms of maladministration are so rampant in these areas that sanctioned grants and resources are going down the drain. Embezzlement,pilferage,and fudging of banks accounts have led only to the enrichment of two classes: politicians and administrators. Now the Naxals,with the objective of destroying the Republic,have taken the same medicine. They too are siphoning off funds devoted to development works in panchayati areas. In fact the panchayat system here has almost become non-functional.

Armed action is definitely the need of the hour here for the establishment of law and order,as only then can you undertake development process forward. Simultaneously,administrative reforms that can push the spirit of entrepreneurship in people,reduce corruption and make the bureaucracy the engine to launch economic growth should be implemented forthwith.

— Mohd Furquan

New Delhi

No will in J&K

Thanks for a detailed article on the Kishanganga project in Jammu and Kashmir (‘Troubled Waters’,IE,June 18). The “let the water flow in Indus” words then agreed upon by Indian authorities in Indus Waters Treaty,without any foresight about the possible utility of its tributaries within Indian borders for our use,is gross callousness. The same lack of political will is evident in the slow but sure usurping of our lands in Ladakh,part of J&K,by the Chinese.

— Hemant A. Sant

Vadodara