Hats off to our security agencies for the seizure

Hats off to our security agencies for the seizure
The nation has heaved a sigh of relief with the seizure of RDX-laden car with timers and detonators on Thursday at Ambala railway station. A major bomb blast has been averted during the festive season. This has happened only because of the timely intervention and coordination of our security agencies. Hats off to our security agencies for doing their job. It is time the government further spruced up the intelligence network to prevent such violence.
—Ramesh Jethwani, Bangalore

It’s not just about visual cleanliness
It is commendable of DNA to have started the programme of awareness of kitchen hygiene amongst the teenagers and youth as the food they consume now will have an effect on their health in the long run. Though everyone is aware that cleanliness is important in the canteens or kitchens, there is a tendency to cut corners to reduce the cost and earn more profit. In the bargain, one can invite trouble for all involved, in case of food poisoning. While more emphasis is being given to visual cleanliness, it is important to see the quality of vegetables and other ingredients, including the oil used for cooking. Less said about the street food, the better because even the water used for cooking and washing utensils is of dubious quality. The dust and dirt in the air makes the food cooked in the open more unhealthy. The corporation cannot absolve itself from the duties of checking the canteens and removing the unauthorised street stalls.
—Vanita Shenoy, Mumbai

Important observation by Supreme Court
This refers to the news report ‘Manohan’s silence echoes in apex court’ in DNA on October 14. It appears the learned judges of the Supreme Court GS Singhvi and HL Dattu have remarked that if the PMO had taken action at the right time, the 2G mega scam could have been avoided. This observation is very significant because this is the first time the Supreme Court, inquiring into the 2G Spectrum scam, has laid the blame at the doorsteps of the prime minister. By this, the court has cast aspersions on the motive of the prime minister in allowing a junior minister of the Cabinet to overrule him. This also means that the court has not accepted his weak defence of his silence over Raja’s actions to the compulsions of coalition politics, but has made him culpable for the gargantuan fraud.
—Arun Chandra, Mumbai

Forget Mumbai, fix rural Maharashtra
This has reference to a report ‘Netas play game as power cuts looms large’ in DNA. The power situation in Maharashtra has worsened in the last year. One can not imagine the state of power in Maharashtra while residing in Mumbai. The moment you step into the rural parts of Maharashtra, one gets to know the severity of the problem.  In many areas, power cuts go up to 12 hours a day. Successive governments in Maharashtra have played politics on this issue. If Maharashtra wants to retain its position as a favourite investment destination, it has to solve its energy crisis by giving it number one priority.
—Ashok Goswami, Mumbai

Most wanted: Honest leaders
Former Supreme Court Judge Markandeya Katju severely condemned the misuse of RTI and said that if everything is exposed to RTI, judges and top officials would hesitate to take any steps in the right direction fearing backlash. It would be like a Damocles’ Sword on everyone’s head. He also decried the attempt of judges, heading commissions of inquiry prolonging to get monetary benefits. There are many upright, visionary and dynamic persons like Katju and PS Appu, former Chief Secretary of Bihar Government and Julio Ribeiro, ex-DG of Police whose services could be utilised as members of the National Advisory Council. There is an urgent need for honest persons of eminence.
—KN Bhagavan, Bangalore

Don’t trust the doctors blindly
Kudos to DNA for highlighting ethical issues in medicine in the Goel report. I take this opportunity to alert the readers to the dangers of a form of intra-vitreal (injections into the eyeball) therapy currently being practised by some eye specialists. Some of the drugs used are “off-label”, have doubtful benefits and often far-reaching side-effects and consequences, with the patients disillusioned and disheartened after a while, meanwhile spending huge amounts of money. These therapies are being used despite the fact that in some ocular diseases, there is insufficient evidence to guide such treatment recommendations. Doctors are humans too. You can’t trust them blindly.
—Dr Hemang D Koppikar, Mumbai

Preschool survey was interesting
The Preschool Survey published in DNA brings out very interesting findings. It is a good scientific experiment, as it covers on ten parameters including teaching, safety, hygiene, leadership and infrastructure. However, I feel the sample population of 1,731 respondents across six cities and 283 parents, principals and teachers in Mumbai may not be a true representative of the total population in this survey.
—Dr SS Iyer, Lucknow

Basic needs come first, comfort later
With reference to the government initiative to make the second class compartment more comfortable by replacing wooden benches with cushioned seats. The basic need of the commuter is not being addressed here. The government must realise that majority of the commuters are standing and not sitting. By having cushioned seats you are at best making cosmetic changes with no real benefits for 70%  passengers are standing in the train. It would be better of the authorities concentrated on increasing the frequency of trains, the number of coaches and the train speed with the help of a better signalling system. The government also needs to remove all railway crossings and have more Foot over Bridges (FoB) instead to make life better for us.

—Nixon D’Silva, Mumbai