Protect rights of domestic workers

Protect rights of domestic workers
Despite modern home appliances, the need to have the services of a domestic help is an absolute necessity. Almost every home has one. However, there are no laws that come to their aid in terms of their salary, time off, etc. For years, the authorities have not addressed problems faced by the domestic workers. They are deprived of regular working hours, holidays, health insurance and above all a minimum wage. It would be helpful if the state government comes out with a set of rules relating to their welfare. The State’s Welfare Department must be able to provide a matching corpus fund after employers are asked to deposit Rs100 each month towards their health care.
—MVN RAJ, Bangalore

Performance appraisal needed
This is with reference to the report that a group of Mumbaikars have formed Mumbai 227, a platform to launch independent civic poll candidates. Citizens of Mumbai ought to remember that the Juhu citizens’ corporator Adolf Dsouza had aligned with the ruling party Shiv Sena on the promises of chairmanship of K West Ward Committee and membership of the Standing Committee. Therefore, he had the unique advantage of being in powerful positions for four years. Unfortunately, Mumbai’s first citizens’ corporator continuously followed the dictates of the ruling party on all major issues. He could not take a single policy initiative nor did he expose any instance of corruption. Has Mumbai 227 done a performance appraisal on Mumbai’s first citizens’ corporator?
—Kajal Shah, Juhu

Survival of democracy in question
Violence is becoming a way of expression in Indian polity. The attack on Prashant Bhushan in Delhi for expressing his views on Kashmir and the gun-wielding Congress youth in Bijapur are all the symptoms of this malady. Cases of eliminating and silencing RTI activists are being taken casually even by courts. This is also not a good omen for those who want to resist the sliding of our moral and ethical values in the society by speaking out. The government machinery does not give an impression that they are ready to safeguard the fundamental right of a citizen to express his views without fear or favour. There is a need for much stronger mobilisation of people’s opinion to arrest this trend by all political parties if democracy has to survive in India.
—PV Ravindranthan, Bangalore

II
While on the one hand people in general have no problem embracing a liberal outlook, on the other hand, there still exists in our midst some narrow-minded people, more often with rightist extremist ideas out to stymie free speech and dissent (‘Anger at outrageous attack’ on October 13). Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena members’ brutal assault of Prashant Bhushan, who has been in the limelight with his staunch association with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, was borne out of this intolerance. This needs to be checked.
—KP Rajan, Mumbai

Chinese presence in PoK: Antony
This is with reference to the Chinese presence in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) that is worrying Defence Minister Antony. More often than not, the Chinese have been flexing their muscles. This is not unexpected. There are multiple reasons for this. We have hurt their ego with our presence in Vietnam. Signing of numerous international pacts has further isolated China in the region. We cannot afford to flatter China frequently as the Pakistan does. Defence Minister Antony is justified in saying that we have to manoeuvre our defence capabilities along the eastern borders in the wake of Chinese military existence in PoK. Gone are the days bullying tactics would have yielded results.       
—Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai

Anna phobia
Apropos ‘ Cong confused over counter-Anna strategy’, it is baffling why the government is treating the septuagenarian activist “as a new deity in the Indian pantheon of countless gods,” as one political analyst has put it. While he is taking the Congress for a ride by jumping into electoral politics in Hisar, asking the electorate to put their local or state-level issues on the backburner and vote against the Congress in support of his famous grouse — not passing the ‘Jan’ Lokpal bill.  Even our Prime Minster keeps him informed of the steps he is taking to implement all his demands one by one. Such strange things can happen only in India.
—Dr V Subramanyan, Dombivli

Cushioned seats fine, but we need FoBs
It is a good decision taken by our honourable chief minister to replace the wooden seats of all second class train compartments with cushioned seats in Mumbai. Commuters will now be delighted while travelling by the local. I hope the decision will become reality soon. But is that our primary concern? I think the chief minister and the railway ministry should both focus on Foot over Bridges (FoBs) first. That should be their priority. Consider the case of Thane FoB, where commuters have to wait for 10 minutes every day. Also, cases of chain snatching and pick pocketing are common. Don’t they think they should first widen bridges at stations like Thane?
—Prashant Mane, Mumbai

Out of sync
Cricket is a team sport where performance is everything. Harbhajan Singh’s downfall is his own making. Somehow, the Sardar of Spin was out of sync and that made the selectors look for new talent.  Now, he is finding it difficult to digest his absence from the side and is trying to divert attention. Now, he says he was more surprise than hurt at being dropped. When he was selected to play in England he failed to perform. After all, he failed in every department of the game and that made the selectors to look for young talent. Incidentally, Harbhajan failed to take a wicket twice in 360 odd balls and that is an Indian record for a spinner to go wicketless. Team India needs fighting players and not bowlers giving away 270 runs for 2 wickets to share the spoils. Bhajji’s crocodile tears are not acceptable and selectors should not take this seriously. He needs to get his act together soon.
—CK Subramaniam, Mumbai