Punish those responsible for Mahi’s death

Punish those responsible for Mahi’s death
This has reference to ‘After four days, Mahi pulled out dead from borewell’ (June 25). It is really sad that prayers of millions of people in our country and the best efforts by the army, police, fire brigade and other agencies could not save the child. Yes, it is true that the authorities concerned are callous and do not bother to adhere to the rules or even follow the Supreme Court strictures. Had the agency concerned spent some money to buy a wire mesh to close the pit, Mahi would not have lost her life on her fourth birthday. Unfortunately, despite such frequent incidents, no state government has come up with any strict policy and neither have they punished the law breakers. Unless we fix accountability on the officials who neglect their duties, such incidents would continue to occur. I suggest that the state government officials and the borewell agency which are responsible for this callous act, should be asked to pay a compensation of at least Rs50 lakh to Mahi’s parents. Only stringent punishment would deter others from neglecting the  set rules and regulations.
— Janaki Mahadevan, Mumbai

No hope lost
It’s said that a people’s true character is evident when there is a crisis. The fire at Mantralaya last week exhibited in a microcosm the true colour of our leaders and indeed of the entire polity. The cowardly escape of all the political leaders (the Dy CM leading) as soon as they were informed about the fire, without a thought for their subordinates or visitors, is a shocking reflection of our national political character. Many in the building were not informed about the possible dangers and many others had to crawl out and climb down the drain pipes, putting themselves at grave risk. But amazingly, when rescue for them did arrive, they lined up for the ladder by rank! The adage that the weak go first and the captain last is perhaps alien to our great VVIP culture. The sickening lack of accountability in the aftermath is like a stuck record with everyone including the ministers pointing fingers at different directions. It’s a fact that every fire safety norm was flouted and those in the cabins with bloated ministerial egos smacked of a leadership that placed personal benefit above national good. The fire department’s recommendations have been overridden because the government is supposed to be above the law. In perhaps what could be described as bizarre, the top official in charge of safety blamed the Vastu of the building and the inauspicious date! The fact that five people had to die is perhaps of little consequence in the grand plan of our leadership. From this inferno, however, emerges some signs of hope that we have not lost as a people: the group that risked their lives and saved the National flag; the person who rushed back into the blaze to save his friend and never came back; the few who helped to get people out at the risk of getting themselves engulfed and all those firemen who worked with substandard equipment and lack of water.
— Amit Choudhury, via e-mail

II
In wake of the Mantralaya incident, all public utility departments have woken up to the stark realities of accidental fires. There seems to have been no contingency plans in the event of a fire or any other calamities. It has now been said that the Mantralaya fire has been a blessing in disguise because it has compelled the authorities to go in for digitising all documents. Such an exercise will become handy and it will be easy to retrieve lost documents from the archives or the back-up files. Let us confess that corruption will be beaten black and blue as no records can be destroyed and updates will be easily accessible. And, of course, frequent visits to BMC offices will become history.  
—Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai

Ramesh & eco-toilets
It is surprising that our rural development minister Jairam Ramesh compares the Agni missiles to sanitation problems.  The ‘eco-toilets’ and missiles are both technology-oriented and the combustible emission of missiles and human excreta are both interrelated. Factually, the former leads to climate change and the latter to installing bio-digesters either chemically or in a bio-degradable manner to decompose, involving high-cost options. Secondly, the users of bio-toilets must be trained to use and reuse the residual matters. If allowed to accumulate, it will create unsolvable issues. Most importantly, it is ridiculous to name the toilets as ‘Bapu’ as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi! It is virtually showing disrespect to the Mahatma. He should just be concentrating on connectivity to rural areas, housing if necessary combined with bio-toilets, and not on naming them.
— AS Raj, Mumbai

Happy leaders
Manjul in his Irregular has aptly described the minds of
our political leaders. As enlightened in the cartoon, our leaders are happy as long as their interests are protected, even at the cost of innocent lives.
—N  Mahadevan, Mumbai

Motivated criticism
There seems to be motivated criticism in some sections of the media of PA Sangma’s decision to contest the presidential election. The argument is that since the numbers are not on his side, he should not contest. This suggestion makes a mockery of the democratic principle of contest. In an election, only one candidate can be successful. But people do contest to make their points of view known. Sangma’s invitation to UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee for a debate on a range of issues, particularly the economy, is welcome. Remember, Mukherjee is not yet the president. Therefore, the Congress stand that the president does not manage the economy is only an excuse to avoid a debate. If democracy is to flourish, all issues should be discussed and the air cleared, if necessary. Many presidents have remained mere figureheads, giving speeches, giving away awards, chairing functions or travelling abroad. People may not vote directly for the president but they surely have a right to know the credentials of the candidates. Sangma’s call is a step in the right direction.
— Dayanand Bhat, via e-mail