Who’s in charge?

Who’s in charge?
It is shocking to learn that the chief minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan, has left for a foreign tour without handing over the charge to anyone of his colleagues (‘CM’s gone out of country, everyone wants to take charge’, DNA, June 17). Even in offices whenever one is on leave for a few days, it is expected that the person will hand over charge to someone. In the case of a whole state no one seems to be in charge.
Sudhakar G Shenoy, Mumbai

Held to ransom
In a clear case of claiming one-upmanship and fighting for a so-called cause for the taxi and rickshaw operators, the Swabhimaan Sanghatana headed by Nitesh Rane, called a strike for a fare revision consequent to a hike in CNG rates (‘How politics forced cabs, autos off Mumbai streets’, DNA, June 23). Fearing a backlash for not following the diktat, the taxi and rickshaw drivers went off the roads, inconveniencing thousands of people who had enormous difficulty reaching home. It is clear that the flash strike is politically motivated to gain the limelight. The general secretary of the Taximen’s Union admitted that their union had not supported the strike. Strange are the ways of such organisations which hold the city to ransom and it is even more bewildering to see how the state government seems hapless in tackling such situations effectively.
Deepak Agharkar, via email

Education problems
Best of five has become part of the annual drama enacted by the education department and the various education Boards (‘Best-of-five, sports bring scores & joy’, DNA, June 22). The students and the parents are forced to be helpless spectators. Why do the authorities wake up to the problem only in May- June? Why cannot they debate the issue thoroughly with various boards and come up with a rational decision in advance to allow time for public debate? A strong and mature leadership capable of seeing the problem in its entirety with a political will is the need of the hour.
K Kanakasabhapathy, via email

Affordable housing
It was a very welcome news that rental housing project is going to be a reality (‘MMRDA rental hsg plan set to get a boost’, DNA, June 21). Such a project will definitely bring relief to those who can’t afford to own housing and they will live in some dignity. Such projects are the real service to the “aam admi” and the authorities need to be complimented for initiating it. But those executing this project must ensure that basic facilities are available from the very beginning, otherwise we will be just providing ‘authorized slums’.
LJ Prasad, Mumbai