Bio-fuels
The story on bio-fuels was interesting. What struck me was that although we have an army of scientists, they have not as yet invented good jatropha seeds. By now they should have come up with a range of solutions. India should be selling seeds to the world instead of flooding the poor farmer with expensive seeds from dubious multinationals. It seems our scientists are not working at all. This aspect needs to be investigated.
Devinder Varma, Hissar
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New energy
I liked your revealing story on biofuels. Winrock International India’s pilot project on growing jatropha to meet local electricity requirements in Ranidhera village of Kabir Dham district in Chhattisgarh can become a model for other remote areas. However, it is only
reasonable to point out that in order to fuel many more initiatives, support needs to be provided. This will help to catapult many more farmers with entrepreneurial abilities like CS Patel who made a neat profit selling jatropha saplings.
Usha Rao, New Delhi
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Inspiring story
Your cover story on the Rural Medicare Centre in Delhi was not just a nice read but also very inspiring. Most doctors with good reputations are so busy making money they have no time to pause and think what is the purpose of medicine? The ability to heal is the greatest power a doctor has. And power must always be exercised for the benefit of mankind. Power used well bestows great honour, respect, love, things that mere money cannot buy.
Dr NS Chatterji, Kolkata
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Nasscom story
Nasscom has done well by going to the grassroots. That’s where we need to concentrate. Thiruselvam’s ITrural. com is an excellent project. I’m sure Nasscom, under its new CEO Rufina Fernandes, will discover many more state-of-the-art examples in bridging the digital divide and inform us about them. There is so much IT can do in education and health. It can also bring different villages together to exchange news, views and solutions.
Nandita Roy, New Delhi
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Govt reinvented
Rajender Singh, India’s Waterman has made a sensible suggestion to the government about having a National Tank Authority. But, I agree, there is no point if this authority functions like a government department. It should work with more efficiency than the best private sector operation. It should have people who don’t mind getting their hands dirty. The authority must first decide all the details of their johad making programme and then implement it ina time bound manner.
Anita Singhvi, Ahmedabad
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Brave Sharmila
Irom Sharmila is truly a very brave young woman. Her story is a very moving one. She has become the face of Manipur, its best known leader and an icon for the young. The government should urgently repeal the AFSPA. It should talk to the women of Manipur for a solution. A sincere government can bring peace.
Biswajit Sarmah, Guwahati
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Urban activism
I am a regular reader of your magazine which I buy from the stalls. I have noted that you are reporting more and more on rural India. This is a good trend. But I would caution you that your urban English speaking readers are not truly interested in the rest of India. They only talk about villages in seminars. It’s all show. You should also write about urban activism since that could get you your audience.
Shefali Singh, New Delhi
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Indian middle-class
The Indian middle-class is loud, crass and ill mannered. Many social evils are practiced by them like dowry, female foeticide, consumerism, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, ill treatment of elderly people. Most of all they lack any civic sense, whatsoever. I think your magazine should shame them. For instance, you could do a cartoon strip.
Kirpal Randhawa, Chandigarh
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In Susmit’s world
The article ‘In Susmit’s World’ was well written. I am interested in alternative music and will certainly buy the CD. Music is the best way of getting messages across to the young. Music appeals to the heart. It can motivate people to do good things. There are musicians who have done a lot for the disadvantaged, apart from singing about inequalities and discrimination.
Jaya Ghosh, Kolkata
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Rehab policy
This is with reference to Milindo Chakrabarti’s analysis on the situation in Singur. I agree that a rehabilitation policy is essential. But I think, before that we should have a national debate on what is the kind of development we want in this country? Are we really looking at only a western model of development? Or do we need to think of a model suited to our villages? We go on and on about Gandhi. But essentially his was a grassroots approach. We have tried the industrial model since independence. It has caused inequity, poverty and pollution. Once we can decide on the model we need, developing a rehab policy will be easier. May be we will not need to dislocate people from their roots, then.
Leena Rao, Hyderabad
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