Congress manifesto
The Congress manifesto promises right to health, to housing, to pensions and social security, to humane working conditions, to right to entrepreneurship and so on. But what prevented the UPA headed by the Congress to fulfil these in its two terms of existence? Manifestos trundle out unconditional promises. When once the party or combination of parties comes to power, either the promises are forgotten or they are implemented with conditions that are hard to digest. The UPA is very careful to not promise scam-free five years if returned to power. No party, much less the Congress, can promise scam-free government because no party can sacrifice tainted persons in the electoral fray. Good input gives good output. If candidates fielded in elections are treated as inputs, tainted candidates are bad inputs. The basic needs of a common man are water, electricity, supply of foodgrains at affordable prices, transportation and of course healthcare. These have been found wanting even after 67 years of independence.
KV Seetharamaiah
Hassan (Karnataka)
Food security
This refers to your editorial ?Keep the rice, pass the BA? (FE, March 24). It impresses upon the need to have a re-look on the Food Security Act. The changes taking place in lifestyle is a major factor. Spending on education, on better food items, on health etc is increasing. Considering the huge cost involved as well as the huge leakages that may take place, the system needs to be thoroughly revised. At the same time, there is also a need for big attitude change. Putting children in private schools or giving private tuition is not the solution. We have to revise and reform the entire education system so that it imparts ‘real’ education and churns out employable youth. And simultaneously, we should be able to create employment opportunities in agriculture and industry. Keeping rice and price under control, we should leap forward to acquire real education and employment.
Jacob Sahayam
Thiruvananthapuram
