Best Letters of the Week

What a shame!
This refers to the article 'Peacetime War' (TSI, June 17). The parsimony of the government towards the war-disabled is amply illustrated by the earmarking of just Rs 1 crore annually for nearly 25,000 war disabled personnel, which turns to be a meagre Rs. 400 per person. What a shame! Over the last few decades, the war-disabled as a group have been gradually fading away from the radar screens of service headquarters as well as the government, despite the fact that their number is increasing practically on account of casualties incurred in counter-insurgency operations. This situation of apathy to them must be corrected lest it would lead to grave repercussions in the long term.
J.S.Acharya
Hyderabad

Economy vs president
In reference to the cover story 'What's more important: Saving the economy or electing a President?' (TSI, June 24), the upcoming presidential elections once again brought to the forefront the murkier side of Indian democracy. While the race to the most prestigious yet ornamental post in the country hots up, many of the political parties end up using the presidential elections as a weapon to gain political leverage at the centre. While the Trinamool Congress sees it as a golden opportunity to extract its much talked-about "Bengal-package”, the BJP sees it as the perfect opportunity to up the anti-congress feeling. As a result of these opportunistic policies of the various parties, the dream of the average Indian gets crushed. The political parties should look for a consensus candidate for the post instead.
Bishop Sarkar
Kolkata

Political gimmick
In Musings, ''The lottery of BPL cards'' (TSI, June 24), Prasoon S Majumdar has rightly pointed out the problems that plague most of the welfare schemes in India. At the heart of this problem lies the very approach of the government. Any welfare scheme which is fundamentally based on patronage is bound to be used as a political gimmick. But providing foodgrain to the poor at subsidised price does not reflect the magnanimity of the governments, rather it is the right of people to have access to basic food and safe drinking water. So, it is the time to shift from patronage to right-based welfare schemes like Right to Information, Right to Education and right to food.
Nirupam Hazra
Santiniketan, West Bengal