Sir,
It is painful to find city bred medical students agitating against a new provision which makes it compulsory for them to serve in rural areas for a year to earn medical degrees.
Medical students in countries like Britain, are expected to compulsorily spend a year in the remote interiors of a third world country manning medical outposts and tending the sick of these places before they can get their degree. I have seen three such students (one of whom was a lady) in a place called Lukla which is a remote village situated at an altitude of 11000 feet in Nepal and serves as the starting point for trekkers to the Everest base camp.
In fact, the only medical facility available here was manned by these students. (This was in 2004 May.)
If a developed country could have this rule why cannot our medical students be made to chip in with their bit to improve the health of the poor living in rural India?
S Bhashyam
Bangalore
Uniform rates
Sir,
With reference to the news report Sakrama may stay, but with changes (DH, Dec 6). It is stated that the Karnataka Governor has asked the authorities to look into the possibilities of slashing the regularisation fee under the scheme to certain categories of property owners. The plot holders who have bought plots upto 40' x 60' are either lower middle class or middle class employees who bought the plots and constructed the houses through availing housing loans. In view of this, it will be appropriate if the Governor takes a decision not only to slash the rates but also charge uniform rates.
B S Gopalakrishna
Bangalore
Public monitoring
Sir,
I refer to the article Spending money: Imperatives vs malaises (DH, Dec 6). Kathyayini Chamaraj’s submission that recommendations of the framework paper of June 2007 “strategies for Children under Six” prepared for the Planning Commission, if implemented will fetch an ROI of 800 per cent in terms of GDP growth is indeed thought provoking and welcome. The comparison with the investments into expressways and airports gives a sobering perspective. I was wondering if there could be more public visibility and periodic monitoring for the implementation of such fundamental schemes.
Thomas
Bangalore
Modi v/s Cong
Sir,
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s justification of Sohrabuddin Sheikh’s killing reminds us of the rule of various dictators in history. Sohrabuddin was neither a terrorist nor was he carrying any weapon with him so as to endanger the people around him. He was securely taken away from his bus and executed elsewhere.
Moreover why is Modi not talking about the killing of his wife and his friend who were the eye witnesses?
Sachin Kurmi
Ghaziabad, UP
Electoral gimmicks
Sir,
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s portrayal of Narendra Modi as a “merchant of death” provoked the latter, who unwittingly played into the Congress trap, justified the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in the infamous encounter, forgetting it is sub-judice. The way the crowds responded in chorus to Modi’s rhetoric proves that the electorate can be easily injected religious opium turning it into a frenzied mob!
A Seshagiri Rao
Bangalore
Exam dates
Sir,
The packing of examination dates for second PUC students of April 2008 batch is inconvenient to students. There is no gap for papers such as Kannada, Physics and English. Physics paper is extremely crucial for engineering aspirants and hence it is requested that Physics and Kannada papers are rescheduled such that students get atleast one day gap to prepare for the two papers.
G S S Narayana
Bangalore
