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Shocking

The article "A controversial survey on India" (July 19) on Reuters AlertNet's finding that India is the sixth most dangerous country for children was shocking.

That India is home to half of the world's hungry is painful. It is true that social evils such as child labour and malnutrition are still playing havoc with our society. If this deplorable situation continues, one wonders what the country will look like in the future.

K. Magesh Kumar,
Coimbatore

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The ranking may be exaggerated in some way but the survey certainly throws light on the conditions of India's children.

Quality education is available only to a minuscule percentage of children. Abolition of child labour is still a far cry. Female infanticide has also not been done away with completely.

P. Prameena,
Coimbatore

* * *

The article argues that something is wrong with the poll because India has been ranked as more dangerous than Afghanistan, Chechnya, the Palestinian Territories, and Myanmar.

Child labour, early marriage, discrimination visited on children on the basis of gender, ethnicity, disability, and poverty are shameful facts, which Indians cannot wish away. Why quarrel with the mirror when the face is ugly?

B. Sasisekhar,
Madurai, T.N.

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