Date:27/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/27/stories/2007082751750300.htm

It is disheartening to note that nowadays schoolchildren are being subjected to enormous stress. With an eye on ‘ranks’, managements of private schools are vying with one another in enhancing working hours in the name of Spoken English, IIT, talent tests etc.

Schoolchildren are finding no time for sports and games, and losing their valuable childhood. Even though their performance is up to mark academically, they draw a blank face when it comes to extra curricular activities. The authorities concerned are requested to necessary steps to put a check on this unhealthy trend.

Addanki Srinivasa Rao

Ongole

Improve infrastructure in hospitals first

It is quite laudable that the State Government introduced Aarogya Sri health insurance scheme for the poor in select districts to cover major ailments.

The scheme intends to help the targeted segments to access the medical services of corporate hospitals. There are apprehensions that whether the needy people would be able to make use of the scheme.

Hence, the Government should put the scheme on hold, and give top priority to improve the infrastructural facilities in the Government hospitals and primary health centres. It is necessary that the medical and health, and education sectors must be given priority while making allocations in the budget.

V. K. Bhaskara Rao

Chirala

An eye-opener

The judgment of the Mahila Sessions Court, Vijayawada, on August 17, in the case of custodial death of Kona Krishna Kumari would be an eye opener for many. It is also a befitting lesson to the police. It is a caution to the policemen, who are high-handed and take the law in their hands.

It is necessary to circulate the copies of judgment to all police stations in the State, as they twice before acting in a hasty manner.

B.V.Subrahmanya Sastry

Bapatla

A negligent act

The special branch and intelligence wings owe an explanation to the public for why they failed to sense the attack on Bangladeshi writer Tasleema. The two enforcement departments are expected to gather information that she would address a meeting at the Press Club in the capital, to prevent such untoward incidents.

More so, it was a book release function and hence, they should have had a fair idea of the meeting. The police should ensure that such incidents do not take place in future.

K. Sujatha Nagaraja Rao

Kavali

Real or fake?

It is a well-known fact that fake currency has been under circulation for a long time. Though the Government is very fair and strict in controlling the printing and circulation of the fake notes, people have bitter experience of receiving fake notes (mostly in the denominations of 500 and 1,000) even from ATMs.

It is astonishing to note that even educated people cannot distinguish the difference between a fake note and a genuine one.

Then what is the fate of illiterate people? The authorities concerned need to look into this matter.

M. Blessing Moses

Penumantra, WG District