STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION

In India the Right to Education has finally become a fundamental right thanks to the passage of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha. Indian children aged between six and 14 are now liable for free education. This could not have come a moment too soon. India’s literacy rate and record are abysmal, with millions denied access to elementary education.

The Bill makes it incumbent on the state to provide free elementary schooling to children in their neighborhoods. The common refrain about the poor quality of infrastructure and teaching in our schools has also been taken into account. Schools, whether private or government, will have to adhere to some common standards have play fields, drinking water, toilets and a library as well as stick to a 1:40 teacher-student ratio.

The Bill seeks not just to guarantee elementary education but also reform the system, which has been a long time coming. It bans capitation fees, bars the screening and interviews of parents and students before admission, and makes corporal punishment unlawful. These are welcome measures. But the question of just how it will be implemented remains.
- V Shreedharan, New Jersey

CORRUPTION IN US TOO!

The uncovering of the scandal in New Jersey was made possible by the relentless effort of informers working for federal investigating agencies. The United States has a long tradition of investigating corruption in high places and effectively collecting proofs of corruption at the highest levels including the White House. In contrast, the investigating agencies in India are so handicapped, a negligible number of corrupt officials have been so far prosecuted while even fewer of them been brought to justice. Those of us who have lived through numerous instances of political corruption in India are no longer shocked by the enormity of such cases, the most recent of which involved an IT company Satyam that attracted worldwide attention. The former Chief Minister of Bihar state who was prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation - an investigating arm directly reporting to the Prime Minister’s office - later became a celebrated minister in a Congress led government in Delhi. Now that is possible only in India. Despite their criminal records people have been able to get to the seat of power with muscle power! High time India develops a system to curb corruption at the grassroot level lest it spreads to the higher echelons. The prevalence of corruption in US is not a new phenomenon unearthed but what is commendable is the way in which the system doesn’t allow the perpetrators of the crime to walk away scathe free. Of course in the recent NJ case there has to be some political motivation working against the incumbent administrative officials but lets just see the brighter side and pick things which benefit the system at large.
- Jayesh Desai, New York

HINDUS NEED TO RECLAIM PAST GLORY

Hindus should be united and end the confusion and siege we are in today of terrorism, religious conversions and illegal immigration from neighboring countries that destroyed our culture and heritage. We may be personally religious and go to pray in temples but would not come together to defend the religion and protect our temples from terrorists and foreign missionaries. Hindutva should be a way of life. Only that way can we reclaim our past glory. Our old history books should be scrapped and rewritten based on puranas and great epics.
- Vivek Jain, Connecticut

GREAT 15TH ANNIV ISSUE

It was a pleasure going through the 15th anniversary issue of NRI TODAY. I have been a regular reader for many years now and look forward to the magazine every month. Your insightful articles and exhaustive coverage of news involving the Indian American community has become a staple for readers like me who enjoy keeping up to date with the community happenings.
- Dhruva Kumar, California