Today's Paper OPINION

Published: January 12, 2012 00:00 IST | Updated: January 12, 2012 04:25 IST
Letters to the editor
National shame'
A foundation conducts a survey and publishes its findings which say 42 per cent of Indian children under five are
malnourished, and 59 per cent of them suffer from moderate to severe stunting. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suddenly
wakes up from his slumber and calls the findings a national shame. He should be reminded that he leads the country that
produces a record-breaking quantity of food grains but 48 farmers commit suicide there every day.
It is time to take some emergency action, rather than enact another law and wait for another 20 years to realise its results.
More than hunger, it is nutrition that we should focus on.
Saumya Agarwal,
New Delhi
The findings of the HUNGaMA report are not only a national shame but also a blot on the country's conscience. We have a
number of welfare schemes at both the Central and State levels. But, quite obviously, they don't benefit the needy mothers
and children. Such malnourishment and defect in the growth of children will have a telling effect on the country's future.
Earnest efforts should be made to address the vital issue on a war-footing.
Prabhu Harle,
Bangalore
For those working in the area of community nutrition, the findings of the Naandi Foundation survey are not at all shocking.
The National Family Health Surveys and the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau have reported, through their periodic
surveys, the persistence of unacceptably high levels of childhood under-nutrition in the country. Although the Government
of India demonstrated its intent to control under-nutrition by formulating the National Nutrition Policy in 1993 and the
National Plan of Action on Nutrition in 1995, poor implementation came in the way of achieving the goals. Unfortunately,
the impact of the largest nutrition programme in the world Integrated Child Development Scheme although in
operation for about 36 years, has not been commensurate with the large manpower involved or other inputs. We have failed
in involving people in the programmes and in increasing their awareness. I do hope that Dr. Singh's national shame
response will stimulate the authorities to pay the attention the issue deserves.
K. Vijayaraghavan,
Hyderabad
When 42 per cent of our children are malnourished, all other achievements, including a phenomenal growth in GDP,
increase in the number of malls, cell phone users, etc., are meaningless. How can we ever dream of becoming a superpower?
On the one side, we see food grains rotting and, on the other, malnutrition stares us in the face. We cannot sit back and wait
for the government to remedy the situation. All of us must act in a concerted manner. Giving the right nutritional and
development facilities to our children should be a national priority.
Vijayalakshmi Swaminathan,
Chennai
Even today, we find many women who have a low level of awareness on nutrition. But it has never been a matter of debate
among our leaders. In an ideal democracy, such issues should become the topic of election campaigns but no party is
concerned with them. Instead, they are busy playing the blame game, and caste and religion-based politics.
Kumar Vimal,
Kurukshetra
Even though successive governments have taken steps to overcome malnutrition by introducing schemes such as the ICDS
and midday-meals in schools to improve the dietary intake of children, the state of affairs leaves much to be desired. The
most damaging effects of under-nutrition occur during pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life. Besides the
government, all educated men and women should take the responsibility of bringing about awareness among expectant
mothers on the benefits of Vitamin A and iron supplements, and the importance of giving colostrum to the newborn.
Sandhya Thota,
The Hindu : Today's Paper / OPINION : Letters to the editor http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article2794153.ece?...
1 of 3 9/2/2012 10:09 AM
Nellore
Disaster averted
This refers to the news report Pakistani flag hoisting was a Hindutva plot to foment strife, police say, (Jan.11) on Hindutva
activists hoisting a Pakistani flag in front of the Tahsildar office in Sindagi, Karnataka, on January 1 to foment trouble. The
involvement of Hindu right-wing groups in terrorist activities was brought to light by the arrest of the perpetrators of the
Malegaon bomb blasts. In this case, had the police not acted swiftly and arrested the culprits, the communal tinderbox
would have been easily lit with tragic consequences.
A. Kutub Shamshudin,
Chennai
It is shocking that the hoisting of a Pakistani flag was a plot by Hindu right-wing organisations. Extremists try to make
political gains at the expense of communal harmony. It is important that the media give the details of the real games behind
such incidents so that the public stays informed.
B. Harikrishnan,
Mangalore
It was a really shameful act targeting a particular community. The authorities should take strong action against the culprits.
This is a lesson for those who blame Muslims for all communal incidents.
Naveed Anjum,
Gulbarga
The Hindu deserves praise for publishing the report, which was not highlighted by most national dailies. But for the
alertness of the Karnataka police, the incident might have ignited yet another wave of communal violence. The allegation
that an elected representative of the BJP is behind the act exposes our politicians who polarise voters at the cost of vitiating
communal harmony.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin,
Kadapa
Thank you dad
On reading the article Daddy, daddy cool (Open Page, Jan. 8), fond memories of my childhood came rushing to me.
Although my father was more of a disciplinarian (operating from the parent-ego state), I learnt valuable lessons from him.
His values and foresight in putting me through the best of schools and colleges equipped me with the necessary skills and
passion needed for my profession.
Neville Solomon deserves to be lauded for his concluding paragraph. He has conveyed what I, a parent of two children and a
grandparent, wanted to convey to my children.
C.V. Sriram,
Hyderabad
My father was a thorough gentleman who gave all six of us, brothers and sisters, the freedom to grow. He never offended us,
although we were a middle class family with our share of struggles. He would thank us even for some small errands. Not
that we expected him to thank us but it came so naturally to him.
V. Natarajan,
Coimbatore
I wept uncontrollably on reading the article. In one go, I revisited all the moments I spent with my father, especially the last
two months of his life. He served in the army for 20 years, and I saw him as a person with a lot of dignity, discipline and
passion to help the less fortunate. I never thought that the absence of one person would have such an impact on me that I
would dedicate my whole life to his dreams. His small motivational talk was more than enough to alter my ways or choices.
It has been 12 years since I lost him but there has never been an hour I have not remembered him. The most important
quality he instilled in me was the passion for public service and patriotism. All I want to tell him is: being your daughter is
my only prized possession.
Sherine Panavelil,
Aurangabad
More In: OPINION | Today's Paper
Printable version | Sep 2, 2012 10:02:05 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article2794153.ece
The Hindu : Today's Paper / OPINION : Letters to the editor http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article2794153.ece?...
2 of 3 9/2/2012 10:09 AM
The Hindu
The Hindu : Today's Paper / OPINION : Letters to the editor http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article2794153.ece?...
3 of 3 9/2/2012 10:09 AM