India’s bureaucracy requires urgent reforms and it is good that the Narendra Modi government is finding new ways to deliver government services to citizens (‘Making merit count’, January 8). The 360-degree performance appraisal should have been implemented many years ago. Why did it take so long?

 

The government should have a higher scale of accountability compared with the private sector, and it should aim at citizen-centric governance round-the-clock. There is a good talent pool within the government and it needs to be nurtured.

 

From now on India’s bureaucracy should not be the greatest hindrance to its progress.

 

Gaurav Kapur,

On email.

 

IAS officers should figure out creative solutions to deliver government services to citizens. Citizen-centric governance is the way forward. Bureaucrats should be in fear of making mistakes and being wrong. They need to be monitored by an appropriate authority. Only then would the best in them come out. Sadly, most bureaucrats in India are just interested to keep their political bosses happy, which is not right.

 

Shantha Naidu,

On email.

 

Hats off to the Modi government for following the policy of zero tolerance for corruption. I agree with Jitendra Singh, minister of state, prime minister’s office, that it is the government’s prerogative to retire government servants in public interest if they are not up to the mark. It is important for society to eliminate corruption for a better future.

 

Devender Tokas,

On email.

 

I liked your cover story on how the Modi government is changing the bureaucracy. There was so much information there. Laxity of bureaucracy will encourage disruptive forces. That the prime minister is striving hard to get the best out of the bureaucrats is a welcome change. Good going.

 

D.J. Bhaskar,

On email.

 

I appreciate and endorse the decision of the Central government to remodel the governance system, as no change has been made to the steel frame of India’s government machinery since independence. This is going to instil accountability.

 

Surinder Sharma,

On email.

 

Convince Taliban

Your ‘The Big Picture’ (January 8) has expressed the hidden fear and hatred of a woman towards a Taliban fighter. This, after the Taliban banned women from universities in Afghanistan, giving rise to despair among people across the world. The Taliban has not just shut the gates of universities for women but has also shut down the future of its citizens.

 

Women are vital in every field. It is the responsibility of the government and society to recognise the power of women and allow them to achieve their full potential.

 

The International Human Rights Organization and the United Nations should intervene and convince the rulers in Afghanistan to take back the ruling and allow women to study in universities on par with men. If that does not happen, there will be mass resistance from women and things could go out of control.

 

If the Taliban continues to ban women from universities, neighbouring countries should not cooperate with it in economic, cultural and other fields.

 

J.P. Reddy,

On email.

 

Good CM

Naveen Patnaik is a good leader, and he will remain chief minister of Odisha for a long time to come (‘An epic strategist’, January 8). Odisha was earlier known for poverty and underdevelopment. But not any longer. Patnaik deserves credit for that.

 

Nandagopal Marar,

On email.

 

The BJP in Odisha will continue to remain in the opposition as long as Patnaik is around. He has really transformed the state like no other chief minister has. Still, Odisha has a lot more to achieve as it continues to be one of the poorest states in the country.

 

Tigin Thomas,

On email.

 

End the Covid coverage

It is time we stopped the discussions on Covid-19 (‘Don’t worry, be wary’, January 8). It is done and dusted, and a horror story from the past. The Chinese are to be blamed for everything and they will continue to bear the brunt. The rest of the world need not bother about Covid-19.

 

I request THE WEEK to end its coverage on the pandemic.

 

Vyom Prakash,

On email.

The Chinese vaccines have been proven ineffective. Countries that accepted China’s vaccines are also bearing the brunt. What a pity this is! I say ban all Chinese products across the world.

 

Suresh Kumar,

On email.

 

Interesting story

Your story on India’s independent weathermen was interesting (‘Vane glory’, January 8). I never knew such people even existed. Weather has started playing an important role in our lives. The vagaries of the weather are so difficult to predict these days. When the weather is extreme it could even pose a risk to food security, which would be disastrous.

 

Bose Mathew,

On email.

 

Be impartial

I feel it is valid for the Supreme Court to make key observations on the truncated tenures of the chief election commissioners since 2007 (‘Who picks whom’, December 18). It seems the government of the day does not want the Election Commission to utilise its powers. Involving the chief justice of India in the selection process is a good way of quashing the notion of partiality.

 

Also, the apex court should look at ways of making the collegium system more impartial and objective.

 

Both cases cannot be seen as interferences in each other’s internal affairs.

 

Jitendranath Guru,

On email.