Engineering fees: Authorities must act
Sir, The government had promised to bring down the fees for students who had selected the engineering and medical seats through the higher fee (CET) for 2006-2007 batch. All engineering colleges are scheduled to open on August 13 and the students are required to pay the entire amount within that date.The college authorities, when enquired about the lowering of the fees from Rs 88,090 to Rs 62,090, as promised by the Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Education minister Shankara Murthy, say that they have not received any communication. The parents who had borrowed the educational loan are now being refused to be given the initial amount that was fixed by the Government. As there was a formal announcement made by the Government about the reduction in fee, the banks are now willing to lend only Rs 62,090. Authorities should look into the matter.
Pavithra
Bangalore

Behave yourself
Sir, The present unfolding of events and those in the past amply prove that the political class in the country has become immune to the wishes of the people. The prime examples being the election of the Congress candidate Pratibha Patil as the President, an absolutely insipid choice backed by the Left parties who claim that elections are not won by SMS.

What they conveniently forget is that with a meagre 42 seats in parliament and no accountability whatsoever, they talk as if the majority of India supports their outlandish policies. It is time for these parties to awaken and respect the mandate of the people and fulfill all their election promises.
K Jayasimha
Bangalore

Suffer the noise
Sir, Now that a new President has taken charge the time has come to review the entire exercise. Yes, we are happy to have a woman President. But, has Ms Pratibha Patil got the stature to expect people to respect her?
We are not sure. Window dressing Mrs Patil to the position by the Congress and its loyal politicians, does not hide the fact that we have a president who has many tin cans attached to her. These will rattle when she moves, and we will have to suffer the noise in disgust.
V Casikar
Australia

Role models?
Sir, A P J Abdul Kalam's farewell message asking the politicians to motivate children by being role models is naive to say the least. With majority of the politicians having criminal precedents and the almost uncivil way they behave in Parliament and State Assemblies for all to see, would not the situation get worser if our children were to look up to them as role models?
Ramani P Easwaran
Bangalore

A failed god
Sir, Former cricketer Kapil Dev has rightly questioned the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar, saying when it comes to winning matches, he has always failed. Truly Sachin has seldom won matches for India, he has not performed at all, when Indians are desperately needing wins. The recently concluded Lords test in an example. So i think Kapil is not at all wrong in questioning the greatness of Sachin. Sachin will definitely retire with the ghost of not winning matches for Indian haunting him.
Suthan K P
Bangalore

Prioritise projects
Sir, Although the project for the new international airport in Bangalore is well on hand and expected to be ready by April 2008, this Government has been doing nothing about getting the issue of connectivity to the new airport by road or rail done in time.
Instead new projects like monorail, satellite roads etc are being given attention and priority. Why the Government does not prioritise projects and take them up on urgent basis to show their keenness to improve infrastructure?
S N Iyer
Bangalore