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user will get free 15 GB data per till some time back. mercy plea in rape-cum-murder
month, with a data limit of 1.5 However, it seems that Jio cases and immediate execution
GB per day. This is scheme is might have had a change of may be considered.
extremely useful. heart, as floor prices, if fixed The silver lining here is that
M QASMI NADWI by the regulator, would only the vigorous protests, which
strengthen its already strong point and may help change the
2019 HDI is a fairly position. anti-survivor notions in society.
political document The Trai, however, has all YG CHOUKSEY
With reference to the report “India makes along maintained that floor
modest progress in HDI” by Tehelka Bureau
(December 31) prices are not desirable. The edi- In India, one of the main reasons
That India ranks 129th among torial rightly makes a point that for increase in crime rates
189 countries in the human fixing floor price would be anti- is technical loopholes in our
development index compiled consumer. Trai is mandated to judicial system, exploiting which
by the United Nations Develop- protect the health of the telecom the accused go scot free. Hence
ment Programme is not a major sector, of which the consumers people have lost trust in our
surprise, nor that it is still ahead are the biggest stakeholders. judiciary. Second, the increase
of other South Asian countries. As such, Trai need not accept in crime rate is also the direct
Yet, there are some positive fac- the plea of telcos for fixing floor outcome of poverty, misery,
ets that deserve to be noted. One, prices. underdevelopment.
the difference between India’s Warring telcos should settle Criminals are not born but
rank on per capita income and their price war themselves and are made by society. Pov-
that on human development is not make Trai a party to it. Also, erty, lack of education and
negative. it is a misplaced notion that broken families are the breeding
It means that India ranks, voice and not data is an essen- grounds for criminal activities,
admittedly among several na- tial service and only the former especially juvenile crimes.
tions, higher on human develop- should be under the forbearance A lethargic outlook towards
ment than on income. The 2019 regime. In fact, mobile data now development and economic
Human Development Report is has become quite an essential growth has put the country out
a fairly political document. It is part of communication, at times, of gear. Third, social norms play
urgent to tackle inequality, even replacing voice calls due to the an important role in combating
as poverty comes down and the widespread use of free messag- rape. It is not only education and
gap between basic development ing apps. Only market should empowerment of girls that will
indicators such as life expec- determine the price. prevent rapes.
tancy at birth narrows across the SANJEEV KUMAR SINGH To bring about change in so-
world. ciety, people should change their
The data show that with Jubilation over killing outlook. Strict punishments,
one-third the expenditure India of rapists isn’t right including capital punishment,
makes, as a proportion of GDP, With reference to the Cover Story “The country protection for women by a,
wails amid rape trails” by Sunny Sharma
on education, Bangladesh makes (December 15) sincere and humane police force
comparable achievements on The article rightly points out will go a long way. This heinous
several fronts. that demand for lynching or crime must be made a non-
TARIQUE ANSARI jubilation over killing of rapists bailable offence.
in a police encounter are not the Finally, when there is large
Telecom firms should right responses or solutions to scale unemployment in the
settle rift on their own the menace of rape and murder. country how can we talk of
With reference to the report “Too big to fail is However, such reactions are a inadequate police force. Why
false notion” by Tehelka Bureau (December 31) cannot these vacancies be
All the three private telecom manifestation of growing public
operators have shown rare anger against insensitive legisla- filled with regular recruitment?
unanimity in asking the Telecom tion, indifferent investigation How can the government boast
Regulatory Authority of India system and a painfully slow and of empowerment of women
(Trai) to fix floor prices for mo- prolonged judicial process. when women are not safe even
bile data services. This is some- Thus, reforms in the chain, in big metros? Our courts
what unexpected as the market from legislation to justice deliv- should also be revamped, with
disruptor Reliance Jio, unlike the ery, will help eliminate unwar- adequate staff to dispose of
other two private operators, was ranted vigilantism. For example, cases quickly.
not in favour of any floor prices excluding right of bail and VEENA SHENOY

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