Letters: Focus on India

Apropos T N Ninan’s “Second again”, and Devangshu Datta’s “The power of national disgust” (January 1, 2011), it will be more rewarding to provide for meaningful education, basic health care (including safe drinking water and toilets) and transparent administration for Indians rather than trying to compete with China. A vibrant democracy, less corrupt administration and a society with fewer social tensions is a much better recipe for citizens’ happiness than just running after growth. The sad part is that the government is not thinking in this direction. Let us hope it does, otherwise we will continue to be surrounded by illiteracy, corruption, malnutrition and so on.

V B Bhatia, on email