Sick logic
Sir — Taking leave is frowned upon and discouraged in a capitalist work culture. But the bizarre reasons given by corporate companies for rejecting leave petitions these days beggars belief. For instance, a manager replied to an Indian employee’s request for medical leave that such leaves must be applied for a week in advance. The rationale that illnesses do not give a week’s prior notice before striking is evidently lost on the manager. However, one wonders whether implementing such unrealistic leave policies makes him an ideal candidate for the 70-hour workweek that is the talk of the town right now.
Vidushi Bhat, Bengaluru
Peace offering
Sir — The decision of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre to lift a ban that prohibited government servants from participating in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh reflects the former’s desperation to capitalise on the Hindutva sentiments for survival (“Too close”, July 25). The RSS, which is the ideological fountainhead of the saffron party, masquerades as a cultural organisation. But its exclusivist agenda of ‘one nation, one culture’ is at variance with India’s syncretic ethos. Public servants openly joining or endorsing the activities of such a divisive body is thus undesirable.
Khokan Das, Calcutta
Sir — Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief, had indirectly alleged last month that it was Narendra Modi’s hubris that led to the saffron party’s poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections (“Modi melts partition between govt and RSS”, July 23). Close on the heels of such a statement, the Modi-led Central government passed an order allowing government employees to participate in the RSS’s activities. Since there was no formal request for such from the RSS, the Centre’s decision can be seen as a bid to quell Bhagwat’s antipathy. Modi has tactfully compensated Bhagwat and the RSS to earn their silence.
Ananda Dulal Ghosh, Howrah
Sir — The Bharatiya Janata Party has been concentrating on furthering the agenda of the RSS since it came to power. But during the general elections, the BJP president, J.P. Nadda, declared that the party was not dependent on the RSS and was ready to chart its own course.
This drove a wedge between the saffron party and its ideological mothership. The ruling dispensation’s move to lift the ban on government employees engaging with the RSS is meant to assuage the wounded sentiments of the sangh parivar. But such a decision would lead to the saffronisation of the bureaucracy and allow interference in government functioning by the RSS, a group that has been banned three times in independent India’s history.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
All work, no play
Sir — The Karnataka government’s proposal to introduce 14-hour workdays for employees is unfortunate. After a justifiable backlash from IT professionals, the state has rightly put the plan on hold. The proposal came at a time when the job market is already reeling under the pressure of global recession. While hard work is a recipe for success, overburdening can have severe implications on the lives of employees, exacerbating health issues and mental stress. It is also unclear whether compensation and perks would increase proportionately with working hours.
Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital
Greenery counts
Sir — It is a matter of great concern that the Mamata Banerjee government has decided to sell off 4.2 acres of prime land opposite the Alipore zoo. The land has several trees, adding to its beauty. If promoters take over this land, they will cut down trees in their pursuit of profit. The government must ensure that the greenery of the place remains intact.
Somnath Mukherjee, Calcutta
