Thanks to think tanks

Thanks for your informative cover story ‘India’s top think tanks’ (EW March). It was an eye-opener that India hosts 292 think tanks — the third largest number after the US and China, and that six of them have been rated in U Penn’s Global Go-To Think Tank league table. The encouraging take-away from your story is that the country’s think tanks are actively engaged in helping and advising the Indian government on drafting policies and programmes which will benefit the public at large. There’s no doubt the Central and state governments need all the help they can in framing and implementing people-friendly polices backed by strong research and evidence. Given that India’s 600-plus universities are notoriously research averse, the onus is on think tanks to conduct studies on the country’s many pressing socio-economic problems, and recom-mend solutions. On behalf of our countrymen I want to express my gratitude to the 292 think tanks silently engaged in valuable research on issues of national importance. They deserve our full support! Manoj Saxena Delhi Valuable national resource Your cover story ‘India’s top think tanks’ (EW March) was well written and researched. I was totally unaware that India has 292 think tanks. Although they are miserably underfunded, they are a valuable national resource. Unfortunately, most decisions taken in government and industry tend to be seat-of-the-pants decisions based on insufficient information and evidence, made in a hurry and regretted later. Such decisions cost heavily in terms of time and money. I hope government and industry will heed your advice and commission more research by think tanks, so they can make informed decisions in the interest of growth and development and faster project implementation within the Indian economy. Initiatives backed by strong research have greater chances of success. Mathew Varkey                                                                                                                                Bangalore Invaluable  service The special report ‘Idealism is not dead: TFI takes wing’ (EW March) was a heart-warming and inspiring story. While the efforts of Teach For India must be applauded, it’s shameful that TFI doesn’t receive any government support, even though it provides a valuable service to the country. As you stress in your story TFI is totally dependent upon private philanthropy, whereas Teach For America (TFA) and in 27 other countries where the TFA model is being implemented, governments provide significant financial support. TFI is providing the type of education children in government schools should be rightfully getting, but don’t. In fulfilling this huge need, neither the Central nor state governments provide financial support. Nor can TFI fellows be formally employed as government school teachers. Evidently, even though the Central and state governments don’t seem interested in the future of the children of India, there are highly qualified college graduates who, rather than make money, want to contribute to society. That’s inspiring. The greatest injustice India’s children suffer is lack of good quality education. More power to TFI and its fellows for the invaluable service they are providing the children of India! Nandini Deshpande Mumbai Appalling statistic Thanks for your special report on Teach For…