Dear Editor,
I read from SN’s edition 30th March, Mr. Christopher Ram’s detailed analysis of the 2013 budget re old age pension that ”Too many retired businesspersons and even emigrants with the means to live a comfortable life unfairly collect this benefit.” And that “The Government should discourage this impropriety.”
Editor, in the realms of justice this is not an “impropriety” but a justifiable entitlement, which was earned by those ”business persons and emigrants” justifiably and honestly that Mr. Ram alluded to in his detailed and well analyzed 2013 budget report.
I am sure also that there must be some of those businessmen and emigrants in our society and abroad who are rightly and legally entitled to this legitimate benefit and share it as a humanitarian gesture with the unfortunate of our land. I am cognizant of two such persons.
However there must be some justification in some cases of Mr. Ram’s observation where some of those that he alluded to who get and want more and do not care a damn of the poor but only themselves.
We read from the holy writings of the Baha’i faith the following
“And among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is voluntary sharing of one’s property with others among mankind. This voluntary sharing is greater than equality, and consists in this, that man should not prefer himself to others, but rather should sacrifice his life and property for others. But this should not be introduced by coercion so that it becomes a law and man is compelled to follow. Nay, rather, man should voluntarily and of his own choice sacrifice his property and life for others, and spend willingly for the poor…’”
However Mr. Ram should be commended nonetheless for his edifying contributions.
Yours faithfully,
Rooplall Dudhnath
