The government needs to take strong action against the Air India pilots who have caused great inconvenience to the flying public. As you have pointed out in the past (‘Lessons from Jet’, September 17), it is ridiculous that someone earning Rs 3-4 lakh per month is to be considered a workman who has the right to coercive bargaining. The government must bring pilots under ESMA and crack down on the ‘sick’ pilots. Doctors should be sent to their residence and each one must be subjected to a medical examination. Since pilots are not ‘aam aadmi’, there will be no public sympathy with them and the government will also be applauded for its tough action. If the government can crack down on under-paid and over-worked doctors in public hospitals whose grievances are very understandable, it is difficult to understand just why it is treating the striking pilots with so much compassion.
Srinjoy Gupta, on email
