- Answer any one of the two, (a) or (b), in 120 words : (a) The rising cost of healthcare and the lack of access to essential medical services in rural and underprivileged areas remain a critical issue in India. Many people suffer due to inadequate infrastructure, shortage of qualified doctors, and unaffordable treatments. As Anita/Aman Verma, Regional Park, Hawapur, write a letter to the editor of a national daily expressing your concern about this issue. Highlight its impact on peoples' well-being and suggest practical solutions to improve access to healthcare and make medical services more affordable for all.
- Answer any one of the two, (a) or (b), in 120 words : (a) The rising cost of healthcare and the lack of access to essential medical services in rural and underprivileged areas remain a critical issue in India. Many people suffer due to inadequate infrastructure, shortage of qualified doctors, and unaffordable treatments. As Anita/Aman Verma, Regional Park, Hawapur, write a letter to the editor of a national daily expressing your concern about this issue. Highlight its impact on peoples' well-being and suggest practical solutions to improve access to healthcare and make medical services more affordable for all.
Regional Park
Hawapur
6 July 2026
The Editor
The National Times
New Delhi
Subject: Urgent need for affordable and accessible healthcare in rural India
Sir/Madam
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw attention to the alarming state of healthcare in our rural and underprivileged areas. Poor infrastructure, an acute shortage of qualified doctors and unaffordable treatment force countless families into debt or, worse, deny them care altogether. Preventable illnesses turn fatal, and productivity and well-being suffer.
Practical remedies exist. The government must strengthen primary health centres, deploy mobile clinics and telemedicine, offer incentives to attract doctors to villages, and expand affordable insurance and generic-medicine schemes. Public awareness drives can help too.
I urge authorities to act before more lives are lost.
Yours faithfully
Aman Verma
Marking Scheme
- 1Format – 2 marks: sender's address, date, receiver (The Editor + daily), subject line, salutation (Sir/Madam), and complimentary close (Yours faithfully) with the given name Anita/Aman Verma.
- 2Content – 3 marks: concern about the issue (1), impact on people's well-being (1), and at least two practical, relevant solutions to improve access/affordability (1).
- 3Expression – Fluency & Coherence (1 mark): logical paragraphing, formal register, smooth linking of ideas.
- 4Expression – Accuracy (1 mark): grammar, spelling and punctuation; deduct for repeated errors.
- 5Acceptable alternatives: any genuine solutions — Ayushman Bharat/insurance, PHC upgradation, telemedicine, generic medicines, doctor incentives, mobile health units. Minor word-limit overshoot is not penalised.
Hint
Follow full formal-letter format with the exact given name and address; devote roughly one paragraph each to the problem, its impact on well-being, and concrete solutions — do not run out of words before the solutions.
Quick Oral Answer
A letter to the editor is a formal letter with sender's address, date, editor's designation, subject, 'Sir/Madam', a three-part body and 'Yours faithfully'; here I raise concern over unaffordable rural healthcare, show its impact on well-being, and propose PHC strengthening, telemedicine and affordable insurance.
Analysis & Explanation
A letter to the editor is a formal, format-driven task that must voice concern, show impact, and offer solutions within 120 words.
Concept
- Formal letter format is graded first: sender's address, date, receiver ('The Editor', daily's name, city), subject line, salutation ('Sir/Madam'), formal close ('Yours faithfully').
- The given persona and address (Anita/Aman Verma, Regional Park, Hawapur) must be used exactly — no substitute name/address.
Key Points
- Three content moves: (1) state the problem — rising cost, poor rural access; (2) highlight the impact on people's well-being; (3) suggest practical solutions.
- Strong solutions: strengthen Primary Health Centres, telemedicine/mobile clinics, incentives for rural doctors, affordable insurance, generic medicines.
Common Mistakes (परीक्षा में सावधानी)
- Spending all 120 words describing the problem and forgetting the 'suggest solutions' half, which carries real content marks.
- Using a different name/address than the one specified, which forfeits format marks.
Real-World Application
- Mirrors genuine op-ed advocacy; referencing real schemes like Ayushman Bharat or the National Rural Health Mission shows civic maturity.
Common Mistakes
- 1Using a wrong name/address instead of the given 'Anita/Aman Verma, Regional Park, Hawapur', which costs format marks.
- 2Describing the problem for the whole letter and never suggesting practical solutions — the 'suggest solutions' part carries significant content marks.
- 3Omitting the subject line or the correct formal close ('Yours faithfully'), or slipping into an informal, emotional tone unsuitable for a newspaper editor.
Previously Asked
Write a letter in 100-120 words to the editor of a local daily drawing attention to the problem of affordable accommodation for students in Delhi. Landlords charge exorbitant rents and refuse rooms due to cultural differences. You are Raman/Raveena, 12, Station Road, Delhi.
The National Bravery Awards are given to honour those children who have demonstrated selfless courage... Similarly, the government should institute National Environment Crusader Awards... Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, in 120 words, expressing your views on the above.
'Atithi Devo Bhava' has been India's stand... However, only tourism promotional drives do not suffice. It is important to sensitize those in the tourism industry to conduct themselves with propriety as hosts... Write a letter to the Tourism Department expressing your concerns.
Interesting Facts
India's rural areas house nearly 65% of the population but have historically had a fraction of the country's doctors, which is exactly the doctor-shortage gap this letter addresses.
Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), launched in 2018, is described as the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme, covering hospitalisation costs for hundreds of millions of underprivileged Indians.
Telemedicine platforms such as eSanjeevani have conducted hundreds of millions of teleconsultations, showing that the 'telemedicine' solution suggested in such letters is already a working reality.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What format does a letter to the editor follow?
It is a formal letter: sender's address and date at the top, then the receiver ('The Editor', name of the newspaper, city), a subject line, the salutation 'Sir/Madam', a formal body in paragraphs, and the complimentary close 'Yours faithfully' followed by your name — here Anita/Aman Verma.
How should I split 120 words across the letter?
Roughly three short body paragraphs: one stating your concern and the problem, one on its impact on people's well-being, and one offering practical solutions, followed by a brief closing appeal. Make sure the solutions paragraph is not squeezed out.
Can I mention real government schemes?
Yes — referencing schemes like Ayushman Bharat, upgraded Primary Health Centres, telemedicine or generic-medicine outlets strengthens your 'practical solutions' content and shows awareness, as long as it stays relevant and concise.