Lumpy virus
The Lumpy Virus, which spread to 15 states in the country last year, has spread to the Palasbari area in Kamrup district. Cowherders are worried about the Lumpy Virus, a skin condition that is rapidly spreading among their livestock. The state Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department has provided vaccines in the state to prevent the virus, but they are not available everywhere. Some suspect the disease to be cow-spring. It is easily infected by cows, flies, etc. In addition to vaccines to prevent infection, the veterinary department recommends keeping cattle clean.
During the COVID-19 crisis last year, the virus also infected livestock, killing almost 17,000 domestic pigs. It may be mentioned here that around 97,000 cattle died between July and September 23, 2022, due to the outbreak of lumpy skin disease in India. The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister, Atul Bora, and the Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sharma, are requested to take the matter seriously and take immediate action in this regard at the earliest.
Abhijit Kalita,
Palasbari.
New prepaid electricity bill system of APDCL
With great respect and admiration for the column of your newspaper, I am writing this to express my concerns about the new prepaid electricity billing system that has been implemented in our community. While I appreciate the effort to modernize the billing process, the new system has caused several problems for residents.
The new system has caused confusion and frustration for many residents who used to receive monthly bills. The prepaid system does not provide a clear indication of how much electricity is being used on a daily or monthly basis, and residents have reported difficulties budgeting for their energy usage.
Sometimes the residents have run out of prepaid electricity, which has left them without power until they are able to recharge it again. Some residents who are not well equipped and don’t know the online system are facing significant inconvenience.
Therefore, I request to publish the above-mentioned view so that the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited can take some major actions towards improving the prepaid billing system for the benefit of residents. A more user-friendly system that provides clearer information about energy usage and allows for emergency top-ups would be greatly appreciated.
Ruchira Seal,
Gauhati University.
UNICEF on child marriage
The world will need 300 years to wipe out child marriages if the present trend continues, says a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Although the rate of child marriages is on the decline, the numbers have not drastically dipped, and 640 million girls are married off before they reach the age of 18. India still has the dubious record of having more than 40 per cent of the world’s child brides. Worldwide, conflict and poverty are two main reasons parents marry off their children. In India, acute poverty and the tendency to see girls as burdens have ensured child marriages continue unabated despite a reduction in their incidence. Lakhs of girls in India are married off by the time they are fifteen, let alone the cut-off age of eighteen. Illiteracy and poverty force parents to push their children into wedlock.
Education becomes the biggest casualty, whereas a financially independent girl can do wonders for her own morale in later life. Early pregnancy and possibly crippling diseases may smother the yet-to-be-mature minds and bodies. Tender children’s minds are too sensitive to bear the pressure of marriage and the responsibilities that come along with it. This can drive the children to a sense of hopelessness and despair as they grow up. The result is an abundance of “grown-up children” instead of “adults” in a society that is mainly oriented to shun its less fortunate members. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, like many laws in India, seems to be only on paper, with the government unable to enforce the law strictly. Lax laws have resulted in a poor rate of convictions, and many cases of child marriage go unreported. Also, landmark judgements of the Supreme Court do not appear to have made any difference.
Dr Ganapathi Bhat,
(gbhat13@gmail.com.)
Women empowerment
At a time when Indian women are breaking new ground in every sector of life, it is critical to pay them their due with dignity. Women’s increased participation in the armed forces in recent years reflects their empowered standing in a democracy. Without a doubt, due to the political leadership’s disinterest in this regard, the country’s top court has occasionally played a beneficial role in the implementation of this judgement. In this sequence, the good news is that several contingents will be led by women in the Republic Day Parade in 2024. The tableau of women’s empowerment on the route of duty will be preferred.
According to reports, all troops and band units participating in the ceremonial event on the Kartavya Path may be female. The Ministry of Defence had submitted an official memorandum to the three services, as well as several ministries and departments, addressing the parade’s planning for next year. A detailed plan was described in that memorandum. It is worth noting that at a meeting convened by the Defence Secretary in February, it was determined that the marching contingents, bands, and tableaux involved in the parade to be staged on the route of duty on Republic Day next year will be made up entirely of women. It is encouraging that there has been an expected improvement in the presence of women participants in tableaux shown on Republic Day over the years. In which female officers have been observed leading army and security service personnel. Without a doubt, this action can only be described as a significant step towards granting full rights to half of the country’s population. It is anticipated that the government’s new action will only help to make this situation more dignified.
Undoubtedly, the recent move by the administration and the Ministry of Defence is symbolic. However, real progress in women’s lives will happen only when the rights granted to them become a reality. The current scenario of some international women wrestlers marching to the streets to protest the top executives of the sports organisation should not be seen in the country’s many sectors and services. To defend women’s rights and dignity, all agencies should implement a fair and transparent system. Governments should create a clear framework to provide half of the globe with their rights and to make working conditions dignified so that they can carry out their duties without fear.
Compared with China and other developed countries, the role of women in the country’s workforce has been seriously neglected. It is necessary to reflect seriously on the reasons why the female labour force is not optimally utilised in the development of the country. In addition to empowering women, they also need economic self-reliance. Financial independence will enhance their decision-making capabilities. This measure alone will reduce domestic and social violence against women. When the woman who takes care of family and the outside world gets complete financial independence, a major initiative will be taken in the direction of ending gender discrimination in the country.
On the other hand, there is also a need to show strong political will to give representation to women in Parliament according to their population so that a transformational initiative can be taken in the direction of women’s empowerment in the country. In this matter, political parties will have to take serious initiatives in this direction by keeping their discrimination in check. It is only then that half the world will be able to obtain respectable equality status in Indian society.
Abhijit Roy,
(abhijitroytatanagar@gmail.com)