Rising inflation
People have been facing severe heat on the price front. The rise in the price level of essential food items has been going on for a long time, causing extreme hardship to the common people. Edible oils, pulses, sugar are selling at Rs 120-160, Rs 120-170 and Rs 50 per litre/kg respectively. Even the cost of non-edible oil for burning puja-lamps is selling at Rs 150 per litre, which is an evidence of unduly high rates. Besides, prices of other goods and services such as clothes, stationeries, footwear, toiletries, transportation, fuel et al are getting increasingly higher due to overall inflation. The excessive rise in price level has severely affected the daily wage-earners to make both ends meet and also eroded purchasing capacity of the middle class consumers. The political parties are currently busy in canvassing for their respective candidates for the coming election to the municipal boards of the State, slated for March 6. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is very animatedly campaigning and is boasting for scoring a thumping victory, forgetting the peoples' woes in the context of unprecedented price hike. The State's voters should make the rising inflation a poll issue and persuade the BJP to lower the cost of essential goods and services for support to the party.
Pannalal Dey,
Guwahati.
Kohli's feat
It is a momentous occasion and a matter of pride for Virat Kohli, playing his 100th Test on Friday at Mohali against Sri Lanka. In the long and evolving journey of Indian cricket, Kohli becomes only the 12th cricketer to achieve this milestone. In demanding modern day cricket, for a cricketer to sustain a long period in the game and play one hundred Tests requires a great amount of skills, besides strong fitness and mental application. And at 33, Kohli possesses all these qualities in abundance. Meanwhile, thanks to the BCCI for revoking its decision and allowing a 50 percent crowd inside the stadium at Mohali, which will enable the fans to witness the historic moment of the former Indian captain playing his milestone Test. One wishes that Kohli, thriving on the adrenaline rush that comes from instant appreciation from the fans, will use the big occasion to his advantage and win the Test for India with a sizable contribution with his willow.
Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai – 600 091.
Steps to protect wildlife
Globally World Wildlife Day has become the most prominent event dedicated to wildlife. The day focuses on raising awareness of the state of endangered and critically-endangered wildlife, highlighting the power of conservation efforts seeking to reverse their fate. It also reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental, and social impacts. According to data from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of threatened species, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable. Based on these estimates, it is suggested that over a million species are threatened with extinction. Over the years, human interference in the world's natural ecosystems, including wildlife hunting and poaching, became more common and, thus the wildlife populations started to decline across the globe. The continued loss of species and habitats is a threat to the very survival of ecosystems. The preservation of the world's wildlife is crucial to the fulfillment of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is time to act and work together to preserve and protect wildlife, ensure their survival, and promote sustainable use by humanity.
Krishna Kumar Vepakomma,
Hyderabad – 500045.
Indians going abroad should think!
Both Russia and Ukraine are at war and the eyes of the whole world are on them. Indians dreaming of going abroad should build their future by staying in India. Although it seems that after some time when the war stops, everything will be as before, but which country will fall on whom? It's hard to tell. The Government of India is bringing students from Ukraine to India. For this the government has started real action. On normal days the cost of a flight to India from Ukraine is Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000, which had now reached Rs 70,000-Rs 80,000. Fuel prices are rising, not falling. People are saying on social media, 'Students are happy to come to India'. However, a few days after their arrival in India, please collect the travel fare from these students. People will not have to bear the financial burden of this in future. If you are studying abroad, then you have some money. So you are studying there by spending lakhs of rupees. There are also students in India who are brave; but due to paucity of money their family cannot afford expensive medical education. Government should think about it.
The same can be said about this subject, 'It does not seem that the Centre will ask students for ticket money. When there was no war situation and when they had to come to India, they would have come at their own expense. Indian students who have returned from Ukraine are required to pay for the tickets themselves sensibly. It can be as much as a regular ticket. There should be no problem in depositing the ticket money in the Government's Social Welfare, Sainik Welfare Fund. For that necessary inquiries can be made in that department attached to the Central Government. There has been an immediate helping hand from the motherland itself during the difficult time ahead us. Keeping this in mind, it becomes a duty to donate your ticket money to such fund. The cost of bringing about 20,000 Indians to India by air is huge. It would be great if the students who come to India take the responsibility of lightening this burden on their own.
The President of France has said that, "The world should be prepared for a long war." This thing indicates the negative events that will happen in the world in the coming times. Even if the war situation calms down over the next few days, it's uncertain when the war will resume. Therefore, Indians who want to go abroad for education and job should stop and stabilize their steps in India. With this, the physical and mental pain that can be caused by being in a difficult situation abroad can be avoided. Work hard to contribute to the progress of the country. This should be considered honestly. Now is the time to think carefully and move on.
Er. Jayesh Rane
Mumbai.