Slumping IQ levels
We are becoming dumber, says a study report published in 2018, where a drop in cumulative IQs was seen in people born in the late 90s compared to those born in the 1960s and 1970s. As our IQs are on a slumping journey, more and more commercially viable but less innovative shows and films are getting all the accolades and monetary perks, whereas TV shows and films that are wonderfully scripted with thought-provoking storylines bomb at the box office. We can take, for example, the Indian sitcom Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai, which tried to give a new taste to viewers who were accustomed to slapstick comedies, but the show did not enjoy a long run as its TRP ratings dropped rather drastically. We have to crank up that old engine, develop a reading habit of at least 1 hour daily, and stay away from reels that are biting away at our deep thinking abilities.
Noopur Baruah,
Tezpur
Quota for government school students
The cabinet decision of the Assam government to provide 5 percent reservation in medical and engineering colleges for students who study from class 7 to 12 in government schools under SEBA and AHSEC is a landmark one. The infrastructure of government schools has been developed considerably in the last few years. Besides the mid-day meal, drinking water and sanitation facilities, school buildings, highly trained teachers, etc., the introduction of smart classrooms, exposure to various extra-curricular activities, exposure to science and technology-oriented activities, and involvement of students and teachers directly in various departmental initiatives are gradually transforming the government schools to a considerable extent, which in no way makes a government school inferior to a private school. A huge amount of public money is being spent on government schools for such a transformation, which is in line with the New Education Policy (NEP) too. Guardians, irrespective of all income groups, should change their mindset and agree with the fact that government school students can also prosper in the field of science and technology, on par with private school students. The government officers, teachers, and employees should also try to inspire others by admitting their children to government schools. The said cabinet decision would not only attract students to government schools but also contribute to the implementation of NEP in the state.
Bibhash Deva Nath,
Kakaya, Nalbari.
Modernizing student elections at GU
Despite being the oldest university in the Northeast, Gauhati University continues to use an antiquated voting system. However, when it comes to student elections and vote tallying, the conventional method of voting, in which students must physically cast their ballots in a paper-based system, is no longer compatible with the efficiency and ease that modern technology provides. By switching to electronic voting technologies, the process will be made simpler while simultaneously improving accuracy and transparency. There are various advantages to modernizing the student election procedure at Gauhati University. Students will find it simple to take part in the voting process as a result. Finding the time to go to a real polling place in today’s hectic environment can be a barrier to participation. Students would be able to vote electronically from any location, increasing voter turnout.
Additionally, electronic voting methods can considerably lower the possibility of mistakes being made when tallying and counting votes. This would increase the credibility of student elections and guarantee that the outcomes accurately represent the will of the student body. Also, modernizing the voting process would help preserve the environment by using less paper and producing less waste. I, therefore, request that the Gauhati University administration consider implementing contemporary modifications in the student election procedure.
Parilina Das,
Gauhati University.
Bulls eye
So once again, in your usual style, you hit the bull’s eye with your timely editorial dated October 2 and captioned Smart City, Flood City. We, the tax payers of the city, nonetheless question the sincerity of the government to deal with the flash flood problem, which has become an integral part of the residents of the city. The torrential rain on the afternoon of September 30, which lasted for 3 hours, brought the lives of Guwahatians to a standstill. The dwellers of the former wet lands of the city, namely Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, etc., to name a few, as usually, bore the brunt of nature’s fury. In your editorial, you very rightly diagnosed the causes of the flash flood along with its remedies. Yes, the illegal encroachment of the earlier wetlands, along with the inadequate drainage system, seems to be the root cause. Hence, the eviction drive by the authorities should be supported by all sensible citizens, and the opposition political parties, namely the KMSS and the Congress in particular, should cooperate. The present government seems to be more obsessed with the idea of flyovers, which, in any case, are not giving us the desired results. On the contrary, the recently built Maligaon flyover is causing flash floods in adjoining areas.
All kudos to your editorial, once again, dated September 30th.
Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.
World Animal Day
Today is World Animal Day. The day is a reminder for us to treat our pets and stray animals with respect. If we look around our neighbourhood and our streets, we will find plenty of stray animals, especially dogs, cats, and cows, roaming about. That’s no way to show respect to these animals. It’s like we have disowned them. Animals enrich us in ways we don’t even know.
October 4 is also the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, who loved animals. It is a day to celebrate animal life in all its forms. It is a day to acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives. It is a day to acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives. World Animal Day is a wonderful reminder of the different ways in which animals enhance our lives. World Animal Day helps bring people together to increase awareness and improve education worldwide so that animals can live the lives they deserve. Together, we can change the way the world works and end animal cruelty and suffering forever. The theme for World Animal Day 2023 is “Great or small, love them all”. The mission of this year’s World Animal Day is to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe.
Jubel D’Cruz,
Dombivili, Mumbai