Stamp parcels
Is there really any importance to parcels sent by postage stamps? This is a big question that comes to mind. Because of a very bitter experience, this question had to be taken up with the departmental authorities. First, we are going to tell an incident from a year ago: some small magazines were sending us by post after paying postage stamps, as they had to pay for postal expenses from their packs to write and mail. But those books have not been handed over to date. At first, I thought they were not sending it and that they were lying. This is because postal service is such a big event. But recently, such an incident has happened. A month ago, I sent a small book on a postage stamp from my home village, Bhawanipur post office in our district, to an address near Barpeta post office. Since the small books will go to post offices in our district, we did not register and send them. But the surprising thing is that, to date, the book has not been able to go to that address in Barpeta. The person to whom I sent the book is also taking information at the Barpeta post office, but they say it has not arrived. Now the question is: where did the book go? It is learned that the parcels from the Bhawanipur post office go to the Rangia post office and get deposited, from where they go to postal addresses. But what is the secret of not reaching the Barpeta post office for a month today? This is the question for the Postal Department. Does the parcel sent with a stamp really matter? This is also a big question in the present time. If the parcels sent by postage stamps are unimportant, then the sale of postage stamps should be stopped.
Sanjib Sagar Das
Bhawanipur, Barpeta
History repeats
It is a proven fact that history repeats itself. It is once again proven beyond doubt in case of the power-hungry so-called Maratha Strongman named Sharad Pawar. Sharad Pawar’s lust for power threw Purna A Sangma into political wilderness from where Sangma never recovered and died as an unsung hero. We all know Pawar left UPA raising Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin issue with Sangma.
Now it appears as if he is going to taste his own medicine when his nephew Ajit Pawar deserted him along with few supporters to join the cabinet in Maharashtra legislative assembly.
So once again a very strong message to all turncoats who betray, history repeats.
Dr Ashim Chowdhury
Guwahati.
Waterlogging problem
Every monsoon the citizens of Guwahati are facing the problem of waterlogging. During rainfall, the poorly-constructed drains stop working. Therefore, the rainwater cannot pass through the already clogged drains. Moreover, the potholes are filled with water which the dwellers cannot determine and slip into them. Although every year the roads are being repaired, due to water logging potholes emerge and the roads get damaged. This is due to use of poor materials at the time of repairing the roads.
Another menace that the people of Guwahati have to bear especially during monsoon is the relentless traffic jams. It becomes difficult for office goers and students to reach on time due to the water logging. One of the most dangerous situations could arise if the electricity wires get cut and submerge under the water, it could threaten many lives. Through your esteemed daily, I would request the authorities to look into these acute recurring problems during the monsoon.
Nausheen Rahman
Guwahati
Overhaul
of police force
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made commendable efforts for creating a more efficient and honest police force in Assam since he took the responsibility of the home portfolio. Of late, he seems to be bent on delivering effective reforms in the police department. He has already made a declaration of radical overhaul of policing structures for realization of smart policing. He has given strict directions to the top brass to remove the ‘dead wood’ from the department.
It goes without saying that over recent years, a number of incidents that occurred in the state have presented a picture of falling public confidence and satisfaction with the police. In today’s heated climate, the common image of a police officer as somebody strong, standing between innocence and danger hardly comes to our mind. Instead, the image of an excessively obese, drunken and corrupt figure makes us feel insecure in the society. It is indeed a deeply regrettable fact that the people who shoulder the ugly side of the society, provide support services for the public, and are tasked with the protection of crime and apprehension of offenders, fall seriously short of the acceptable culture and standards of behaviour. The Chief Minister getting serious about a renewed thrust on the police personnel is no doubt praiseworthy, but he also needs to mull over altering the composition of the police force. More men from minorities need to be recruited in the department in order to make it representative and secular. Besides, efforts should be made to relieve every police personnel of ingrained prejudices and biases. A role model in the form of higher ranking officer can easily do this. Last but not the least, apart from being drilled on codes, procedure and handling weapons, every police personnel should be taught how to process the daily drudge and the intense and traumatic experiences he or she encounters. Unless and until the government and the citizenry help them change their attitude through cooperation and fellow-feeling, all the efforts to restore the public’s trust will prove futile.
Dipen Gogoi
Jorhat