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Welcome move by the Centre
The decision by the Centre to impose a nationwide ban on single-use plastics on July 1 is a positive move in the right direction at a time when several countries have already done so. The move comes "to limit single-use plastic to enhance environmental sustainability. A total of 175 countries pledged to end the use of plastics by 2030 on March 2 of this year. India was also a signatory to the promise, which was made at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. India is now banning 20 single-use plastic products. The single-use plastic has become an integral part of our lives that we often overlook its enormous negative consequences. Even though most of us only use single-use plastic for a few minutes at a time, it persists in our surroundings for years, degrades into microplastics and pollutes the environment. This type of environmental hazard affects not only humans but also the entire ecosystem. These plastics are frequently not properly disposed of and hence are not recycled. Thus, single-use plastic has become a big issue in India in recent years. India is confident about the ban on single-use plastics and plans to phase out them by 2025. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need to find better alternatives to single-use plastic that are inexpensive, durable and readily available.
Krishna Kumar Vepakomma,
Rajeev Nagar
Hyderabad-500045
Real diplomacy
PM Narendra Modi's recent official visit to a few European nations, namely Holland, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, and so far as yours truly is concerned, was for the first time that Modi visited these nations as a PM. All the above-mentioned nations very highly praised India's role in the Ukraine crisis, and they expect India to find a peaceful solution to one of the worst-ever military crises that took place after WWII. The standing ovation he received from the Indian diaspora present in the foreign land was a treat to watch for any bona fide Indian except for a few compulsive oppositions for whom it was an eyesore.
His next official visit to Japan to attend the QUAD summit where other nations attending the QUAD summit paid much importance to India's participation to counter China. It is nothing but Modi's diplomatic policy and vision.
Meanwhile, poor Rahul Gandhi must be at a loss how to counter Modi's diplomatic skills as he does not seem to have any idea about QUAD. He only knows how to bash a duly elected PM of a nation on foreign soil in collaboration with some anti-Indian forces.
Dr Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.
Assam Opposition
The present opposition political space, India in general and Asom in particular seem to be in dire straits. At the moment, the opposition space is left wide open, and the opposition leader does not appear to be fit to lead from the front either. This is a hazardous situation in a democracy where an effective, vocal, and strong opposition is always needed. Coming to the present opposition scenario in Asom, on highlighting the lacuna, it becomes vividly clear that there is a lack of an all-acceptable face in its leadership. Another factor is that unity is hardly reached among various opposition groups to adhere to a common agenda highlighting the aspirations of the common people and voters alike. Gone are the days when people would vote for a political party just as a default choice. Nowadays, voters are politically more intelligent, enlightened, and critical. It is not easy to hoodwink them without giving a proper vision of the solution to their problems.
On top of that, this is an era of 24X7, non-stop competitive politics. You cannot expect the voter to choose you in the next elections if you are not seen on the grassroots standing shoulder to shoulder with your party workers and inspiring them. Waiting for a miracle to happen or letting fatigue catch upon the present government is not a sound strategy. This attitude only reinforces the perception that opposition parties are lazy people who are not bothered about raising people's issues. Let us all hope that the opposition steps up its effort to highlight the people's problems and, in the process, be a compelling voice of reason with whom a large section of voters can see their hopes and aspirations represented.
Mridupawan Das
NY, the USA
Violence against men
Violence against women and girls is one of the most persistent and devastating human rights violations. Nonetheless, this issue is conspicuous and draws attention from different media, which is commendable because that makes people aware of this crime. Now society focuses on a future without violence against females with education, justice and sufficient financing dedicated to women's rights. International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed on November 25. However, is the same notoriety attached to Violence Against Men? With increasing mentality such as men don't cry or men are strong and women weak, men are over-represented as perpetrators and not victims. Nevertheless, does it mean that men are not exposed to violence? Recently Ajit Yadav, a school principal in Alwar, filed a complaint against his wife Suman in a local court. They were arguing on April 21, 2022 when she vigorously started hitting him with a cricket bat, while he tried shielding himself with a cushion. Three days later, the incident was repeated in front of their 6-year-old child, who was visibly traumatized.
There are various laws protecting women against violence, but no such laws safeguarding men prevail and such cases are only addressed under provisions against mental harassment. Many reasons such as general stereotyping of men, societal pressure and denial make these cases go overlooked. This is high time people start accepting that violence against men is a real thing and that statutes and laws should recognize this as a social problem. Even society should anticipate this and people who suffer from this issue should speak up.
Srishty Kandarpa,
Jagiroad.
Model schools in TEs
The establishment of 96 high schools in the 800 tea gardens of Assam to impart education to the tea garden students, who remain neglected and uncared for since independence, is a feat in itself. The dynamic decision of our popular Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is a historic decision for which I congratulate the Chief Minister for his farsighted decision. Henceforth, my tea garden brothers shall be able to pursue higher secondary-level education to build their careers. It also gives me pleasure that our Chief Minister dined with the students, had interactions with them, and requested the parents to send their "CHANA" (Children) to school. He also suggested to the inhabitants of tea gardens not to take salt in their tea and to save them from high blood pressure. It is painful that our political leaders never thought of establishing a high school in tea garden areas. I hope and trust that an opinion will be required to mobilize to encourage every tea garden inhabitant to send their children to school. I also appeal to our Chief Minister to abolish the country liquor license from the tea garden areas to save our brothers from this addiction.
Subhash Chandra Biswas,
Guwahati-1
The unholy trend of Assamese people!
Of late, we have been observing that our leaders in a public forum in the presence of high-profile dignitaries in particular use Assamese, English and Hindi simultaneously while delivering lectures in front of audiences. Such a trend emanates some basic questions. Do we suffer from an inferiority complex in delivering lectures purely in Assamese? And our presumption might be that we don't look smart if we do not speak English/Hindi. Anyway, this trend does not bode well for the Assamese society. Perhaps, this is why, after observing our mindset, the Vice-President of India, Sri Venkaiah Naidu, during his last visit to Guwahati, advised the Assamese people to maximize the use of local languages. We have to learn many things from South Indians and Bengalis to keep ourselves on firm footing as an Assamese society when language is our identity. In this regard, I want to cite an example of when the late Pranab Mukharjee visited Nagoan-Assam as a Union Minister. He delivered lectures in Bengali. It showed his courage conviction and love for the language. On the contrary, our leaders speak in Bengali in Barak Valley.
Prafulla Dowarah,
Guwahati