Harmful aspects of mobile: Letters to The Editor

The ever-increasing human addiction to mobile phones, the great invention of science and technology has created a backlash in our society. Just as every object in the world has two sides, positive and negative, so is mobile. In today's age of online, mobile has become essential for everyone. Without mobile, human life is on the verge of becoming meaningless. It is natural for humans to become addicted to these devices. But it is not a lie to say that the overwhelming addiction to it has had a detrimental effect on our society. It has been observed that many children are suffering from eye diseases and mental problems due to their frequent use of mobile phones. Even the unity between relatives has provoked a backlash. Excessive use of mobile phones about the sacredness between parents and children of many families has created physical and emotional distance and has disturbed the well-being of the family. Here, I want to say that some children have used mobile positively and appropriately.

However, I humbly request every parent to be attracted to the positive (beneficial) side of their child before he/she is attracted to the negative (harmful) side of the mobile. To do this, first, try to find out what your child likes about mobile and try to talk about the negative aspects of the subject as much as possible so that the child's interest in the subject decreases. If you are still unsuccessful, then talk about the positive aspects of mobile. Explain in detail so that the child is attracted to the subject and chooses it as a subject of study and uses it only at certain times. Of course, you should use this as a technique and therapy. Today's children are the future of the country. Well-known English poet Willliam Wordsworth also wrote in his famous poem 'My Heart Leaps Up' Child is the father of a man. Therefore, every parent needs to be aware of their child's future. It should be kept in mind that it is not only the responsibility of the teacher but also the responsibility of raising the child as a responsible citizen of the country. Therefore, every parent of the child should be alert and conscious.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup.

Doors to our past

Each of us wants to etch our name in the pages of history. But some section of people is doing it wrong. Scribbling and etching names, symbols, slogans, curses for political leaders in historical monuments is not the way to etch our names in the pages of history. We are inflicting serious harm not only on these monuments but also on our culture and heritage. We need to remember that India is a land of culture and civilization. They are portraying a maligned image of India in front of the world. It pains us when we see our beautiful monuments being chiselled out to write names, draw symbols and other such ruthless attacks on them. Lately, people have also started spitting paan and gutka juices on the walls of our monuments. Clearly, this shows that we do not deserve these beautiful monuments. These monuments are like little doors to our past. The legends of history whose robes brushed against these walls are now battered and stained. I urge the Government of India, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture to take stern action against such people and to book them under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958(No.24 of 1958) which says that if someone destroys, removes, injures, alters, defaces, imperils or misuses protected monuments/he shall be punishable with imprisonment up to three months and a fine up to Rs 5,000. But then laws, rules, the government cannot save our monuments; it is the self-realization that will bring the change.

Noopur Baruah,

Tezpur.

War against drugs

Mere cracking down on drugs in one area has little chance of reaching fruition so far as the war against drugs is concerned. Also, tougher punishments and harsher supply-elimination efforts can hardly slow the flow of drugs as the drug trade is too big, too powerful, and too awash with profit.

The root market and the drug routes like Myanmar and Manipur need to be identified and tracked. Drug policies must be based on evidence rather than intuition about what should or shouldn't work or public opinion. Besides, adequate measures need to be taken for eliminating the avenues toward mass production and distribution of drugs, and hence make drugs more expensive and less accessible. Undeniably, a bigger focus is needed on rehabilitation and less on law enforcement. Providing employment opportunities for the drug abusers may also go a long way towards winning the war against drugs. Needless to say that everyone has to play an active part- be it parents or civil society, to combat the menace of drugs.

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat.