Letter to THE EDITOR: Need to boost food grains production

Need to boost food grains production

It is impossible for us to survive without food. However, we do not produce as much food as we eat. We also waste a lot of food. In Assam, too, the percentage of food grains production is very low. On the other hand, imports are more from other States. As a result, farmers also do not get the money they deserve for their produce. Also, quality seeds, agricultural and soil difficulties, lack of various agricultural schemes, suitable markets etc., are also reasons for difficulty in production.

If we produce our own food items domestically, we can alleviate problems like food shortages. As problems like food shortages are on the rise in countries like Venezuela or Sri Lanka, this is also a major reason for the decline in production. The people of Assam and the Agriculture Department are aware of the need to augment domestic production of food grains and have the responsibility of taking the issue seriously.

Lakhyajit Phukan Whither family rule?

For the past week, India's south-eastern neighbour Sri Lanka has been reeling under violent protests as anger over the Government's handling of the island's economic crisis boiled over to the streets. If the Sri Lankan crisis is minutely observed, it is clearly due to misuse of democratic form and process and trampling the spirit and ideals of the principle 'of the people, by the people and for the people'. The Sri Lankan Government is occupied by the Rajapaksa family. The Cabinet has five members of the Rajapaksa family, including two brothers Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa being the President and the Prime Minister respectively. Over the past two years, the economic crisis deepened due to acute shortages of food, fuel, electricity etc., and even triggered hunger across the country. But the Rajapaksa Government failed to address the issues. The agitating Sri Lankans shouted slogans against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demanded that the Rajapaksa family politicians step down. The economic crisis has been mishandled by the Government as prices of essential items reached sky high while the foreign currency stock has been drastically reduced. Now, the situation is volatile as the protesting Sri Lankans are still marching on the streets even after the Government has revoked the Emergency clamped on April 1, 2022.

In India, barring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist parties, almost all other political parties are controlled by families and individuals. Even after securing comfortable majority in the Legislature the family-based parties are failing to provide good, people-friendly governance. Such examples were seen in the past as well as at present in our country. In our Parliament a party is even represented by one or two MPs. These parties are preoccupied with their narrow political obligations, which often do not fit into the national perspective. So,

awareness should be spread among our citizens about outlook and political ambition of the parties controlled by families and individual leaders. Democracy is the best option as a form of Government. But efforts of all the stakeholders should be to strengthen democratic institutions and adhere to the rule of law.

The Sri Lankan crisis has bared the truth that the family-controlled political party is antithetic to democratic culture.

Pannalal Dey, Guwahati.

Readers' Editors needed

For years, media organizations in India have come under increasing criticism for not being transparent and accountable even though they demand these qualities from the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary – the Separation of Powers that govern the Indian polity. Such a criticism directed towards print media outlets, especially the newspapers, is therefore justified, given the fact that most of the Indian dailies function without the role of a Readers' Editor, who is potentially important and an effective element in a larger framework of self-regulation. As an ombudsman, the role of a Readers' Editor adds a new layer of transparency to the editorial functioning of a newspaper, since he/she plays a subtle link between the readers and the editorial team. When a news organization commits to an independent public editor, it makes a strong statement about its commitment to trustworthy journalism. Print media is the main vehicle through which citizens can exercise their constitutional rights to receive truthful information. And this is where the role of a Readers' Editor assumes greater significance, which helps to improve the quality of news and information. A thriving democracy requires an informed public. And the need of a Readers' Editor for a newspaper was born out of this sense of social responsibility. Hence, news organizations should not only restore the position of ombudsman, but also broaden it.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,

Chennai – 600 091.

Cummins storm

It seems the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Pat Cummins is just like India's politicians - who come just before the election with a smiling face, sweet voice and offers various freebies to get their favours. But immediately after the election, these politicians (elected) never meet with his/her favourites and recoup those freebies through various ways and means and taxes. In a similar fashion, in the Mumbai's innings Cummins went for 49 runs for two wickets in his four overs, so he says "I'm going to get those runs with interest to finish off this match". But in what way? As the former Indian coach Ravi Shastri quipped about Pat Cummins' fiery fifty: "Thanks for spoiling a good game,"( a joke). But the 28-year-old from Westmead, a specialist fast bowler, walked out to bat at number 7 for KKR, at a time when the Knights still needed 61 runs off 41 balls; and he sent out anew the message that T20 is in the habit of sending every now and then - any situation, no target is too big. And after that for future generation the Pune stadium will be remembered as the ground where Cummins smashed a 16-ball 56* (equalling the record for the fastest fifty in the history of the tournament) and that, too, taking on quality fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Daniel Sams and Tymal Mills, and finishing things off with as many as four overs to spare. What is interesting is that Mumbai Indians started off against KKR pretty slow as they scored only 35 runs for the loss of one wicket in the six overs of Powerplay, but Cummins in his 15-balls innings hit Daniel Sams for 35 runs in the 16th over of the match to take KKR not only to a memorable win the match, but helped it to climb to the top of the points table. KKR's victory enabled millions of cricket lovers to watch Andre Russell's hilarious Monkey Dance. Kudos to Cummins for his 15-ball storm, which will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad -121005.