Letters to the Editor

Women's Varsity in the Doldrums

It is disheartening and angering at the same time to see the deeds and stance of the Assam Government on the issue of the status of Assam Women’s University. Any ratiol mind would fail to understand the decision of the government to demote the status of Assam Women’s University to a mere technical institute at a time when thousands of students are leaving for cities like Delhi and Bangalore for the prospects of higher education. Instead of creating a proper environment for higher studies, the government seems to be depriving students of it. The party that raises the slogan of  ‘beti bachao beti padhao’ is doing now the complete opposite to what the Central government endorses for the empowerment of women in our society.

To reverse the decision of a university that was formed in 2013 by an Act of the State legislature of Assam which still reads on the website of Assam Women’s University is a clear case of irresponsibility and carelessness on the part of the BJP-led government. The State education minister must hang his head in shame as it was during his tenure as the then education minister of the Congress government that the university was announced, and now he decides to close down the university to a mere technical institute when he is now in charge of the same ministry in the BJP-led government as if he is the sole authority and has absolute right to do things whatever he wishes.

The university must retain its status and in fact be upgraded with more faculty members and students with proper infrastructure very soon. The government must reconsider its absolutely wrong decision immediately.

Nupur Das,

Guwahati.

Why Bridge at Panbazar?

This refers to the news of approval for construction of a new bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Panbazar and North Guwahati. I want to draw the attention of the educated people of Guwahati and the rest of Assam to the issue.

The people of Assam are ture-conscious. The people of Guwahati love the tural beauty of the city, with the Brahmaputra flowing beside it. The worry now is that construction work of the proposed bridge might affect the environment of the city very badly. The whole tural ambience of the city might be spoilt as a result of a new bridge coming up. Moreover, the peaceful educatiol environment of Cotton University and Handique Girls’ College will also be affected badly as a result of construction of this bridge.

In Guwahati, we already have two bridges over the Brahmaputra at Jalukbari, and another one is going to be constructed at rengi. I think that is sufficient for us. So, instead of constructing a new bridge at Panbazar, our State government can propose for constructing a modern ropeway rather, which may attract a lot of tourists too. Such ropeway may increase the beauty of the city as well. Sometimes, beauty is greater than emotion. Therefore, I request the people of Guwahati and the people of North Guwahati in particular, as well as the beauty-loving people of Assam, to exchange their views in this regard through your esteemed daily.

Pabitra Kumar Sarma,

Guwahati.