Letters to THE EDITOR

Intoxicating drinks & today's student society

Drug and alcohol abuse are important problems that affect youths. This is a dangerous challenge for our society. We can solve this problem ourselves but we choose not to. Young people frequently begin to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during their school years, with a smaller number starting during elementary school. By the time students are in high school, rates of substance use are remarkably high.

When people drink alcohol, it's absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages that are trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing. In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication.

College alcoholism affects millions of students every year. 80% of college students, four out of every five – consume alcohol to some degree. Many young adults admit to drinking alcohol even before they enter college. After clearing high school exams and moving out on their own, college students want to experience their newfound freedom and independence. Drinking can increase a person's risk of injury, ranging from minor cuts to broken bones or concussions.

Alcohol does have both short and long-term effects on our brain, even in moderate amounts. Muscle has more water than fat, so alcohol will be diluted more in a person with more muscle tissue. Alcohol abuse leads to frequent confusion and an impaired memory. Excessive alcohol consumption causes inability to remember short words and names. Most students drink because they want to experiment with alcohol, some drink for the thrill of it and others because it helps them relax.

Alcohol and other drugs should be banned in our State like Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram. There are healthy and enjoyable alternative drinks to alcohol. These are acohol-free sparkling wine, sparkling juices, booze-free beer, Kambucha (this fermented and naturally lightly sparkling drink is made from black or green tea and a sparkling of bacteria) etc. In this way we can solve the college students' drinking problems.

Karismita Devi,

Guwahati.

Tip of the iceberg

With the passage of time, some startling videos have surfaced about the last year's Delhi communal riots due to fallout of anti-CAA movement which have been released by the Delhi Police. The videos are also made public by the leading national news channels and those videos are bound to send shivers down the spine of every patriotic citizen except for a few so-called intellectuals of the State who need no mention. Who would forget a so-called intellectual of the State who had defended a traitor named Sharjeel Imam (who conspired to cut the chicken neck/ entire Northeast India from rest of the India) by calling it 'youthful exuberance'. One can be rest assured that in coming days more and more evidences would emerge before the people about the Delhi riots which were well planned in advance by some anti-nationals.

Aparna Sarma Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Voters' responsibilities

With the Assembly election in Assam only a few days away, the voters in the State will need to show their political maturity. In other words, the voters in Assam would have to support the political party or the alliance of the political parties that will work for the betterment of the State. Assam, being a problematic state, needs an efficient government to run it smoothly. A political party or an alliance of political parties with honest leaders can always attract voters. As far as the Assembly election in Assam is concerned, primarily voters in the State would have to choose either the BJP-led alliance or the Congress-led alliance or a few other regional political parties. Voters in Assam should study the manifesto of every political party that would take part in the coming Assembly polls in Assam. In an election of a State, electing a right party is really hard. Unless Assam is ruled by an efficient government, the solution to the burning problems of the State would not be possible. Even though the current BJP government in Assam has done some developmental works, yet, this government has not been able to meet the aspirations of the indigenous people in the State. The current BJP government in Assam has blindly supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Act against the wishes of the indigenous people in the State. The bad side of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act for the Assam is that it will legalize the settlement of lakhs of Bangladeshi Hindu people living illegally in the State for decades. In fact, foreigners that entered Assam after 25th March of 1971 should leave the State on their own or they should be deported forcefibly. Assam, being a small State, cannot allow lakhs of Bangladeshi nationals to settle permanently. The voters in Assam should choose such a party or an alliance of political parties in the coming Assembly polls that would ensure security of the indigenous people and work for the speedy development of the State.

Maheswar Deka,

Rangia.

Modi stadium

The renaming of the Sandar Patel cricket stadium after Narendra Modi was totally unwanted. PM Modi himself had criticized the Congress many times for naming many institutions and schemes after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and started naming every new schemes as the Pradhan Mantri here means Modi and the poor class always says – 'Modi Account' , 'Modi Cylinder' etc and thus the political purpose is served. But now putting his own name in place of Sardar Patel shows how false his public show of reverence was for the great man.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

Face recognition biometric attendance machine

Given the present situation, both the government and non-government offices need to consider switching to contactless systems like face recognition devices instead of fingerprint biometric or any touch-based systems for time, attendance and visitor management. Face recognition biometric attendance machine can be used as a safe and efficient manner while a new strain of COVID-19 has been discovered in recent times. Also, this will be instrumental in making the government employees reach their desk at the stipulated time. Work culture in the government offices of the State needs to be improved which, resultantly, will inspire the future generations.

Dipen Gogoi,

Jorhat.

Whom to vote

In view of the forthcoming Assam Assembly election political parties have already started their campaign in full swing with tall promises to woo voters. This time the people of Assam must be politically conscious so that false promise makers on crucial issues of the state are rejected. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party's thumping victory for the third time in the last Delhi election sent us the following messages: First, politics of hatred and divisiveness can never be a trump card to win an election. Second, people should give weightage to performers rather than to false promise makers. And the last, common people are more concerned with issues like employment, education, power, water supply and healthcare; and definitely not with religion.

Samir Rajkhowa,

Bapuji Nagar, Jorhat-6