Fully political: Letters to The Editor

The AASU is again back with its political stunts. With barely three days to go for the first phase of polls, the governing body of the AASU released a letter addressed to the public via media where they have urged the voters to vote for regional parties. They said that the BJP and the AIUDF are communal parties so they shouldn't be voted. Regarding the Congress they have said it's a Bangladeshi-loving party so they too should be rejected. Coming to the AGP, they declared that it is a betrayer party so they shouldn't be voted by the public. Without naming directly, they indirectly said that regional parties are the real hope of the Asomiya people. Now it is well understood whom they are referring to. Precisely they are indirectly vouching for Lurinjyoti Gogoi and his AJP and also Raijor Dol (an unregistered party). I can boldly claim that the AASU is the biggest betrayer for the indigenous people. Due to their failed movement of 1980s, today our state is full of Bangladeshi infiltrators. In today's scenario, they are the largest group in the State which is directly involved in collecting donations (sanda party) forcibly. The 45 years plus leaders have made the AASU fully a political organization. Only time will say how people respond to their appeal. Frankly speaking, AASU's influence among the masses is diminishing fast. Even the hardcore 'anchalikbadi' and 'jatiyobadi' people don't trust the AASU.

Pratap Dutta,

Tezpur.

Improving cleanliness

Through your esteemed daily, I would like to highlight an issue on Swatch Bharat Abhiyan Mission for improving cleanliness of our country and to raise awareness among the people of India. After launching the mission, not only the government but also so many people are doing their best to improve our country's cleanliness. Yes, after seeing these people's effort, we can say that cleanliness is improving but there are also some irresponsible people who are doing the opposite of them by spitting gutkha; by throwing plastic bags, packets, plastic bottles etc. These lead to contagious diseases along with the damage of public property. It would be helpful if both the government along with the public keeps an eye on this matter.

Bhaskar Nath,

Cotton University, Guwahati

Water-logging

Now we are at the fag-end of March. In April-May-June there will be monsoon in our city. But the thought of charming monsoon has started to scare me as there will be artificial floods, water-logging and inundation all over the city.

I want to express my concern over the issue of poor drainage system in the city and failure of the authorities concerned every year to check artificial floods and water-logging. Water-logging leads to traffic jam and pedestrians have to wade through flooded streets, especially the poor living in slum areas have to suffer more. They have to face problems as rain water takes several days to recede.

It is my earnest request to the authorities concerned of the city like PWD and Guwahati Municipal Corporation to be fully prepared with modern technology to prevent artificial floods in the forthcoming monsoon. The PWD and the Municipal Corporation can seek advice from other metro cities' municipal corporations and even from experts of European Mega cities to solve the problem permanently.

Madhuparna Mitra,

Guwahati.

State bus services

Recently I travelled between Nazira and Guwahati (to and fro) by buses of two different companies. I was disturbed seeing the unplanned structures and designs of the buses. The buses don't have any compartment for keeping hand baggage inside, thereby causing a great difficulty to the travelers, especially during their sleeping hours. In one bus in which I took the sleeper seat, the space of the seat was not adequate for sitting properly.

Sir, it needs no mention that bus service is the lifeline of connectivity among a large section of people in Assam. But, it's a state of apathy that the authorities concerned didn't take any initiative to revamp the bus service. Through this column of your esteemed daily, I would like to request the authorities concerned of the Assam Transport Sector to keep in view the following points in larger public interest, so that an efficient bus service is delivered in our State:

1) Consulting highly skilled personnel in the field of automobile engineering to make a bus with a proper design and layout; keeping in view both cost and comfort.

2) The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and the owners of private company buses working either under ASTC or in partnership with ASTC should emphasize both comfort and cost while providing bus services.

3) The Transport State department can hold seminars, interactive sessions, debates and organize trips of its employees to imbibe practical knowledge on the steps that could be initiated to develop and revamp our public transport.

Most importantly, the voice of the public towards change in the buses is of utmost importance.

Partha Pratim Duarah,

Nazira (Assam).

Wearing of masks

Majority of people in Guwahati have stopped wearing masks, be it in public or private spaces. The number of individuals who actually wear masks in public transportations is a rare sight to see. With the closely packed nature of public transports it's essential for people to wear masks if they are ill in any manner to avoid transmission of COVID-19. Although the pandemic hasn't ended yet, we can see a large number of people not wearing any masks and roaming around the city. This should be seen as a major point of concern as the COVID-19 cases have been increasing in India rapidly.

The renewed order making masks mandatory in the State is an action that can help in changing this attitude of the public to some extent. The public needs to make a conscious effort to stop the transmission of the virus.

Debashis Konger,

Guwahati.

Enforcing mask rules is vital

With the fears of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic lurking around, the government seems to have decided to crackdown on violators of COVID-19 protocols. While the Director General of Civil Aviation has directed airline companies to deplane passengers who refuse to wear masks properly and even put them on a no-fly list for a certain period of time, the Maharashtra government has hired COVID marshals to impose the practice on public places, including public transport. The sudden spurt in the number of cases being reported everyday has made India once again the country with the second largest number of people infected by COVID-19, surpassing Brazil. Experts have not singled out a reason for the potential second wave but one reason can arguably be the lackadaisical approach people have towards the pandemic. People in most States have long stopped wearing masks while social gatherings go on uninterrupted as if there was no pandemic around. The opening of educational institutions and recreation avenues would have only accentuated the scene. Elections in five States scheduled for March and April are unlikely to help the situation either. Who will give the guarantee that this virus will not spread further.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

Roads in Karimganj

On a recent visit to Karimganj I saw the dilapidated roads across the district. Most of the important roads which are lifelines in the district are full of breakages and potholes forcing the commuting public to daily risk their lives in pursuit of their trades and other occupations.

The connected feeder roads also are in piteous condition. Where have the funds meant for maintenance/renovation gone? It appears the Public Works Department in the district is shying away from its role to make these roads worthy of motor driving. The district sends six legislators, namely, one MP and five MLAs to the Lok Sabha and the Assam Assembly respectively who have to frequently travel on these roads for catching flight at the only airport in the valley at Kumbhirgram in Cachar. In five years of its rule the ruling dispensation remained quiet and cold to take care of these unsafe roads. Ironically, the political entities who mastered the art of better sloganeering and speeches at the election time have won the race sidelining issues tied up with the lives of people. Wake up voters!

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati.

Curb domestic violence

The National Crime Record Bureau data have pointed out that the number of cases registered under Section 498A of IPC for 'cruelty by husbands or their relatives' recorded an increase of 21.3 per cent in 2019 when compared with 2018. Moreover, the number of cases registered under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act reflected a decline of 4.5 per cent in 2019 over 2018. The reasons for the under-reporting of cases were personal, social, and institutional. The Parliamentary Committee of Home Affairs has recommended that the Home Ministry should advice States and Union Territories to conduct sensitization and briefings of ground-level officials dealing with the PWDV Act so that women facing domestic violence could be better equipped to access justice. Awareness programmes at the grassroots level, fast-track courts, and rehabilitation facilities can be helpful in curbing domestic violence.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

COVID cases and Holi celebration

Through your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned towards the celebration of Holi in the State amidst the rising cases of coronavirus. The country registered 43,846 COVID cases on Sunday. Keeping this in mind, many States have already imposed curfew and lockdown. In many States, celebration of Holi in public places with huge gatherings has been banned. The authorities concerned in Assam also need to look into the matter. Wearing of masks in public places has been made compulsory from March 20 in Assam in order to safeguard human life and health. As the State is gearing up to celebrate Holi on March 29, the people of the State are advised not to use dry colours, shake hands etc.

Biki Sarmah,

Guwahati.

New COVID challenge

PM Narendra Modi is right in saying that if the growing COVID cases across the country are not controlled immediately, the situation may become uncontrollable. The Centre as well as the State governments will have to strictly follow the old formulas of testing, trekking and isolation for immediate control of the infection. The wastage of vaccine is also worrying in some States. People will have to be alerted to the new pattern of the infection otherwise serious consequences will have to be faced.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

A NOTE from The Sentinel: Wearing of masks has been made compulsory in Assam at all public places. In the event of anyone caught without masks, fines are slapped on him/her at the rate of Rs 500 for first time and Rs 1,000 for the second time.

Solve problems

The political party or the alliance of political parties that will win the Assembly election in Assam will rule the State for the next five years. The main duty of the government is to address the grievances of people. Assam is a problematic State. More than 20 lakh youths in Assam are unemployed. As such, the government should create jobs in the State. Further, the people of Assam want the government to set up agro-based small and big industries for creating jobs. People also want the government to take necessary action to revive all the closed industries in the State. The government of a State should take welfare measures for its citizens. It should listen to the genuine demands of the common people.

Maheswar Deka,

Rangia.