Spike in second wave of COVID-19: Letters to The Editor

Spike in second wave of COVID-19

The second wave of COVID-19 is spreading faster than its first wave. I see people wearing masks everywhere I go. People are very eager to take the vaccine. Serpentine queues are seen in front of hospitals. Gauging the gravity of the situation right, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is reviewing the situation with top-level officials regularly. He also held an all-party meeting on the health crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been telling the public and the State/UT governments of the country as well as what has to be done to combat the crisis. However, what's crystal clear on this count is 'taking all precautionary measures. It has no alternative.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali.

Work from home

The IT companies have switched to alternate-working options including staggered working hours and enabling work from home option for almost all its employees owing to the COVID-19 outbreak and its restrictions due to curfews. The move to encourage to work from home is a welcome one at a time when the pandemic is affecting public health and safety. It should further be explored not only in such a crisis but also to combat air pollution and everyday traffic chaos prevailing in an urban ecosystem.

A people-friendly policy should be now framed to mandatorily impose work from home options even at government work places; as most of the government departments now rely on the internet through e-office rather than the paperwork to execute work. The government thus will go a long way to improve the productivity of its employees through the implementation of an effective work from home strategy.

Varun Dambal,

Bangalore.

Help to survive

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 has created a crisis on the livelihood of millions of families in the country. Thousands of migrant workers are returning to their homes. The lockdown affects the employment of people at the local level. The government should ensure food security by supplying free ration to poor families. It is necessary to reach government facilities to needy people timely. All of us should strive together to offer food and water for the birds and animals in this pandemic. This is the need of the hour.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Poll result celebration

Prevention is better than cure, but in the case of COVID-19, there is no cure, prevention is the only way out. The EC should ban all rallies and road shows in the ongoing Assembly elections. Further, the EC should put strict restrictions on the celebrations of the election results next month. Distribution of sweets and beating drums should be banned.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

Merrymaking

As the State battles the second wave of COVID-19, the Congress candidates are relishing the hospitality of Dichang Resort in Sonapur. This bunch of people call themselves social workers but in the hour of crisis, the so-called social workers are away from the people. It is easy to criticize or throw advice to the government from the comfort zone of the resort. They know that the time of begging for votes is over and for what reason they would be amongst the people. Their thinking is loud and clear. Let the public face the music as wailing public voices won't make any difference to their fortune.

Julie Bhuyan,

Gaurisagar.

Where are Bihu committee members?

I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of noted Assamese singer Bitali Das. Late Das succumbed to COVID-19 at Kalapahar COVID Hospital. As the State saw a sudden upsurge in COVID-19 cases, the government released certain protocols regarding Bihu functions. As soon as the protocols were released various Bihu committees protested against the government. They alleged that the government is planning to destroy Bihu customs and culture. I, through your esteemed daily, want to ask those 'protectors of Asomiya culture and tradition' in which book it is written that Bohag Bihu is incomplete with stage functions. We all know why the Bihu committees want to drag the Bihu functions till late at night. With my head held low, I confess this year's Bihu functions were spreaders of COVID-19 in the State. We all saw how all advice from the Health Department was thrown into dustbins. Primary schools are closed, sporting academies are as good as close, businesses are asked to down the shutters by 6 pm, etc and most importantly the State has lost a talented artiste in the name of Bitali Das. The committee members of various Bihu committees are now hiding under the carpet ready to put all the blame on the government. These people should be brought before the public and exposed thoroughly.

Pratuljyoti Buragohain,

Guwahati.

Recovery-proceedings from small defaulters

RTI applications filed by a Mumbai-based Foundation reveal that very negligible amounts are recovered by Banks after accounts are declared Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). This is because banks are influenced effectively by big defaulters for having a softening recovery process against them. Big defaulters at times deliberately default and divert borrowed amounts in other names also to purchase assets in India and outside. Very few cases like that of Nirav Modi or Vijay Malaya are published in newspapers, while most other such cases go unnoticed.

On the contrary, small defaulters including Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) and traders are put to hardest possible recovery processes by Banks even during the ongoing corona crisis despite these small defaulters having very genuine reasons for default including hard-hit trade and industry in corona crisis. Banks must note that small industrialists and traders, in general, were not being able to even recover money from trade (let alone profit) for their household expenses. It is indeed regretful that some banks have started toughest recovery proceedings under Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SRFAESI) whereby many small borrowers and their families may even become roofless without any residence in these days of severe-most corona-crisis.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Department of Financial Services (DFS) should direct all banks that proceedings under SRFAESI Act may be stalled at least in cases where residential properties of borrowers may not be vacated in any case. All fresh proceedings initiated on or after 01.04.2021 under SRFAESI Act should be taken back by recalling fresh notices served under SRFAESI Act on or after 01.04.2021. Banks can be advised to settle such secured loans by offering liberal One Time Settlement (OTS) schemes which can say 20 per cent or less of original loan-amount without any interest or other charges for loans up to rupees 10 crore on that lines State Bank of India offered way back in the year 2012.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

Delhi.

Mental health of students

The issue of mental health is an increasing and alarming subject when it comes to students. The pressure of academics, co-curricular activities, exam, parents expectations all sums up together to affect their mental stability. Some stand strong to fight and bring the best out of it and some fail in doing so. The alarming aspect of the subject is the lack of awareness about the issue among the parents and the students themselves. Many educational institutions organize health camps annually, which rarely include any department to check on the mental health of the students. They barely get the time to give priority to the issue compared to their existing circumstances. Both the parents and the students now must become sincere in focusing on this issue. Institutions organizing health camps should also start focusing on the mental health of their students. They should start educating their students and teaching them the importance of their mental health. Along with the students, the parents should also be taught about mental health by organizing workshops, meetings and study camps. Institutions should also try to build a special department with experienced teachers to help the students share their concerning issues on mental health. Most of the problems faced and committed by the students in their study life are mainly the problems they face for their poor mental conditions. Students develop eating disorders like bulimia, anorexia which some of them even are not aware of. Some suffer from depression, anxiety, the stress at such a small age which eventually affect their self-confidence which sometimes stays with them forever. The number of addicts is also mostly students with poor mental stability who get mental pleasure from addiction.

So the problem is undoubtedly grave but at the same time to find a solution to this problem is a crying road. It's high time everyone should respond and actively participate in the concerning issue and start taking necessary steps in the betterment of the students. Drawing a little effort on the issue can solve many concerning problems of today's society. Also, a little help can change and save the lives of many in framing a healthy and better future.

Nandita Chakraborty,

Guwahati.

Ban on tobacco

Tobacco is injurious to health, and it causes cancer. Most youngsters are addicted to it and can go for any extent to consume it. This is a serious threat for our future generations. Once in a while, we get that all shops are debarred from selling tobacco but still they are seen selling it. Tobacco should be either banned and the shops that sell it should be imposed with heavy fines.

Himadri Kalita,

Guwahati.