Government's new policy vs WhatsApp: Letters To The Editor

In March, the government gave a three-month time to WhatsApp to update its policy which in a way violates the privacy of an individual. The government took this initiative to trace the originator of the message that is circulated in WhatsApp such as fake news. This is a policy that almost all people wanted because in everyday life we see such forwarded messages which are done without any cross-checking and then we blame the system for not taking any action against it. In response to that when the government tried to bring this policy then the people are stating that the government is trying to invade our personal space. People should be made aware as to why such policy is to be taken up. Everyone still remembers the mob lynching incident of Abhijit and Nilotpal which happened because of some forwarded fake message that some kidnappers have come to Assam from Bihar to kidnap the children. It was a result of such messages. To stop such incidents from further happening the originator of such messages should be traced and some punishment should be given. This was just one example as to why this policy is in a way beneficial for the people and there are ample of such incidents that happen regularly.

Himadri Kalita,

Guwahati.

Children infected with COVID

Experts point out that the third wave of COVID-19 is more likely to affect children in particular. Experts have suggested that the virus may tend to increase its attack by mutation.

The first COVID-19 wave has been reported to affect people over the age of 60 and the second COVID-19 has been reported to have younger people than before. In the meantime, the country is building a massive infrastructure to confront COVID-19 during these two wave attacks of COVID-19. Acknowledging all this, experts have been paying close attention to a particular area. That is, the structure and type of COVID-19 treatment for paediatric COVID-19 may not be the same as for adults. In the meantime, this distinction has become clear from the experience of physicians in the treatment of children with other diseases. According to experts, the main difference is that the child cannot be treated in the ICU alone. It is very important to keep the father or mother with the child. It may be necessary to have such special facilities in the ICU to be used in the case of children. Therefore, it is important to create more ICUs from now on.

Parents of children infected with COVID-19 in the ICU must be vaccinated so that the ICU is not a source of COVID-19 infection. According to reliable sources, about 30 million parents will be vaccinated across the country. On the other hand, the responsibility will be borne by the government. Another requirement in the treatment of paediatrics is the special preparation of the medicine to be delivered in the case of COVID-19. If necessary, the departmental authorities of the government should be ready to meet all the grievances. In addition, one should strive to provide services to the patient with a selfless spirit. If such thoughts are reflected in the workplace, surely the soul of the country will find peace.

Everyone should know that today's children are the future human resources of the country. To protect the country, steps have to be taken to take care of the child.

However, with the concerted efforts of the Central and State governments, we hope that children will be protected as the future of the country.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup.

Tally-ho Assam Police

It's a great pleasure to see all the crime mafias from Dhubri to Sadiya are on the run as the State police force has declared war against them. The criminals dealing in poaching, car lifting, cattle lifting, drug trafficking, etc are very effectively dealt with by the State police force. It's an open secret that all the above stated criminal activities were carried with impurity during the earlier Congress rule due to the patronage of the few top heavyweight leaders of the party. The State police force was a mute spectator to all the happenings around them. With the freehand provided by the Home department of the State government, many crime dens were uprooted as a result, the peace-loving citizens could sleep peacefully. It may sound harsh but an overwhelming majority of the criminals belongs to the linguistic minority community who are the backbone of the 'Mahagathbandhan'. It is a fantastic feeling to see the State police in a rampaging mood to tackle the lawbreakers. Let the good show continue without any hindrance.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Northern white rhinoceros

The Northern white rhinoceros are almost on the verge of extinction. They are the largest extant species of rhinoceros. Perhaps the death of the last male white rhino on the planet named Sudan, extinction of this species seems to be a certain leaving behind only two females of the same.

The protection of the two remaining magnificent creatures is largely a formality today as their numbers have consistently decreased over years by hunters and poachers for the demand of their horns for the use of medicinal purposes or flaunting them as status symbols which had resulted in not just the species being endangered but now fall under the threatening IUCN Red List.

The death of a species affects the ecosystem greatly and the prospect of undoing human damage to the environment with the use of technology is a tempting one. But interfering again to bring a species back to life brings its issues and risks.

Nilakshi M Daimary,

(nilidaimary143@gmail.com)

Citizen Charter to empower rural India

The initiative of the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj to produce a model Panchayat Citizen Charter for service delivery in rural India across 29 sectors is praiseworthy. The Citizen Charter will ensure transparent and effective delivery of public services for long-term development and improved citizen service experiences, as well as strengthening inclusive and accountable local self-governments by including varied perspectives in service design and delivery. The Panchayats are expected to draught a Citizen Charter using this framework and Gram Sabha's approval, describing the many categories of services provided by the Panchayat to citizens, as well as the criteria and time limits for such services.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Dr Lakshmi Nandan Bora's death

The unexpected death of Dr Lakshmi Nandan Bora is an irreparable loss to the literary world of Assam. His contribution to the world of fiction and science fiction novels will always be remembered. We were overwhelmed to read the stories written about the rural life of Assam. Rural stories gave a unique dimension to his creativity. Kayakalpa is one of his most popular science fiction novels, through which he has taught people a great deal. For which he received the famous Saraswati Sanman. Dr Bora, a successful agricultural scientist and writer of the State, has won several prestigious awards in the country. He was awarded Padmashree by the Central government along with Saraswati Sanman, Sahitya Akademi, Assam Valley Literary awards and others. His book on the holy life of the great Sankardev and Madhavdev was able to win the hearts of the devout people of Assam. As the editor of the well-known magazine Gariyoshi under the Assam Tribune group, he inspired a new generation of writers. He was also the President of Axam Xahitya Xabha. It is worth mentioning that the Axam Xahitya Xabha gained momentum when he was the president.

It is hoped that Dr Bora will be kept alive by readers and that a new generation of writers will follow his ideals.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup.

Lockdown timings

I would like to show my concern towards the present shutdown timing of the lockdown through the column of your esteemed daily. As we all know that the government has ordered to shut all the shops in the market by 11 am which has recently been extended to 12 pm. But it is not enough time for people to buy their necessities and groceries within the given hours because the shops itself open by 8 or 8:30 am so it is a struggle to get the things by time. So I request the State government to extend the time to at least 1 pm so that people can buy all their necessities without a panic.

Neha Singh,

Sonapur.

Vinod Dua case

A bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice U.U. Lalit and Justice Vineet Saran very rightly quashed a sedition case against veteran scribe Vinod Dua for criticizing the Modi Government's handling of COVID-19 and the use of the Pulwama terror attack and Balakot airstrikes to seek votes, in his YouTube show last year. No one denies that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in his election speeches ever miss terror or terrorism and its aftermath, naturally, the common man can never bother and take it for granted, what journalist Vinod Dua said. But Shimla district's Kumarsain police station's BJP leader Shyam was unable to digest it. He filed an FIR against Dua under provisions of the Indian Penal Code for alleged offences of sedition, public nuisance, printing defamatory materials and public mischief. Do people wonder why all the sedition cases and FIRs are registered by BJP politicians only? It seems they think that they are the patent holders of patriotism and they define patriotism from myopic eyes of fundamentalism and cult worship.

But the apex Court not only quashed the sedition case against Dua, but it also said that every journalist is entitled to protection, as the SC in 1962 had ruled the sedition charges could not be invoked against a citizen for criticism of government actions as it would conform with the freedom of speech and expression. However, the SC bench declined the prayer of Dua that no FIR can be registered against any media personnel with 10 years' experience unless cleared by a committee. People wonder though the judgment has been there since 1962 and yet all these years we keep seeing such frivolous charges, which make it clear that the aim is to harass them by dragging in the legal processes and shut others out of fear.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad .

Women reservation in legislature

It refers to the welcome demand of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for 33 per cent reservation for women in Engineering and Medical Colleges. But he should also take up the matter of women reservation in the legislature with its bigger ally BJP and Central government. Women though being 50 per cent of the population, get only a minute representation in the law-making system. Many political parties cry for reservation on man-made aspects like religion and cast evidently for vote-bank politics, but oppose reservation to women which remain dominated section of society created by nature in our male-dominated political system. Even the Islamic world including Pakistan and many other democratic countries have adopted women reservation in the legislature.

Election Commission formula to make it compulsory for every political party to give at least 33 per cent party tickets to women may be immediately enforced as an interim measure, till Indian women get their legitimate right for 33 per cent State-wise reservation in the legislature. Moreover, to prevent wives or other relations from being misused as a proxy of male politicians, there should be a system whereby the name or photo of husband or any other relation may not be permitted in election campaigns of women candidates. At a time when women quota in panchayats and local bodies is being increased to 50 per cent from earlier 33 per cent, it is meaningless to resist 33 per cent reservation to women in the legislature. Rather there should be a uniform 33 per cent reservation for women at all stages from civic bodies to Parliament.

Madhu Agrawal,

Delhi .