Achilles heel: Letters to The Editor

After completing one month in the office in the second stint, Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Cabinet highlighted the progress made in the bygone month.
Achilles heel: Letters to The Editor

Achilles heel

After completing one month in the office in the second stint, Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Cabinet highlighted the progress made in the bygone month. It is no doubt that the present government is moving at breakneck speed to serve the people. The entire Cabinet and the MLAs are in a 24x7 mode which augurs well for the State. Some of the notable works done within the first month are tackling of COVID pandemic, anti-drugs drive, eviction drives on government land which even his bitter rivals/critics acknowledged and appreciated. In the midst of all, there is an Achilles Heel which the present government failed to challenge, and it is the soaring price rise of essential commodities. The soaring price rise is hitting the general public hard. The Food and Civil Supplies department has certainly become an Achilles heel. The failure of the Minister concerned is visible by his irresponsible comments. The reason why the government is failing to control the price rise should be made public.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Boost early intervention services for disabilities

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has inaugurated 14 Cross-Disability Early Intervention Centres for children aged 0 to 6 years at seven National Institutes and seven Composite Regional Centers in a groundbreaking effort. Dehradun, Delhi, Mumbai, Secunderabad, Kolkata, Cuttack, Chennai, Surendranagar, Lucknow, Bhopal, Rajnandgaon, Patna, Nellore, and Kozhikode are among the 14 Early Intervention Centres that have been opened. Under one roof and in a contiguous manner, the centres provide screening and identification, rehabilitation, counselling, and therapy treatments for a variety of disabilities. Parental counselling and training, as well as peer counselling, are all part of these centres' mission to help parents cope with the requirements of their disabled children. According to research, the first 1,000 days of a child's life are critical for healthy development, thus it's critical to identify high-risk instances early on so that the severity of the handicap can be decreased by suitable interventions. State governments should increase early detection and intervention programmes at the grassroots level to reduce the risk factors that contribute to disability. To support children with special needs, there must be a need for community awareness.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Our responsibility towards mother tongue

The widespread use of the English language throughout the world in recent times is truly astonishing. Therefore, we may not even know another language and mother tongue to acquire knowledge. The English language is required for accessing information through the internet. In addition, international scientific conferences, seminars, etc. are generally conducted in English. Books published in English have the highest sales and circulation. Therefore, authors want their books to be published in English and also try to prepare their research books or research papers in English. The English language is widely used in Europe. However, no European language is likely to become extinct in Europe. This is because mother tongue and English are given equal importance there. In addition, the use of mother tongue in daily and administrative work is essential. On the other hand, the English language is widely used in our country for administrative purposes. In addition, it is widely used in intellectual and educational work. As a result, every Indian language has faced a severe crisis due to the aggression of English. To save the country from this crisis, commendable efforts are being made to reintroduce the mother tongue in other States of India besides the State of Northeast India. The infrastructure of Major Indian Language (MIL) schools has been strengthened and the qualifications of teachers for training have been enhanced. But in Assam, the government-run schools that teach in vernacular languages are in such dire straits that many primary schools have been forced to close year after year. This is the reason why English medium schools have prospered and only the economically weaker sections of the society are getting an education in the vernacular government schools.

In SEBA, only 100 marks are given in English in the High School Leaving Examination. Many parents are reluctant to send their children to Assamese medium schools, fearing that not all students will know English as expected. Even though the state Language is Assamese, the government does not seem to place any importance on the language in its administrative functions. In today's context of Assam, it has become clear that at the root of the language crisis is the neglect of the Assam government towards language.

However, we have to keep our mother tongue alive. For this, every Assamese should take positive steps. In this case, the schools established in the model of Asom Jatiya Vidyalaya and Shishu Niketan can take the desired steps. In addition, the schools set up by the Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha can also help in keeping the mother tongue alive to some extent. Of course, the Government of Assam should encourage such initiatives as well as provide financial assistance. On the other hand, the government should continue its efforts to strengthen the infrastructure of Assamese medium schools. Then, one can be sure that the expected results will be achieved.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup.

Beneficiaries' future

The previous BJP-led government of Assam created almost 92 lakh beneficiaries in the State. Among the beneficiary schemes, the 'Arunoday' and the 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Yojona' were the most popular and these two schemes are still functioning with full force. The new Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government has already deposited two instalments of money of the 'Arunoday' scheme to the accounts of the beneficiaries. Now it is a popular scene that the beneficiaries queue before various branches of the banks from early in the morning to withdraw the money deposited to their accounts by the government. The beneficiaries' minds are full of one thought i.e. how to withdraw the money from the banks. The schemes are like gold for them, it is their daily bread, a roof over their heads. But these schemes have made them sit idle and be dependent on others. They have forgotten to take care of their children as well as their families. Father goes out for work and mother queues before the bank from morning and the children loiter here and there without concentrating on their studies, and as a result, their hopes and aspirations are nipping in the bud gradually. This may be the policy of capitalism to create cheap labourers keeping them busy in the thoughts of food and livelihood. Very cunningly they are made busy in search of food only for the day through various populist schemes instead of making them self-dependent. They have failed to understand that these are the white rice spreading before the crows and these populist schemes are made by the government only for a short term to survive in politics. Now the various social organizations have the responsibilities to make the beneficiaries aware that they cannot continue to sustain a healthy life depending on such schemes. They should be made to understand that without education no change will come in their families. Being too much dependent on the government may destroy their self-confidence and physical energy which may bring darkness to their lives shortly. So, instead of introducing such beneficiary schemes, the government should create works for them so that they can live a respectful life.

Harsha Mohan Sarma,

Nalbari.

Kudos to Supreme Court

No doubt without our judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court (SC), the law-abiding citizens and those who are dissenting against the Modi government, their life would become hell, but that does not mean SC is butting in every decision of the government. Though we are familiar with 'Modi hai to mumkin hai', if so then why should Courts interfere in administration regularly from one reason to another? Not only these, but even the country's education system is also now of the SC/Court's mercy. If not then why SC approved the assessment schemes of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which has adopted the 30:30:40 formula for evaluation of marks for students based on results of class 10, 11 and 12 respectively? Both the boards told the apex court that they would declare the results on or before July 31. CBSE and CISCE is the competent authority for examinations. What is the need for a court ruling? Maybe, this is the reason that now 10-year-old Class V kids are writing to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), that she was very proud and happy that the apex court initiated effective steps in reducing COVID-19 fatalities, which is the Modi government's duty. Who knows the day will not be too far when the Prime Minister will be forgotten and the Black Robed Gents of the SC will rule the country. What a pitiable State of Mother India! But regarding 30:30:40 formulas if a student in class X examination obtained 95 per cent but goofing around class XI final examination as it isn't that consequential. But now got serious by class 12 and scored well, what will be his/her fate in the future?

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad.

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