Letters to the Editor

Smart Bio Toilets

    To address the acute shortage of public toilets in Guwahati, Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) has launched a project under the Smart City Mission involving the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) for setting up 'Smart Bio Toilets'  at major locations across the city, according to the version of Dr M Angamuthu, Maging Director of GSCL. The project will be implemented in three phages. Phase 1 will be completed by June this year. The aim of the project is to eradicate open defecation in the city. Bio toilet is a composition-mechanized toilet system which decomposes human excretory waste in the bio toilet tank using high-grade bacteria, further converting it into methane and water. The load capacity of each toilet will be minimum 200 defecations per day, and the operatiol time proposed for the toilets is from 6 am to 10 pm. This is a laudable drive of GSCL.

But at the same time, their maintence is very important. Such toilets should be regularly washed with disinfectants so that they do not become unhygienic as well as a public hazard. I would, therefore, like to request the authority concerned to also look into this aspect seriously and take appropriate action in view of public hazard.

Putul Sarma,

Bamgaon, Biswath Chariali

Women under Attack

The status of women in India is dismal. Not only in terms of physical harassment, mental harassment too is witnessed by the entire world right from high-profile offices to slum areas. However, not all men are same. There are instances of godly fathers and other men who have sacrificed themselves protecting mothers and sisters, but one cannot ignore male domince in the Indian society.

Though the government has tried to protect women time and again through different legislative ectments in favour of women, their implementation in this patriarchal society is a tough task.

In fact women have marched hand in hand with men in modern times. Yet a majority of women are subjected not only to physical harassment but also to mental harassment. Even if there is no sexual harassment at work place, certain male behaviour endangers a woman's continued employment, thus negatively affecting her work performance. It undermines her sense of dignity. It results in a considerable loss both to individuals and institutions in terms of work performance as well as professiol and persol growth.

Incidence of rape and molestation is on the rise, and not even infants are spared by certain demons. This simply reflects that animals are superior to some men with no control over temptations. Crime against women is accelerating. But the irony is that there is great pomp and show in the me of worshipping goddesses like Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati and many more. Let every day be a women's day.

Rumi Sarma,

RGB Road ,Guwahati-21