Letters to the Editor: Laissez-faire

The price inflation of essential commodities over the last few months has reached sky-high. The prices of foodstuff like pulses, flour (wheat), edible oil, egg, fish, potato, onion among others have kept on rising sharply over the past few months. Even the price of locally available vegetables has become very costly. Such a situation of rising prices has alarmingly affected the poor, daily earners as they are finding it hard to make ends meet. The lower-middle-class consumers are also unable to cope with the steep hike as their purchasing power has decreased considerably. In this hard time, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs Department is curiously silent. This is very much upsetting. Is the State Government following a laissez-faire policy on prices and has allowed a free hand to the market peddlers? I hope the Government has not certainly invoked that obsolete theory but its indifference to the common man's problems is unfortunate. Through this column, I would fervently appeal to the 'power that be' to immediately intervene in the matter and take pragmatic steps for the benefit of the masses and society.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati

Traffic jam by police vehicles

It is to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned that, off and on, traffic jams are created by police vehicles while taking fuel at a petrol station (in Guwahati located between Manipuri Basti and Ulubari flyover). There is an absence of discipline amongst the drivers of the police vehicles, leading to a chaotic situation, especially during morning rush hours.

We urge the authorities to take steps to regulate traffic at this point.

D Bhutia,

RGB Road, Guwahati

Diwali tourism & knowledge Ganga

Various festivals are celebrated in India. People participate in this in a big way. These are the days of Diwali. There are holidays in schools and colleges on the occasion of Diwali in different states of the country. Some people go to tourist places with their families on this occasion, especially to overcome the stress of working throughout the year. It is acceptable to go after Diwali for tourism. In order not to waste the Diwali holidays, they go for tours with their family or friends when the holidays begin. What would be the joy of celebrating a festival anywhere other than at home? Really should be at home on the day of the festival. Diwali is a festival of light. Isn't it ridiculous to leave home in the dark on a festive day & go on a tour? How will the children know how the festival is celebrated?

Try is needed to keep children away from mobiles. What is the joy of reading books? Let the children experience this. Diwali is a good opportunity for this. Diwali Issues are published on the occasion of Diwali. Every Diwali, many Diwali issues come into the market. There is a difference between reading online & reading through books. Reading from a book will not be as stressful as reading from a mobile. It will increase interest in reading. The Diwali issue includes writing on topics like nation, religion, finance, art, sports, culture, spirituality, sociology, stories, nursery rhymes etc. 'Gyan Ganga' flows uninterruptedly. Children should be taught how to spread the light of knowledge.

Jayesh Rane,

Mumbai