Letters to THE EDITOR: Low maintenance of NH-15

I would like to bring to your attention the issue of irregular maintenance of the National Highway-15 between Baihata Charali to Mangaldoi town. People are in dire need of well-repaired roads. The poor condition of the highways not only causes inconvenience to commuters but also poses a safety hazard. Potholes, cracked pavements, and uneven surfaces are just some of the problems that are commonly encountered. The lack of proper signage and lighting also adds to the danger. This neglect of the NH 15 in Assam is unacceptable. These roads are crucial for the economic development of the state and for connecting people to essential services. The government must take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that the highways are properly maintained.

I request the PWD department to take this matter seriously and take the necessary steps to improve the condition of the national highways in Assam.

Prachujya Protim Bora

prachujyaprotimbora1863@gmail.com

Charaideo -A heritage site

We as Asomiyas should feel extremely proud to know Charaideo, the maidam of the Ahom royalty has been ultimately chosen as World Heritage Site nominee. The process of trying to get UNESCO heritage site status started in 2014 after the change of government at the Centre. The proposal has been sent to UNESCO as the sole nominee by the Central Government and it is no doubt a great honour for Assam. The relevant dossiers will be sent to UNESCO office in Paris soon. Merely shouting slogans, burning tyres and showing black flags on the streets will in no way enhance Assam's prestige nationally or internationally. I feel APCC, AASU etc, at least will not hesitate to congratulate and thank both the central and state governments.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Increasing eunuch hazard

The problem of social pathology is hardly discussed in any established government forum. But I am thankful to the MLA of Khumtai LAC, Mrinal Saikia who brought the issue of the increasing hazard of eunuchs in Assam. In the last Assam Assembly session held in December 22, the difficulties faced by the general people in the state were discussed elaborately. Eunuchs were not that big in number around five years earlier in Assam, but suddenly influx of several groups of eunuchs took place in Guwahati and places like Lumding, Tinsukia etc.

What we have seen these eunuchs are not begging but extorting with their typical aggressive gestures and postures in few selected traffic intersections. We are not aware whether any government agencies like police and Women and Child Welfare Department have initiated any preventive step to check the hazard posed by these eunuchs. Despite the virtually daily increase in the number of eunuchs, they are unregulated as yet. The Women and Child Welfare Department has a vital role to chalk out a plan for rehabilitation/employment generation for these eunuchs to do away with the hazard posed by them on the streets.

Pradip Ranjan Kar,

GS Road, Guwahati.

Bharat Jodo Yatra is an ideological movement, the 'Haath se Haath Jodo' campaign is a door-to door electoral campaign to highlight the failures of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and take the message of the Yatra to every Indian. The Congress on January 21, unveiled the logo of its 'Haath se Haath Jodo' campaign that will kick off on January 26, and released an eight-page charge sheet against BJP for door-to-door distribution during the campaign.

'Hasth Se Hasth Jodo' campaign, which will be organized in the first phase at village and block levels, in the second phase at the district level and in the third phase at the state level. The campaign may have a second or a third phase too but for now Congress's goal is to distribute the charge sheet against the BJP along with Rahul Gandhi's letter from door to door.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra will end on January 30, but not its spirit which will be extended through the Haath se Haath Jodo campaign. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is in its final phase and the padayatra part (foot march) is scheduled to be over by January 29. The Yatra will, however, culminate on January 30. Rahul Gandhi will hoist the national flag in the Congress headquarters in Jammu & Kashmir and the party workers too will hoist the flag in the party's district offices all over India.

On the same day, a public meeting will be held at the Shere Punjab stadium in Srinagar. After 130 days of this historic programme (Bharat Jodo Yatra), the Congress party got enough input from the people of the country. During the march, lakhs of people interacted with Rahul Gandhi.

Dipak Kurmi,

Guwahati.

Contribution of Kaka Joseph Baptista

During the celebration of 75 years of our Independence, our media had mentioned the names of most of the great men and women who struggled hard and sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country. But however, perhaps inadvertently, one important name had been forgotten, that of the great Barrister, Kaka Joseph Baptista. It was him, who pleaded the cause of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and secured his release, when he would almost certainly have been arrested by the then British Government, along with coining the slogan, "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it," which is being incorrectly attributed by everyone to the same Lokmanya Tilak. Moreover, Kaka Joseph Baptista, as the President of the Oxford Students' Union, spoke very strongly in favour of Independence for India in England. It is necessary that our people recognize and appreciate the significant contribution of Kaka Joseph Baptista to our Independence.

Jubel D'Cruz,

Mumbai.