Nagaon and Cachar paper mills: Letters to The Editor

It has been reported that both the paper mills are being sold at throwaway rates. These mills are the assets of Assam and employed quite a large number of people. Building an institution of such stature and later auctioning it is a sad thing. Whenever we used to pass through that stretch of Nagaon Paper Mill, we used to feel proud. The peculiar smell and the gases coming out from the mill assured us that we own something.

As an ordinary citizen, I do not know of the off-screen issues that might have taken the matter to such an extent.

Maybe, something can be chalked out which may turn the clock in favour of the mills. Giving a new life to plants and pieces of machinery and restarting the mills is something that we would like to see, if viable.

The workers and employees may also come to an agreeable solution to their problems regarding PF and other issues if ever the mill restarts. They say never give up on hope. It is something that keeps us going even during the darkest times.

Also, small issues need to be nipped at the bud itself otherwise it becomes irreparable. All organizations need to take care of such issues.

Purabi Pathak Barua,

Guwahati.

Swachh Bharat Mission

The Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami chowk, Mirza has neglected the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). The unhygienic environment of the chowk has become unbearable for people. A healthy environment will be created at Mirza if the local civil society, business associations and the local administration make arrangements for the evacuation of the pilgrims. In addition, frequent traffic jams at the Mamoni Raisom Goswami Chowk have been a major problem for the public. There is also a great need for an overbridge to facilitate transportation. Therefore, the departmental authorities of the Government of Assam are requested to take strong action on these two issues at the earliest.

Abhijiit Kalita,

Palasbari.

Students' career

The decision to cancel CBSE board exams may have resolved an important issue. The class 12 examination is of utmost importance as it has far-reaching effects on their career. Taking examinations and the pandemic as a challenge, the students should have not vehemently asked for cancellation but wholeheartedly agreed to take them. Now the question that arises is: will the students go into depression for their future?

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

Woes of vegetable sellers

As the buying capacity of the rural people is drastically decreasing, the vegetable sellers are to face the hardships to run their families. The COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown has confined people inside their houses and as a result, they are compelled to utilize their time as well as the wasteland of their campus by sowing and growing vegetables. Now almost every family can harvest something of their own. Though this is a good sign for each individual for having fresh vegetables without using chemical fertilizers, it has made the vegetables sellers' life unendurable as their sales are going down day by day. Most of the vegetable sellers are selling their commodities at a very cheap price for which their profits are very marginal. With this small profit, they can't run their families smoothly and their condition is imperilled. In comparison to rural areas, the price of vegetables in urban areas is a little bit high. So, the Food and Civil Supplies Department of Assam has to take some effective measures to ensure the vegetable sellers give legitimate price by bringing it from rural areas to urban areas through an affordable transportation. Moreover, the government should make cold storage in each panchayat of the State so that the excess products of the cultivators can be stored properly and supply it in proper time in a profitable way. By showing a positive attitude, the government can wipe out the tears of the vegetable sellers.

Harsha Mohan Sarma,

Chamata, Nalbari.

Delhi High Court's statement

As a septuagenarian I'm amused to read that the Delhi High Court's division bench comprising Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh questioning the Centre's vaccination policy for not prioritizing the younger population over older people, saying, "It is the younger people who are the future of this country."

And to save the youth brigade from COVID-19 and Black Fungus, the HC said, "The 80-year-olds aren't going to carry this country forward. They've lived their lives," and adding, "Ideally, we should be able to save everyone but if we have to choose, we have to save the younger people." Maybe, this observation of the HC indicated the value of the older people in the world's largest democracy, but the learned judges may have forgotten that it creates more political hara-kiri than people like us.

In the current scenario, old people are living, as per living, nothing more. But whatsoever, I hope both the learned judges should read English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon's over the value of 'old': Age appears to be the best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad.

Kudos to the Bank of India

Big applause to Bank of India for posting Rs 2160-crore profit in March 2021. It reminds me of a quote by Albert Einstein who once said 'Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.'

The huge force of BOI can walk an extra mile and put in extra efforts by working more and working better and it has shown by coming out from PCA. BOI is an organization of great character and depth. Its greatest assets are, undoubtedly, its employees, who have brought it a reputation as tall as its long history of 114 years. BOI is today the preferred choice of the customer. Why? This happens due to the delivery of superior products and efficient services and it has acted as good professionals with courtesy and dignity. With the inspiring leadership of top executives, enthusiastic efforts of experienced staff members and an outstanding team of new professionals, BOI is striving hard to achieve its corporate goals and to take the bank to greater heights.

Vinod C. Dixit,

Ahmedabad.