Letters to The EDITOR: Back to square one

Sometime back, our CM was gloating over the fact that bandh culture and rhino poaching in the state have come down, due to which he has time to focus on the developmental activities of the state. It was no doubt a very good sign. He appealed to the people to refrain from bandh culture and poaching. There was a lull in the Assam bandhs, and even temporarily, AASU and AJYCP refrained from calling bandhs. But out of nowhere came the delimitation issue. It is as if one has stirred a hornet’s nest. The whole state, from Dhubri to Dibrugarh, is once again engulfed by bandhs called by the political parties, where the seasoned bandh activists are having a field day. We are once again back to square one, like in the earlier days. It needs to be recalled that calling bandhs and hartals has never solved any issues.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

A big win for India

On June 30, the print media reported that India was removed from UNSG’s report with the list of countries on the impact of armed conflict on children. This has come as a big booster for our country’s effective foreign policy. It has come to light that India has figured in the annual UN report of the Secretary General (UNSG) on children and armed conflict since 2010, along with countries like Pakistan, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, etc., torn apart by violations of child rights in conflict zones. Initially, India was listed in the report from 2010 during the UPA Government along with other countries involved in internal armed violence by armed groups recruiting young boys and detaining boys by security forces. The news stated that in view of the measures taken by the Government of India on strengthening child protection in disturbed areas in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India has been dropped from the report for 2023.

The UNSG’s last report acknowledged India’s commitment to child protection. Internally, this also highlights the positive outcome of the post-Article 370 abrogation, after which the central laws like the juvenile justice (care and protection of children) Act and the POCSO (Protection Of Children From Sexual offences) Act have been purposefully applied in the UT. The terror act in J&K and the consequent suffering of its people for the last seven decades are partly due to the operation of Article 370 at the behest of so-called secular parties. India, with multiple problems of livelihood, health, food, housing, and core development issues for her 140 plus population, can ill afford any space for these irresponsible political parties playing vote bank politics in the name of secularism and abandoning national interest.

Pannalal Dey

Guwahati.

Ragging menace

Despite the best of governmental efforts, the menace of ragging refuses to die down in our country. Though most of the states have anti-ragging laws in place, the lack of uniformity in the laws in different states is disturbing. The incidents of ragging that are now reported are, obviously, only the tip of the iceberg. Most ragging incidents are swept under the carpet by colleges to preserve their “reputation and honour.” More often than not, the students are advised to compromise with their tormentors. Also, some students do not come forward to complain out of fear and are unwilling to put their future at stake. Unfortunately, the dangerous evil of ragging, which was largely confined to medical and engineering colleges, has crept into other professional colleges as well. Recent incidents of ragging reported from Haryana, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh have proved ragging is here to stay.

It is time the anti-ragging rules and regulations in colleges were cemented to prevent such crimes. One would like the Centre to come out with authentic facts and figures on the functioning of anti-ragging committees across India and on the number of cases that have reached their logical conclusion in courts. One wonders whether most of the anti-ragging panels are relegated to paper while the students suffer in silence. The committees will serve no purpose without transparency and accountability. Patna University has directed all colleges under its belt to constitute anti-ragging cells and prominently display the names and mobile numbers of members at different places on the campuses. Students taking admission into the colleges are required to file affidavits stating they will not indulge in ragging. Such measures are salutary and have to be emulated by the rest.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat,

(gbhat13@gmail.com.)

Expensive tomatoes

The price of tomatoes has risen to more than Rs 60 a kilo in several parts of the country, including Mumbai, and has become even more expensive than petrol. Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. The government must control inflation and do something to bring down the price of tomatoes and other household ingredients as a relief to the common man.

Jubel D'Cruz,

(jubeldcruz@yahoo.com)