Letters to THE EDITOR: Harsh Persecutions for Dowry

Harsh persecutions for dowry

A 33-year-old woman of Indian origin hailing from Kerala allegedly killed her daughter and then committed suicide in her apartment in the UAE’s Sharjah due to pressure for dowry from her father-in-law. It is beyond fantasy that women are being pressed against parts of their bodies by hot irons and burnt alive, leading to suicide due to the illegal practice of seeking dowry. According to the National Crime Bureau, an average of 7,000 dowry death cases was reported every year in India, and several more go unreported. Such huge, string-dowry-related inhuman crimes are alarming to the social fabric. These offenders are sabotaging society with their unsatisfied hunger for dowry. It must be a social agreement to condemn their demand and torture for dowry to protect the woman from cruel people.

Nadeem Turki

(nadeemturki59@gmail.com)

Farmers’ woes and poor irrigation scene

The news article ‘Farmers suffering from rainfall shortage, paddy fields parched,’ published in your esteemed daily on 15 July, has shocked every conscious individual, as there is a direct impact of scanty rainfall on the farmers' parched paddy fields in several districts like Kamrup, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Nagaon, Bajali, some parts of BTR, Darang, Dhemaji, Sibsagar, etc. Thought this is the end of the Assamese month of "Aahar," being the main season for showing off paddy seedlings, the farmers are unable to plant the saplings due to lack of adequate water in their fields. Sadly, the majority of the state's farmers are largely dependent on the rain god as the state's irrigation system continues to be a picture in stark contrast to the woes of farmers when they are going through a spell of reduced rainfall activities. As of today, a meagre percentage of the state's total agricultural land is covered by irrigation. The defunct status of a large number of irrigation projects across the state has only exemplified the inertia of the irrigation department. It is a poor reflection on the state government that the state's vast farming community has little access to irrigation facilities today. Surprisingly, many irrigation schemes have virtually no existence beyond official files. Why have the successive governments over the years failed to put to good use the central funds coming for the purpose? With the abundance of surface water due to the state's large network of rivers and wetlands, revamping the irrigation sector should not be a challenge. While the arid states of the country have come up with an efficient water-use model to boost agriculture, Assam continues to grope in the dark. Is it not a shocking matter? We need a pragmatic irrigation scheme in convergence of departments such as irrigation, agriculture, soil conservation, and rural development, etc., which can go a long way to streamline the defunct irrigation system across the state. Given the acute water scarcity looming large, integrating water-saving technology with irrigation makes a lot of sense. The 16 July editorial, 'Climate compass for Assam's irrigation roadmap,' has said that developing deep insight about the deficiency and lack of accountability in the system is the need of the hour, as it will help the state irrigation department to take corrective action in its policy and plan for increasing irrigation coverage in the state, while saving the state's rain-dependent farmers from falling into the cycle of debt and distress.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati.  

Preserve Guwahati’s Hills

Through your esteemed daily, I wish to highlight the urgent need to protect the hills of Guwahati. These hills are not only natural landmarks but also vital ecological assets that help regulate temperature, recharge groundwater, and act as green lungs for the city. They also hold immense cultural and religious value, housing ancient temples and heritage sites.

Unfortunately, many of these hills are now threatened by rampant encroachment, deforestation, and illegal quarrying. Such activities have led to soil erosion, increased flood risks, and loss of biodiversity.

I appeal to the authorities and the public to take immediate steps to conserve Guwahati’s hills through stricter regulation, afforestation, and awareness campaigns. Sustainable urban development must include preserving our natural heritage.

Mowsam Hazarika

Guwahati

Strategic value of Javelin coproduction

India’s initiative to co-produce Javelin anti-tank guided missiles with the U.S. marks a significant step toward strengthening indigenous defence capabilities under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

This strategic collaboration will reduce logistical dependency, enhance force readiness, and address operational gaps in high-threat environments. For maximum efficacy, the agreement must include a comprehensive transfer of technology (ToT), integration of domestic defence suppliers, and a robust framework for joint R&D and lifecycle support. Such measures will not only fortify India’s anti-armour warfare capabilities but also reinforce long-term defence self-reliance and strategic autonomy.

Dr. Vijaykumar H. K.

(hkvkmech1@gmail.com)

International justice

Promoting global awareness with regard to international justice is often overlooked when global issues are deliberated. Criminal justice delivery on an international level has had a long history beginning in 1998 when the ‘Rome Statute’ or ‘Rome Treaty’ was adopted, paving the way for the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that began functioning in 2002 at The Hague in the Netherlands. Signed in Italy by 120 nations, genocide, war crimes, crimes related to aggression, and crimes against humanity are encompassed by the court. Nothing can overrule the rule of law and human rights, and the ‘International Day of Justice’ on July 17 aims to raise awareness about these values.

Global governments entrusted with the onerous responsibility of protecting civilians from crime, wars, and genocide cannot be lax in their duties. A fair world where justice to the victims goes beyond the national borders is the ultimate aim of the International Day of Justice. Sufferers have to know that several international laws exist that care for them and their dignity through exalted institutes like the ICC.

International legal institutions have to be strengthened if some semblance of peace has to prevail in this world. India has, however, stayed away from signing the Rome treaty, as it believes certain sections of the ICC are inimical to its sovereignty and security.

Dr. Ganapathi Bhat

(gbhat13@gmail.com)