Letters to the Editor: Probe needed in PHE recruitment

Probe needed in PHE recruitment

This is to bring to the notice of the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, that the recruitment process for Technical Officer-I positions within the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Directorate at BTC, Kokrajhar, demands immediate public scrutiny due to credible allegations of widespread corruption. Initially advertising 12 positions, the department inexplicably increased the number of recruits to 13, doing so without any prior public announcement or revised advertisement. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the selection process. Furthermore, questions linger regarding the manipulation of the merit list, specifically the unexplained elevation of a candidate's rank after the initial publication. Also, it has been repeatedly alleged and found true that the recruitments were done in lieu of heavy bribes. These irregularities suggest a pattern of favouritism and potentially illegal activities, eroding public trust and warranting a thorough and independent investigation to ensure accountability and uphold the principles of fair and equitable hiring practices. We request the Chief Minister to announce a CBI probe or CM's Vigilance probe into the scam.

Some applicants

Guwahati

Clashing entrance exam dates

I would like to draw attention to the issue of overlapping entrance exam dates conducted by major universities in Assam. This year, institutions have scheduled their entrance tests within a very short time span — sometimes just a day or two apart.

For students who wish to apply to multiple universities, this creates serious logistical challenges. Travelling between distant cities on tight schedules, often without proper rest, is affecting their ability to perform well — and in some cases, forcing them to skip exams altogether.

As someone who went through the admission process last year, I had hoped this issue would be addressed. I sincerely urge the concerned authorities to coordinate better in the future to avoid such overlaps and ensure that students get a fair opportunity.

Trinav Arandhara

Guwahati, Assam

Vanishing Oral Folklore in Assam

I wish to draw attention to a quietly vanishing yet deeply significant issue — the decline of oral folklore among Assam’s indigenous communities. For generations, communities such as the Karbis, Mishings, and others have preserved their identity, values, and history through oral traditions — be it myths, lullabies, chants, or storytelling. But today, this intangible heritage is rapidly fading. Modern media, linguistic dilution, and migration are disrupting intergenerational transmission. Elders who once shared stories by firelight now depart from society without passing them on.

If we fail to act, a rich trove of collective memory may be lost forever. I urge universities, local media, and cultural organizations to document and archive these oral traditions before they disappear into silence.

Assam’s spirit resides not only in its landscapes but also in its stories — to be spoken, sung, and remembered.

Joydeep Paul

Cotton University

Tackling plastic waste hazard

The thought-provoking editorial 'Demand and supply-side interventions for plastic ban' published in your esteemed daily on June 25 has rightly pointed out that unless the vendors and grocers are compelled to start refusing buyers' requests to pack purchased items in banned carry bags, ending plastic pollution will continue to be a great challenge. Needless to say, the majority of plastic pollution comes from single-use plastics like bags, bottles, packaging and straws'. These items often escape waste management systems and accumulate in the natural environment. Due to its versatility, low cost, easy availability and the ease of manufacturing, SUP has become a part of the daily life of all sections of people. However, till the early 1980s, there was no use of plastic, and people still led a sustainable life without any problem. But the same generation of people now cannot avoid SUP, as it pervades our lives. Thus, SUP is abundantly available despite a government ban. Today, most people are unable to accept that a material that has become embedded in our daily life can have a significant impact on climate and human health, endanger all forms of life and drive many to extinction. According to the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP), about 430 million tonnes of plastics are produced all over the world, two-thirds of which are SUP, which soon gives rise to mountains of waste. Toxic chemicals, which are added during the manufacturing of plastics, get transferred to animal tissue and eventually enter the food chain. It clogs the sewers and waterways and ultimately finds its way to the oceans to choke innumerable water species. Many countries, including India, have successfully resorted to a 'plastic circular economy' where they are able to reuse some portion of plastic waste for new products. SUP is a polymer, and it can be converted to other polymers like PET (soft drink bottles), PVC (pipes and flexible hoses), and polystyrene (food containers). Plastic is also added to the road construction mix that allows a lower working temperature, thus reducing the emissions of volatile organic carbon and carbon monoxide. Another use of plastic is in the making of doors, windows and furniture. Reliance Industries has recycled PET bottles to make Polyester Stable Fibre (PEF), a great step towards a plastic circular economy. What is needed is behavioural change at individual levels, which will be possible through intensive mass awareness to inculcate in the common people the adverse effects of plastic pollution and the means to ease it. The rural communities, especially local artisans, need to be imparted training on the design and quality aspects of environment-friendly packaging solutions from bamboo, jute and other locally available natural raw materials for preventing plastic pollution and making our lives plastic waste-free. If plastic products are unavoidable, these should be reused or repurposed until they can no longer be used and then should be recycled or disposed of properly.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati.

Woes over bridge construction

Through your esteemed publication, I would like to bring attention to the inconvenience caused by ongoing bridge construction near the Lalganesh area of Guwahati.

The work, which has been going on for quite some time now, is moving at a very slow pace. Due to incomplete structures, blocked lanes, and scattered construction materials, commuters are facing severe traffic congestion during peak hours. There is no proper traffic diversion or on-ground management, leading to daily delays, especially for office-goers and students.

Moreover, the dust and noise pollution from the site have added to the discomfort of nearby residents. While infrastructure development is important, lack of planning and timely execution is making life extremely difficult for people who use these roads regularly.

I urge the concerned departments to expedite the construction work, ensure better traffic control, and maintain safety measures at the site to ease the burden on the public.

Sanchari Pandit

(sancharipandit6@gmail.com)

The other side of Assam’s coaching culture

I wish to express concern over the recent tragic suicide of a coaching centre head in Guwahati, which sheds light on the toxic and commercialised nature of the coaching industry in Assam. The state’s booming coaching industry, driven by JEE and NEET preparations, has turned education into a high-stakes, profit-driven business. What began as academic support has now turned into an aggressive business model, dominated by a few large players (mostly non-Assamese), who thrive on pressure tactics, misleading advertisements, and market monopoly. Students, often as young as 13 to 14, are pushed into this competitive grind, leading to anxiety, burnout, and even extreme mental health outcomes.

While regulatory efforts like the ‘Assam Coaching Institutes (Control and Regulation) Bill’ are welcoming steps, it is high time that we treat education as a public good and not as a profit-making enterprise. In doing so, public awareness must be coupled with systemic reforms, including student welfare and mental health, to prevent Assam’s coaching culture from claiming more lives.

Sagartirtha Chakraborty

(sagar.t.chakraborty@gmail.com)

Rising crimes against women

I am writing to express my deep concern and shock over the recent incident where a young woman was attacked in broad daylight on a busy road in Guwahati. Such incidents not only highlight the growing vulnerability of women in public spaces but also raise serious questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement and the safety measures in our city. It is alarming that such a violent act could occur in a public area, presumably in the presence of passersby. The fact that bystanders often choose to ignore or avoid helping the victim in such situations reflects a deep-rooted societal apathy. This is not just disturbing — it is unacceptable. Immediate and strict action must be taken, not only to arrest and punish the culprit swiftly but also to set a strong example that such behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. One must ask — how many such incidents will it take before the government finally acts? When will women in our society be able to walk freely without the constant fear of assault? These are not isolated cases anymore; they are part of a disturbing trend that demands urgent and visible intervention.

I urge the authorities to increase police patrolling, install more CCTV cameras in sensitive areas, and implement proactive safety measures across the city. Additionally, launching public awareness campaigns and ensuring fast-track justice for such crimes are critical steps. Women deserve to live and move around freely, without fear. It is high time the government stops delaying and starts delivering on its promise of safety and justice for all.

Madhusmita Mudoi

(madhusmitamudoi@gmail.com)