Letters to the EDITOR: Waste management at Brahmaputra Carnival

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Waste management at Brahmaputra Carnival

I am deeply concerned about the large amount of waste generated from the riverside festivals, like the Brahmaputra Carnival in Guwahati. Although the event celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Assam and brings thousands of visitors to the city, it is lagging behind due to the improper waste management, which cannot be ignored. During my recent visit to the carnival, I noticed an alarming amount of litter, including plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other non-biodegradable waste, was scattered across the venue and nearby areas. This not only affects the environment but also tarnishes the beauty of the Brahmaputra River.

The Brahmaputra Carnival is a large-scale event and a source of pride for Assam, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that it does not harm the environment. Therefore, implementing proper waste management measures will not only protect the ecosystem but also set an example for other festivals and events in the region.

Hritik Nath,

Cotton University.

Peasants’ Uprising of Pothorughat

In the last decade of the 19th century, Assam witnessed the rise of a series of anti-British peasant uprisings known as the 'Assam Riots.' The increase of land tax on the peasants' own lands by 100% in 1892 and strict measures adopted by the British Chief Commissioner of Assam, Sir William Ward, for revenue collection led to the eruption of those uprisings against the British. One such uprising of the peasants took place at Pothorughat in Darrang district on January 28, 1894, which is completing its 131 years this year. On that fateful day, around 2000 unarmed peasants of both Hindu and Muslim communities assembled at Pothorughat to raise their voices in protest against the imposition of the enhanced land revenue.Turning a deaf ear to their protesting voice, the Deputy Commissioner J.D. Anderson ordered the British Police Superintendent J.R. Berington to open fire on the gathering. As a result of the indiscriminate firing by the British Military Police, as many as 140 innocent peasants lost their lives on the spot, and several others got injured. No doubt, the imperialist British government had suppressed the uprising with an iron fist, but the valour and sacrifices and the communal harmony displayed by the Pothorughat bravehearts have served as an inspiration for the people of the state. To commemorate those noble ideals of the peasants, the 'Krishak Swahid Divas (Peasant Martyrs' Day) is observed at Pothorughat on January 28 every year.

Dheeraj Deka,

Dighirpar, Darrang

Decline of theatres in Assam

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the dwindling accessibility to theatres in Assam and how this cultural medium has increasingly become limited to an elitist section of society. This troubling trend not only alienates the masses from enjoying cinematic experiences in theatres but also fosters unintended consequences like the rise of piracy.

One of the major issues is the sheer lack of theatres across the state. Many towns and rural areas in Assam have little to no access to theatres, forcing cinema enthusiasts to travel long distances or miss out on the experience altogether. This limited availability disproportionately impacts those from lower-income backgrounds, further marginalizing them from this cultural activity. As a result, many turn to pirated versions of films, unintentionally harming the film industry. Additionally, the steep pricing of tickets in the theatres that do exist makes them inaccessible to a significant portion of the population. What was once an affordable source of entertainment has now become a luxury. Theatres, instead of serving as a space for community gathering and cultural enrichment, are slowly transforming into exclusive hubs for the privileged few.

The government must play a pivotal role in addressing this issue. Policies can be introduced to regulate ticket pricing and ensure affordability. Subsidies for theatre construction in underprivileged areas could encourage more investments and help bridge the urban-rural divide. Public-private partnerships could also be explored to expand theatre infrastructure while keeping costs low.

Theatre is not merely a source of entertainment; it is an art form that reflects our culture and strengthens societal bonds. It is crucial for both the government and private entities to ensure its accessibility to all, rather than letting it slip into the domain of exclusivity. I urge the relevant authorities to take immediate action to address these challenges. A more inclusive and accessible theatre culture will benefit not just the industry but also the people of Assam at large.

Ankur Jyoti Das

(dad.ankur1233@gmail.com)

Alarming survey report on pesticides in vegetables

The news item published in your esteemed daily on January 20 and also your in-depth editorial published on its succeeding day about the survey report of two IITians of Kharagpur on the overuse of pesticides in four districts of Assam, namely Barpeta, Darrang, Nagaon, and Hailakandi, is really shocking to the consumers of Assam. Since it reveals that some of the vegetable growers of these districts overuse even extremely harmful pesticides, mostly on tomatoes, cabbages, and cauliflowers in commercial production to give them a cosmetic look in the competitive market so as to get a better bargain. The report further exposes a nexus between the growers and the retailers of pesticides by revealing a fact that some of them apply pesticides as per the advice of their retailers of pesticides, totally ignoring the health of the consumers. Another startling revelation of the report is that a section of the farmers admitted that they grow their vegetables using less pesticides exclusively for their household consumption, which also proves their 'mens rea' beyond reasonable doubt. Thus it appears that most of them consciously apply excessive pesticides for commercial gain, ignoring their detrimental effect on human health. As such they deserve punitive action for committing such an offence against the consumers. In view of the fact stated above, I fervently appeal to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Government of Assam, to initiate the process of imparting extensive training under Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to the unskilled farmers for the alleged 4 districts of Assam in a missionary zeal and also bring the retailers of pesticides under strict regulations besides encouraging organic farming in Assam as suggested by the report. At the same time, I also appeal to the Hon'ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Assam, to initiate punitive measures against the errant farmers, if so required, through the Commissionerate of Food Safety under his control under the relevant provisions of the FSSAI Act, 2006, and its rules to safeguard the health of the consumers at any cost in the greater interest of public health.

H. Gogoi

Guwahati