2022: Hopes with the new dawn

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: People from diverse walks of life in the state, from Xatradhikars to vendors, want to leave behind the troublesome two pandemic-hit years and to start 2022 with fresh vigour and resolutions.

Dr Pitambar Dev Goswami, Xatradhikar of SriSri Auniati Satra, Majuli: We have learnt a lesson from our fight against Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021. We had to live amidst the Corona scare, day in, day out. However, we have come to know those who are alert remain unhurt. Maybe, we were not that alert. The Covid-19 episode has made us know that there is no alternative to alertness.

Alert is part and parcel of the Assamese culture and tradition. While hymning in the xatras, the devotees maintain a safe distance. While offering nirmali (offered flowers) and distributing prasad the devotees mask their mouths with gamosas. These are our age-old traditions. The Covid-19 pandemic reminded us not to forget it in our day-to-day life. Spiritualism is a must in our social life as it acts as a safeguard.

We have seen a lot of positive changes after Chief Minister Biswa Sarma came to power as the Chief Minister in May 2021. A bridge connecting Jorhat and Majuli was our age-old dream. The present dispensation has started that project. Several other bridges are in the pipeline to connect the river island to the north bank.

However, some words of the government hurt people. Those at the helm of affairs need to avoid such utterances. Allegations are doing rounds that the government will sell some resources of the state to private parties. The government should do away with such talks in 2022 if any.

Litterateur Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury: 2020 and 2021 were a period of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The people are scared of the Omicron threat again. I hope not to revisit the troublesome period in 2022.

The most affected in the past two years are students and the youth. Earlier, Assamese youths shied away from taking business ventures. In the past few years, some Assamese started to try their luck in business. However, the two-year-long pandemic nearly killed that enthusiasm among them. It necessitates the government and society to give the frustrated youths a leg up.

The greater Assamese society is peace-loving. My request to the political parties is not to divide society into lines of religion and community. We can expect new dawn in 2022.

GMCH Principal Dr Achyut Chandra Baishya: My New Year-eve request to the people is: Since the Covid-19 is not yet over, we all need to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. We take mobile handsets when we step out of the house, and in the same way we need to put on masks in every outage. We also need to avoid crowded places. Celebrations for the New Year, Bhogali Bihu, Rangali Bihu etc., have lined up. We need to celebrate them by following Covid-appropriate behaviour to protect ourselves and society. We are hopeful that we can defeat Covid-19 in 2022.

Singer Tarali Sarma: All sections of people, including artists, bore the brunt of the pandemic socially and economically in the past two years. We hope all such evils will vanish in the New Year. The government needs to extend a helping hand to the affected people.

Priti Rekha Kalita, a student: I wish every child gets educational opportunities this year. The literacy rate in our country is low when compared to other countries. I hope the government will look into basic education. Unemployment is the biggest problem among the youth in the state. When youths don't get jobs after education, they get frustrated. The alleged malpractices in the recruitment in government jobs also frustrate youths. I request the government to ensure a clean and transparent recruitment mechanism in the state in 2022. The government should also make the atmosphere conducive for private investment to create job avenues.

Flower vendor Ajit Das: I sell flowers in front of the Ganesh Temple at Ganeshguri, Guwahati. In the past two years, this business slumped by around 70 per cent. We are under a cash crunch. I appeal to the government to help out small vendors like us.

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