Clean gutters to prevent disease outbreaks
With reference to the photo caption titled ‘Septic shame’ (Herald, 11 December) gutters with sewage are an eyesore and also result in disease outbreaks.
So regularly clean them mechanically and not manually, to prevent sewage cleaners from contracting any infection and also use biological methods like putting guppy fish to eat up mosquito larvae in gutters having sewage, to curb the spread of malaria.
Peter Castellino, Mumbai
China’s climb down
It is good to know that China has, at least outwardly, begun to understand its limitations across the border. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s statement in the Parliament has clearly outlined New Delhi's firm commitment towards stitching bilateral relations and at the same time, remaining resolute on quite a few of its already announced stand on the issue.
Notwithstanding its earlier bravado, following the fresh understanding in October on the Ladakh standoff, Beijing has certainly climbed down over its stance. Jaishankar underlined the main principles that should govern the new found bonhomie between the two sides.
Going back on the present status quo, especially with respect to the LAC, cannot be tolerated, and honouring all past agreements on the disputed issue cannot be compromised, at any rate by India.
Of late, the leaders of both sides have had a flurry of diplomatic activities to stabilise bilateral ties, and that seems to have paid off. But New Delhi has to be on its toes.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Why should we boycott Chinese Christmas decorations?
It is learnt that residents of Margao have reportedly urged the Metrology Department, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other authorities to crack down on vendors selling unregulated, overpriced and substandard Christmas items in town. It is pertinent to note that during the festive season, Chinese decorations and other Christmas items flood the market.
In the past there had been several calls to shun Chinese products after a border clash with China in 2020 in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
There have been campaigns and representations from public and industry to boycott the import of Chinese goods citing strained relations with China.
The Indian government has taken steps to reduce its reliance on Chinese imports and promote domestic production. Commonly cited reasons for boycotting China include the alleged low quality of products, human rights issues and territorial conflicts with India.
By buying Chinese products we are indirectly funding these anti-national activities.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Need of the hour
The rightwing Hindutva elements have got emboldened to demand survey of different other mosques also, partly because the respective governments both at the State and Centre allegedly remained silent when the frenzied mobs led by religious fanatics demolished the Babri Masjid and due to the most unexpected, unusual and alleged partisan verdict delivered by the Supreme Court Bench in respect of the disputed site in Ayodhya.
One only hopes that the special Bench of the Supreme Court which begins hearing on 12th of this month a batch of petitions that questions the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act ,1991, a law that freezes the status of places of worship in the country as on the day of its independence and bars suits that seek to alter such status, will not commit the same mistake again and come out with a firm and unambiguous verdict against the petitioners’ demand and put an end to their mischievous attempts to create communal and religious flare ups in the country.
Any verdict contrary to the expectation of all the peace-loving people will only open a Pandora’s Box of communal worms, leading to unimaginable arson and bloodshed in the country.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Direct cash transfer schemes to women impactful
Direct cash transfer schemes to women in India have been gaining ground over the past decade and they have a positive impact on women’s empowerment and development.
These schemes have significant potential to transform women's lives and lead to societal progress. The growing popularity of direct cash transfer schemes for women reflects a broader trend in Indian politics where electoral considerations shape welfare policies.
While DBT schemes offer immediate benefits, they cannot substitute long-term structural reforms that address the root causes of poverty and inequality.
The challenge for policymakers will be to find a balance between immediate relief and sustainable welfare reforms that can provide lasting benefits to women of marginalised communities. Women are predominantly the recipients of welfare as they are likely to be poorer than men, which is a fact euphemistically disguised as the “feminisation of poverty.”
According to the United Nations, “women are the world’s poor,” and the pandemic pushed women further into poverty. This partly explains why unconditional cash transfers to women have emerged as the defining trend in elections in the country.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Anti corruption day
It is nice to read that ‘International anti-corruption day’ is observed globally on December 9 to create awareness of corruption and the role of the convention in combating and preventing it.
On a positive note, it would have been nice if the government announced about the same in advance as a campaign by which they could have taken advantage by expressing that we are a corrupt free government at least for a day.
We don’t know why the government has not announced it and probably they don’t want to lose a day's revenue by prompting the people.
Anyhow, whatever the way you name it the politicians change names by calling them as ‘freebies’ to throw a little out of what they have gained in real terms.
Corruption, if one has to prevent it, must bring in equal punishment for takers as well as for the ones who offer so that it will meet the purpose for corrupt free governance.
A P Thiruvadi, Chennai