Raisi’s loss a turning point for Middle East
This is a reference to the article appearing on O Heraldo edition dated May 21, ‘How will Raisi’s death impact West Asia?’ The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi could not have come at a worse time for Iran as it is already struggling to stabilise a stricken economy, battered by US-imposed sanctions and trying to calm social tensions.
In addition, the war in Gaza is adding to its woes and the nuclear deal remains dead. Last April, Raisi oversaw Iran retaliating with an Israel strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Israel’s weak response avoided an all-out war, but tensions remained high.
However, his death has pointed a finger of suspicion at Israel. Iran’s Vice President Mohammed Mokhber has been announced as interim president, providing a measure of continuity. Still uncertainty looms, as the election for new president must be held within 50 days.
Interestingly, Raisi’s close relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw the signing of the Chabahar Port agreement. Iran has a major role in regional dynamics as it is a vocal supporter of Hamas, Hezbollah and other armed groups fighting Israel. Much will depend on how the incoming Iranian president chooses to respond to continuous Israeli provocation.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Water leakage at Kala Academy only a ‘trailer’
The water leakage in the newly renovated auditorium of Kala Academy on Sunday evening, following a pre-monsoon shower reportedly drew severe criticism over the ‘sub-standard work’.
However, as strange as it may seem, the Public Works Department (PWD) reportedly said that the seepage was from the AC duct. The question that arises is how did the AC duct develop leakage only when there was a heavy downpour? The water logging at the art gallery too is questionable. Does so much water flow through the AC duct to cause such a large quantity of water to pour in the auditorium?
It may be recalled that recently when a false ceiling collapsed at the centre of art and culture, the PWD report submitted to the State government has reportedly blamed the incident on the water that accumulated on the edifice’s slab due to fallen leaves choking the drainage.
Remedial steps should have been taken after the infamous concrete roof collapse at the open air Auditorium in July 2023. It is learnt that the renovation work has been done at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore.
The blame game on the sorry state of affairs has commenced.
Ironically, this only seems to be the ‘trailer’ caused by the pre-monsoon showers. The real ‘picture’ will be known when the monsoon commences.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Use drones to tranform Indian agri sector
Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming increasingly popular in India’s agricultural sector.
Drones offer a range of benefits to farmers, like improved efficiency, and enhanced crop yields. However, there are challenges as well that may hinder the adoption of drone technology such as fear of job loss, lack of knowledge and training and regulatory barriers.
Drones can capture high-resolution images and provide information on crop health, growth and yield. This can help farmers to identify issues early and take corrective measures to optimise their inputs and outputs. But, drones are expensive, and many farmers may not have the financial resources to invest in this technology.
Hence, there is a need for more subsidies and incentives, and economical financing options to make drones more affordable and attractive to farmers.
It requires a coordinated effort from the government, the industry, farmers and the civil society to create a conducive and supportive environment for the use of drones in agriculture.
There is little doubt that drones can be a powerful tool for transforming Indian agriculture and ensuring the country’s food security and prosperity.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
National Education Policy 2020
Emphasising the importance of changing the arena, it’s a great move from the State government towards the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP-2020) from this academic year, 2024-25.
However, to impart skills to the youth which facilitates employment opportunities, the concerned subjects such as vocational studies, interdisciplinary studies, and art will be implemented exclusively to Class IX.
Furthermore, after training, the teachers’ commitment to teach the subjects concerned will be evident from August onwards.
Subsequently, to cater to the varied choices, the officials concerned emphasised on providing relevant information to the headmasters of the institutions concerned. However, since ages, schools have always been considered like torchbearers of discipline and welfare, for the fabric of our society.
Underlining the government’s commitment, an overall personality development of pupils ought to be the sole motto.
Joseph Savio De Souza, Rajasthan
Youth must actively engage in poll process
Elections are the bedrock of democracy, granting citizens the vital privilege to elect their representatives. It could also be termed the backbone of democracy, as this is the way through which the citizens of a country can directly participate in framing the government which works for their welfare.
However, this right is not passive; it is a duty, especially incumbent upon the youth, to actively engage in the electoral process. Historically, young people have spearheaded societal change, and their involvement in elections is crucial. Strengthening democracy requires active participation of youth at every stage, from voter registration to grassroots campaigning.
Elections can be termed a decision or opinion-making process which is used to elect candidates for a specific position. It plays a pivotal role in a political system, especially in a democratic form of government in a country. It is a tool which is used to choose the representatives of the public to be sent to the governing bodies.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
