Air pollution
The decision of the Centre to form a commission to monitor air quality specifically for the Delhi-NCR region is welcome. The onus will lie with the government to prove that the initiative turns out to be different from other such efforts made in the past. The pandemic and the lockdown saw an improvement in air quality because of a decrease in emissions which points out as to how the environment is inextricably linked to human health. With curbs on road transport, rail services and air travel still to resume fully, the situation will offer a test case for the commission to study the factors that contribute to air pollution in Delhi-NCR and take steps to improve the situation.
Chandan Kumar Nath,
Sorbhog.
Road accidents
The increasing rate of road accidents has become a serious matter for us at present. According to the media, in 2017, a total of 1,47,000 people were killed in road accidents all over the country which is equivalent to the entire population of Shillong. This year, between April and June, 20,732 lives were lost in road accidents. According to the latest statistics, everyday 1,230 road accidents take place, claiming 414 deaths i.e., 17 people die per hour in India. This is a really shocking news for us. Therefore, we must be careful when we ride, drive or walk on the roads.
Rupak G. Duarah,
Guwahati.
Post-COVID concerns
I'm a Multipurpose Health Worker of the Health Department, the Government of Assam. So I have to go to different places for the sake of duty, of course my co-workers like me have to go far and wide. We are proud to work as frontline workers in COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has already infected me and some of my co-workers. After recovering, I also donated my plasma to the blood bank of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital as per the call of the Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma for the welfare of COVID patients.
However, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 say that reinfection with different embraces of this virus is now slowly outgoing as a new public health exception, and so one should not be benign to discard the essential precautionary measures. One should consult with pulmonologist to ascertain the state of his or hers lungs post-COVID infection, which may sometimes complicate our lives. Post-COVID persistent diarrhoea and weakness are some of the affairs of concern which must be taken seriously. On the other hand, we have to be mentally strong in this regard.
Heramba Nath,
Kamrup (Rural).
Fulfilling Sadullah and Bhashani's dream!
I had the misfortune of watching an interview in one of the local TV channels where two MLAs belonging to Congress namely Sherman Ali and Rashid Alom were in cahoots to fulfil the dream of Late Syed Sadullah and Abdul Bhashani in regards to Assam. Thanks to 'super secular' policies of the Congress, the above mentioned MLAs very emphatically compared our indigenous tribal brothers and sisters with Miyas (a sect which has infiltrated into Assam some 70 to 80 years ago). The stoic silence being maintained by our regional organizations like the AASU, KMSS, the AJYCP, to name a few in this regard along with so-called intellectuals of the State likes of Dr. Hiren Gohain and company is very worrisome. The top brass of APCC instead of taking stern disciplinary actions against the duo was seen getting good support from a large section of leaders. Ripun Bora tried to thread the rope carefully keeping in mind that they don't lose the support of their loyal 'miya sect'. The blueprint of Syed Sadullah and Abdul Bhashani is finally unveiled and its execution is systematically being carried out by people like Sherman Ali, Rashid Alom, Ripun Bora, Badruddin Ajmal and others. It is now well understood why the anti-CAA agitations gained massive support in districts like Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, etc but those districts were mute during the Assam Agitation.
Gaurav Chowdhury,
Guwahati.
Strong message
to love jihad
The Karnataka government would soon enact a law to ban religious conversions for the sake of marriage. BJP's national general secretary and Karnataka's Kannada and Culture Minister C. T. Ravi stated on November 4, "We will not remain silent when jihadis strip the dignity of our sisters. Anyone involved in the act of conversion shall face severe and swift punishment." He mentioned that the proposed law will be on the lines of Allahabad High Court's order. This is the right move towards ensuring safety and identity of women by a strong message to love jihad. The need of the hour is that the citizens must initiate steps to stop such activities and maintain harmony in the society.
Amit Singh Kushwaha,
Satna (M.P.)
Very ungrateful
On November 5, like previous years we recalled 'The Bard of the Brahmaputra' Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his 9th death anniversary. The contribution of the balladeer to the entire Northeast and more particularly Assam needs no mention. All his creations are time tested and evergreen. The words used in his songs are melodious of highest order. In spite of all his contributions and his stature, he lost to a non entity in the prestigious Guwahati parliamentary seat. He deserved Bharat Ratna long ago but again alas he was honoured posthumously. There are only a few people who have such vast unmatched creations for which I believe he is definitely a contender for Nobel Prize. Sometimes, I feel that the Assamese community has failed him during his lifetime. Now merely celebrating his birthday and death anniversary is not sufficient, his literary works should be incorporated into school curriculum.
Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati
Fight against corruption
A few are ignorant of the fact that corruption is stubbornly pervasive in every segment and at every strata of our society. Given the present spectrum of affairs, eradication of corruption in toto is next to impossible. As a matter of fact, combating corruption is like playing a game of whack-a-mole. No sooner one corrupt player vanquishes than more pop up in its place. However, the State government under Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, from the very outset, has left no stone unturned to deliver on its promise of clean and honest governance. His firm stand on zero tolerance against corruption itself proves it. It's worth mentioning that he has not hesitated to put even the top brass behind bars for involvement in corruption. He really deserves commendation for such a bold and much-needed stand as the Chief Minister. I fervently hope that his firmness of the kind would remain intact in the coming days too.
Dipen gogoi,
Jorhat.