Domestic toy industry: Letters to The Editor

Of late, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized taking the initiative to promote the domestic toy industry and called on State governments to help the craftsmen and artisans etc in boosting the local economy. Undoubtedly, it will not only give indigenous products a big push in this key sector but also highlight the State's culture, history and mythology. At the ideation stage, Assam should think of developing toys on the theme of its heroes and legends, such as Lachit Borphukan, Chilarai, Joymoti Konwari, the battle of Saraighat etc.

To make the toys relevant for the market, these great historical characters must be made familiar and popular as well across India. For this, toy fairs can be held at a State level and also exhibition can be organized on trains.

But, most importantly, the department concerned needs to make arrangements for airing the legendary tales of these ignored historical characters of the State on the national level cartoon channels in animated form.

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat.

Eviction drives

The ongoing eviction drive against the encroachers is a welcome step. Thousands of bighas of government, religious places, forest, grazing, the land is under encroachment in various parts of the State. The encroachers who belong to a particular religious section generally prefer riverine areas. The recent eviction in Ma Durga Mandir, in Dhalpur under the Sipajhar revenue circle, was of utmost necessity. Even after repeated orders in the past, the encroachers (which are of suspected nationality) had refused to vacate the temple land. Around 80 bighas of temple land were under the occupation of the encroachers. Darrang SP Sushanta Biswa Sarma deserves accolades in clearing up the encroachers by firing a bullet. Recently Xatradhikars of many Xatras has requested Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to free up the Xatra land from illegal occupants. The birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev in Batadrava is too under illegal occupation but thankfully in recent times, many bighas of land were cleared up. The drive against drug mafias and illegal encroachers should continue unabated till every inch of land is freed up from the encroachers. Zero tolerance and no sympathy should be the mantra in dealing with the repeated offenders.

Julie Bhuyan,

Gaurisagar.

Disintegration

The long-sighted vision of Ahom Swargadeos in the northeastern part of the country stood as one. After the invasion of Britishers, things started changing as Christian missionaries started the conversion amongst our tribal brothers which made a severe dent in the unity of the people. Post-independence, gradually, the unity of the seven sisters disintegrated. The frequent border skirmishes between Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, etc are examples of the broken unity. Bard of the Brahmaputra Late Dr Bhupen Hazarika composed and sang many songs reverberating the beautiful landscape and diversity of the northeastern region but alas it appears all his efforts have gone in vain.

Joel Goyari,

Tangla.

Vaccine centres

Ever since the vaccine drive for the 18+ category took off in the state, booking slots became a Herculean task for everyone. Sitting in front of laptops and mobiles at exactly 4 pm to book slots online and then missing out on the slot or centre by a millisecond has been frustrating work for many. However, amidst this many fortunate can grab a slot, though might not have got an appointment at their nearest centres. I a 19-year-old student struggled to book a slot and finally confirmed my appointment on 24th May 2021 at Marwari Sanmelan, Assam Maheshwari Bhawan, Chatribari Road. As I reached the centre, I saw they made arrangements for everyone to sit and wait at a certain area which followed proper social distancing. All the individuals were then given a card with a serial number and were systematically called upon for identity verification at a different area. The centre even made separate arrangements for attendees who came along. After the jab, everyone's pulse and oxygen level were checked and were asked to sit for half an hour, as per the norms. I was very much satisfied with the way they organized everything so perfectly. There was no chance at the centre that anyone can violate social distancing; all Covid norms and protocols were so strictly followed.

This is one such centre which I highly appreciate for managing everything in such an absolute manner. Such centres should be appreciated and must turn into an ideal, for every other centre in the state!

Sanskriti Thakur,

Jayanagar, Guwahati.

CBSE examination

The decision to cancel the CBSE Class XII examination put an end to the worries and anxieties of the students as well as their parents. The teachers must have felt a little peace too. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the decision to cancel the examination was taken out of concern for the well-being and safety of the students. As a result, students, teachers, parents all got rid of stress.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup.

New SOP for vaccination

Amid the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the State Government on May 26 issued a new SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to carry on the process of vaccination. The new SOP has kept in mind the interests of all classes of beneficiaries; nevertheless, I would like to make a few suggestions. The SOP mandates compulsory COVID test before receiving the jab but under the harsh shadow of COVID-19, a big and prolonged gathering will hamper physical distancing at the designated camps. So, the COVID-19 test may be replaced with thermal checking. Besides, the beneficiaries at the first instance who have received the first shot are all senior citizens and in their case, a long hold-up will cause physical strain to them. Finally, the authority concerned is also requested in cases of online registration to send confirmation of date, venue and timing of vaccination online on the mobile phone of the beneficiaries.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati.

Proposed cow

protection Act

The newly-formed Government of Assam has indicated its intention for the next five years in the inaugural session of Assembly mentioning the coming Cow Protection Act. This proposed bill has indicated that this government will work as the puppet government directed by the Central government and will be guided by the Yogi government of UP. In Assamese society, the cow is never worshipped as pan-Indian society does. The cow is part of family life. The so-called Go Mata (Cow Mother) concept is very strange for the Assamese society. Assamese society knows how to take care of their cattle very well. Instead of worshipping like goddess or deity Assamese society dedicates one day in the very beginning of the new year for cow and cattle as Goru Bihu and the rest of the years, the cow is taken care of with extreme care and affection like a member of the family. For many families cow is the source of income from day one to her last breath. The cow is the most essential and valuable part of village life both as animal husbandry and family member. But in the name of cow protection if this government brings Cow Protection Act it will make the cow the most unprotected animal. The cow market will be severely affected. Anytime anywhere there will be a chance of religious intolerance in the name of protection of cow. If the government wants to divide society in the name of religion, the cow can be used as an instrument very easily. It is a technical move by the BJP government to spread hatred in the name of cow protection. If the government wants the protection of cows then they must arrest the culprits who are running illegal cow syndicates. Cow Protection Act will make cow and Assamese society more insecure shortly.

Arup Bezbaruah,

Darrang.

Article 334 of the Constitution

At last, after seven long decades of freedom of India, the Union Cabinet has approved amending Article 334 of the Constitution to abolish the provision of two nominations from the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha. This provision had lost relevance long ago with just 296 members of the Anglo-Indian community were left in the country, according to the 2011 census. But it will be better than these two nominated seats in the Lok Sabha may be retained now for the fast diminishing Parsi community with just 60,000 Parsis now left in the country.

The Parsi community is considered to be the most talented community in the world. In all aspects of life, it has a wonderful motto to live for society and not for themselves. The main reason for the declining Parsi population is late marriages that too at times for adopting the no-child theory apart from very strict marriage norms where anyone marrying outside the community ceases to be Parsi. Every effort should be made from within and outside the community to retain their share in the population of India. Concern on the fast declining Parsi population has been raised again and again including even by the then President Pranab Mukerji.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

Delhi.