Avoid tourism to break COVID-19 chain: Letters to the Editor

It's almost been the one-and-a-half year we are still fighting with the pandemic. After defeating the first phase we are now fighting with the second phase and the day is not far when the third wave will soon hit us. Governments are speeding up the vaccination process. Different regulations are being implemented day to day to reduce the spread. But a question arises – are we cautious about this terrible epidemic? In the last year, the whole world has faced the horrors of the COVID pandemic, many people have lost their families, many have become unemployed and many people were starving, yet we people are not serious about this matter. My concern is to highlight the facts that are helping in increasing the spread of the virus.

Since it is the time of the monsoon, various hilly areas are witnessing hordes of tourists from all over the world. Though tourist places have suffered a lot in the previous year, yet in such a dreadful situation, crowds at tourist destinations are more likely to fuel the spread of the virus. Although many tourism agencies have made such regulations, they are approving tourists' entry with full vaccination certificates. We must understand that getting fully vaccinated is not enough to reduce the spread of the infection as it is not assured with a 100% guarantee that vaccines are potent to prevent the virus. So that we will have to avoid crowding to break the chain of this virus, otherwise the 3rd wave will not take long to arrive. And due to all this, it is becoming difficult day by day to bring the situation to a normal stage. Therefore, as a responsible citizen, I would like to request the people to kindly cooperate with the government and follow the rules also take all precautions for the sake of society so that we can overcome this dreadful time and see a better next day.

Nitashree Baishya,

Guwahati

Floor crossing

Floor crossing is a formula invented by our learned lawmakers which are unheard of in other democracies of the globe. The reasons seem to be very simple. In the USA there are two dominant political parties namely DEMOCRATIC and REPUBLIC and in the UK it is CONSERVATIVE and LIBERAL (though a few more are added in recent times) unlike in INDIA where we have plenty, and during the election period, many more are added to the list. The latest floor-crossing dramas enacted in the state of West Bengal by politicians before and after the Assembly election should make all sensible Indians hang their heads in shame. I pity the electors of West Bengal who were once known for their political maturity, are now just mute spectators of the ugly game. Assam of late also seems to be toeing with the floor-crossing drama where instances are galore.

Lanu Dutta Chowdhury,

Guwahati Healthcare and

pandemic

We all know that health is wealth, and this phrase has grown in significance in recent times. People have started to go on morning walk and evening walk to keep themselves fit. At a time when our immunity is tested every day keeping our immune system strong through exercises is the only way. We all know that our body performs well when it is used to its extreme capacity. So many new faces have started appearing in the "morning walk" and "evening walk" scenes. But it is seen that people go on walks in a group that unnecessarily creates commotion and also it is not safe for them as no social distancing is maintained and most of them also do not wear masks which are not only unsafe for them but other people too. I urge the administration to be more strict in this regard and also we have to understand the problem in front of us otherwise no lockdown will be enough to curb this menace called Corona.

Noopur Baruah,

Tezpur

Very timely

Once again, your editorial, captioned, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS FAITH which appeared in your esteemed daily sometime back hit the bull's eye. This epic cabinet decision of the State government, in the long run, will help to safeguard and secure the indigenous tribals mentioned in your bold editorial and prevent them from being extinct. Naturally, this epic decision of the present Cabinet will be opposed by our opposition, mainly the CONGRESS and the AIUDF tooth and nail due to reasons best known to all genuine sons of the soil.

Your timely and bold editorial once again has proved that The Sentinel is the real sentinel of the entire NE India. Keep it up.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati

Pension scheme for service animals

The role played by our four-legged officers, that is, dogs and horses that work for the police, border guard and fire service can hardly be underestimated. They are indeed extraordinary animals who save many human lives and apprehend many dangerous criminals. Besides, these service animals help detect bombs, locate survivors in collapsed buildings, track down fugitives, foil drugs and explosives, smugglers and help control rowdy crowds. Regrettably, they are given only food, lodging and an occasional pat on the head for all the hard work they do. Sadly enough, they are given away to their new owners after retirement with no safeguards for their future welfare.

It's quite encouraging and a matter of pleasure that lately the Interior Ministry of Poland has set an unprecedented example by proposing new legislation that would give these animals an official status, and paid retirement benefits to help cover the often costly care bills their new owners face. The bill that also includes the animals that have already finished service will provide for lifelong maintenance and veterinary care.

I feel that every country needs to consider it an ethical duty to sort out the fate of our most hardworking and bravest four-legged officers after the end of their service.

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat

Vaccine hesitancy

It is no secret that the political forces opposed to Modiji whipped up passion on the efficacy of indigenous Covid vaccines which spread fear and confusion generating 'vaccine hesitancy' mostly among the people in rural India. The main Opposition leaders raised a loud clamour against two vaccines as soon as the Central Government announced early this year of administering indigenous Covaxin and Covishield (the latter in collaboration with AstraZeneca, Oxford). Right away the social media grabbed the issue and started spreading fake news and misleading information suggesting the use of bovine/swine fat in the manufacture of vaccines. Such false propaganda has gradually decreased but the authorities have been put in a spot as the sections of beneficiaries are still swayed by hesitancy. So there is a need for the ingenious endeavour, if the Covid vaccination is made obligatory for acquiring voting right by bringing the Election Commission of India into the picture for revision of electoral rolls as the situation so demands. The country is passing through a health emergency due to the corona pandemic and the prophylactic vaccination of all beneficiaries aged 18 years and above shall be covered by the proposed revision of the electoral rolls.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati

Condition of street animals

Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to express my concern and draw the attention of the Government towards the condition of the stray animals in the city and the NGOs that provide shelters to the homeless ones.

As we can see there is a huge number of street animals in Guwahati, especially the dogs, but there is not any sufficient number of organizations to help these animals, and even if there are some, those NGOs or organizations are not as helpful as they are expected to be.

Speaking from personal experience, most of the organizations, whose information are easily available on the internet were not picking any emergency call and even if they did, they were refusing the requests.

The condition of the street dogs is awful, especially that of Barowari Road. People get to see a lot of abandoned dogs with the belt on their neck (which is given by their owners of course) and sitting beside the shoppers with the hope of getting any food but instead of that, they are being beaten up. Because of their friendly nature, they get close to people and those who are not so fond of animals treat them harshly which is not a very good scenario to watch.

Nowadays, we get to see a lot of inhumane behaviour towards animals around us so I want to draw the attention of the Government to take responsibility as we humans are the ones who are disturbing these innocent creatures' peace, so we should be the ones to take the responsibility and give them enough love and care.

Therefore, through this letter, I request the Government to take this matter seriously.

These animals are also a very important part of this nature and they need our help.

Dikshita Rajbongshi,

Cotton University

Monsoon melody

Monsoon is a joyful season. Farmers consider it as the best season for cropping. I also like monsoon the most. Many memories of my childhood are related to the monsoon. Whenever I went to my grandparents' home I used to go to the paddy field with my grandfather. I also used to wet in rain. But the sound of the frog is always heard in the season I like the most. I consider it as the monsoon melody. The people of Assam also believe that the sound of the frog brings rain. There is a ritual that is followed by the Assamese farmers. They use to organize the marriage of frogs in different places expecting rain in a drought season. They have a firm belief that such marriage must bring rain.

So, in the monsoon season frog plays a great role in our society, especially in villagers. The sound of the frog always comes as a source of instant happiness in my mind. I like the sound of the frog the most.

Aditya Ankur Nath,

Tezpur

Kaji nemu

Citrus Lemon or Kaji nemu is famous for its unique aroma, flavour and taste. It is an important part of Assamese cuisine.

Assamese limes have pale green skin that is filled with essential oil offering a fierce citrus-lime fragrance. The crust is lime green and juicy. It produces fruits that are seedless all around the year.

This lemon has more juice than Gol Nemu and turns yellowish during ripening.

Its unique properties include various beneficiaries such as it is rich in Vitamin-C the intake of which cures blood pressure, offers a unique taste to various eateries and drinks like pickles, lemonade etc.

It can be used to cure the tendency of vomiting, indigestion and gastric issues. In case of high body temperature lemon juice mostly called 'Shikanji' can be used as a healthy drink, pickles made of Kaji nemu are known for their taste. It can be highly used in terms of financial benefit by women. The peels of Kaji nemu can be used as a 'mosquito repellant' which is an underlying property.

The people of Assam use Kaji nemu on large scale but what stands challenging here is the domestic business or transport it to many Indian states.

Despite the scope of availability and vast use of Kaji nemu along with the GI- GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION TAG it received in May 2019, the commercial abundance is yet to be outstretched.

At the same, unlike the other 8 GI tags of Assam Kaji nemu must also receive similar recognition and for this certain steps must be taken by the public as well the authority concerned.

However, in recent days the urge of Kaji nemu has increased its demand in the European markets and this is also because of the determining unique properties it holds.

The moment of pride for the people of Assam is the availability of the Assamese lemon in the markets of London and the dominance it may create.

In conclusion, Kaji nemu is an element of pride for Assam and requires better recognition.

Anjali Chandak,

Department of MJMS

Cotton University

Gold loan

Companies and banks giving gold loans must return the excess amount received after the auction of mortgaged gold to loan-takers. To this effect, the RBI and the Central government should intervene.

The ongoing individual fiscal crisis has made many persons mortgaged their gold either in solid or ornament form with companies and banks engaged in the business of giving loans on gold. This is perhaps the safest money-minting loan business where a famous company (not a bank) gives just 70-per cent of the value of mortgaged gold as a loan, and auctions mortgaged gold just after the default of two or three equated-monthly-investment (EMIs). It is but natural that persons having opted to mortgage gold cannot practically repay the loan without selling the gold which goes in possession of the loan-providing company.

Almost in cent-per cent cases of loan default, the loan-providing company gets a much higher value as auction money than the amount of gold. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the department concerned of Central Government should urgently formulate a system whereby a loan-providing company (or bank) may have to compulsorily pay back any excess amount received out of auction money to loan-taker after deducting loan-amount, interest and expenses done on recovery-process.

The best is to provide gold-loan only through public-sector banks and public-sector-undertakings concerned with financial deals like Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) to save people from being looted by private companies involved in the business of gold-loan.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

Delhi