Future of mobile theatres: Letters to The Editor

A news channel held a discussion recently with various artistes and co-workers associated with mobile theatre about their future plans regarding continuing their passion and survival of the legacy of the mobile theatre in Assam. There is no apprehension to the fact that mobile theatre serves as a perfect blend of entertainment and fun among the masses. However, the pain bore by the artistes and their associates in the present times (evident in the discussion) can't be expressed in words. The conditions have become so worse that some of the artistes need to do jobs that are contrary to their passion. Inhumanity reaches its peak when a section of the public neglects them for doing odd jobs to earn their bread and butter. Moreover, it's a state of apathy that the State government keeps on turning a deaf ear to their concerns; putting them in a situation of uncertainty.

As human beings, we need to do any work to earn a livelihood. But can't we give the artistes and their co-workers moral and financial support to our possible extent so that our pride mobile theatre maintains its legacy for generations? An Application can be designed to view mobile theatres at a standard rate. The government can give them basic allowances and can talk with bank authorities to reduce the rate of interest on bank loans some of them have. Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would request the public and the government to make sincere efforts to prevent our legacy from vanishing.

Partha Pratim Duarah,

Nazira.

Free food grains

The Central Government on last Friday decided to resume providing free food grains to 80 crore poor beneficiaries in May and June to help them to tide over their financial hardships in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. It would cost the exchequer more than Rs 20 crore. Anyway, it is a good move.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali.

Government's failure

Even as the situation is turning grave with the escalating COVID death rate, the attitude of the governments across the country is very shameful. People too are reluctant to follow the safety protocols. Union ministers, including the PM, are themselves holding huge election rallies. How can the public be expected to follow the protocols, where the government is breaking all the necessary protocols? A lot of money is being spent on election campaigns rather than extending help to hospitals running out of vaccines, ventilators, oxygen, beds. In our country, the government is responsible for the rising cases and also the deaths, more than COVID itself.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

Transforming rural India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the distribution of e-property cards under the SWAMITVA scheme and 4.09 lakh property owners were given their e-property cards on this occasion. The scheme was launched in April 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India. The Scheme has the potential to transform rural India using modern technical tools of mapping and surveying. It paves the way for using the property as financial assets by villagers for availing loans and other financial benefits. Hope that the scheme will build new confidence in the villages as property documents remove uncertainty and reduce the chances of property disputes while protecting the poor from exploitation and corruption. The country can be pushed towards development by strengthening the villages.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Traditional versus virtual classes

There is a vast difference between the traditional class and the virtual class. It is true that when we are in school, there was no virtual class and even we don't have knowledge of it at that time. Time has changed and technology is developing rapidly. Due to globalization, everything is possible. So, lots of changes have taken place in our traditional class and the teacher got ample opportunities to give or share all information and knowledge within a short period.

In a traditional class, a teacher can use or apply various skills and facilitate his or her students. But in a virtual class, many things are lacking and the teacher doesn't get the utmost satisfaction.

Academic sessions 2020-21 and 2021-22 are badly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and most schools, colleges and universities have already completed their sessions or semesters without traditional classes. They have completed their syllabi through online classes and these exercises or practices are still going on. Nowadays, we completely rely on technology. It may be in our day-to-day office work or regular classroom or purchase of goods or food items. The question that arises in the minds of guardians or parents or teachers is: will the children's future be determined by technology or will they continue to bond with technology throughout their life?

What will be the remedy for those children who are deprived of getting an education during the time of pandemic due to lack of electronic appliances, like, laptop or desktop or smartphone? To resolve such types of problems, the State government may arrange some big electronic display screen or projector or big set of a monitor in each village or locality where children can avail the benefit of virtual classes by maintaining COVID protocol. In this regard, the Government can engage some parents or guardians who voluntarily come forward to help school administration along with respective teachers to monitor the students during online classes. Secondly, the Government can reduce the price of a smartphone or fix the minimal price, especially for BPL children.

Indrajit Sarma,

Chiring Chapori, Dibrugarh.

Face masks

The health officials and the lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been urging the people to wear face masks in public since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Also, a fine has been imposed on those who are found to be defiant. No specific evidence suggests that the wearing of face masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. Rather, according to virologists, masks may increase one's coronavirus risk if worn improperly.

Moreover, the face masks which are available at almost all kinds of stalls at present are affirmed to be protective barriers against pollutants only, not against any virus, bacteria or fungus. These are hardly effective in keeping any virus at bay as the diameter of the same has been found to range from 50 nm to 140 nm. As such, the onus lies with the health officials to take effective measures for the removal of people's ignorance about how to wear a mask properly and which masks are efficacious in the light of awareness of truth.

Dipen Gogoi,

Jorhat.