Editor,
With the increase in population, there is a drastic increase in vehicles on road. In order to achieve better lifestyles, people indulge in buying more cars than they require. It is a matter of social stature these days without giving a single thought to the consequences of their action on the environment. Roads cannot accommodate the number of vehicles these days and that is the reason why it takes an hour or so to reach places we can easily reach in about 20-30 minutes because of the heavy traffic congestion.
Keeping in mind the end goal to handle this issue, Government authorities should implement laws like “one car per family” which will not only reduce traffic but also help in decreasing air pollution. Also, frequent use of public transport should be encouraged. For that, Government authorities must see that public transportation is properly maintained and are decent enough for people to use daily. Schools should also provide buses and make it compulsory for every child to travel in it. Implementing this will not only control traffic problems, but it might also encourage people to go for eco-friendly ways like cycling which will benefit them physically. One car per family is an efficient way to improve traffic and quality of air.
Cities like Mumbai and Delhi face problems like unauthorized parking due to lack of space where the vehicles cover half of the road when parked and cause disturbance for the other vehicles to pass thus leading to traffic and noise. There is a substantial increase in air pollution because of harmful carbon emissions from vehicles. It can have hazardous effect on human health like heart and lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory infection. According to WHO, nine out of ten people are subjected to high level of pollutants from the air they breathe. The people of Shillong should be seriously thinking of this issue.
Yours etc.,
Ankita Joshi,
Via email
Marxism needs to be revived!
Editor,
From May 5, 1818 to May 5, 2018 – yes, Karl Marx is now 200 years old! Can I use the verb “is” instead of “would have been”? Perhaps, I can because Marxism is very much alive and kicking in welfare states! A modern welfare state with mixed economy is now trying to amalgamate capitalist laissez – faire liberty into socialist endeavour to ensure equality. Such amalgamation is necessary to create a level playing field with the help of subsidy and positive discrimination in favour of the needy. This helps welfare states climb up the ladder of human development index. Archaic capitalism has indeed been discarded by the welfare states. These countries have graduated from police states to welfare states by giving top priority to human development, welfare of the people and happiness.
So, a welfare state ~ even the United States of America cannot deny the contributions of Marxism in its policy of social security like subsidised/ free health care, education and handsome allowance for the unemployed. A welfare state which ensures freedom of an individual and at the same time guarantees his or her social security is a synthesis ~ of the thesis of capitalism and antithesis of socialism. As a matter of fact, a truly welfare state is more inclined to a socialist state than a caged police state.
It will indeed be a heaven on earth if we can translate the words of Karl Marx ~ “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” ~ into action.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Remember History, don’t repeat it!
Editor,
This refers to the recent controversy over Jinnah’s Portrait in Aligarh Muslim University. Whether the University should hang the portrait of a person credited for partitioning the country is a disputable issue, but the manner in which the entire situation went berserk almost leading to a communal strife in the University campus is horrifying. Wouldn’t the matter been resolved peacefully by writing a petition to University authorities to remove the Portrait of ‘Father of Pakistan’ from its wall?
Of late it is seen that every small issue is turning out to be a matter of big communal ruckus! One question is moot here; why didn’t the same issue matter over the last 7-8 decades and why these weeds of communalistic or nationalistic issues sprout out just before impending elections? The same people need to answer the reason behind presence of temple of Godse or preserving monuments of Colonial British regime.
As a nation we need to be progressive. We cannot live with the memories of 1947 partition and its cause and effects forever. Let’ s learn from History and try to move forward to a Vibrant era where ”History is not repeated” but only remembered.
Yours etc.,
Sadiq Hussain Laskar,
Guwahati
Mapping biodiversity resources
Editor
Through your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the kind attention of the State Government to the need for extensive surveys in collaboration with Zoological, Botanical, Geological, Anthropological and Archaeological Surveys of India, State Security Agencies and the army where needed for identifying rich natural resources, unexplored or under explored biodiversity hotspots, forest and wildlife, valuable minerals trapped in little known or least explored territories of the state. Modern satellite imageries provided by ISRO and other international space and remote sensing agencies could help both conservation of forests, wildlife, biodiversity of the state; and help in tapping additional natural resources for the state through this aerial and comprehensive coordinated ground level surveys. It can open up new potential tourist sites, ecotourism, opportunities for building infrastructure to better connect the state; and enhance security management of the state with under explored terrain. An updated natural resource and biodiversity map of Meghalaya will be greatly beneficial for making long term future plans and economic programs for the state.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge AB Canada