Editor,
I am writing in response to the letter by Debaraj Chakraborty, (ST March 18, 2024), highlighting the need for support for teenagers. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed and wish to underscore the critical role of school counselors in addressing the challenges faced by teenagers.
School counselors are uniquely suited to help teenagers navigate the complexities of adolescence – emotional, academic, and social. They provide a safe space for students to discuss their concerns and receive guidance.
Counselors play a crucial role in improving student well-being. They can identify and address mental health issues early on, assist students in setting goals, managing academic pressure, and making informed choices about their education. Additionally, they teach social skills, promote healthy habits, and work towards preventing bullying.
Including school counselors in education isn’t merely adding an extra resource; it’s an investment in our youth’s future. By equipping students with the tools to overcome challenges, we empower them to lead healthier and happier lives.
Therefore, I urge policy-makers and school administrators to recognize the vital role of counselors and ensure all schools have these professionals. Together, we can create a supportive environment where teenagers can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Yours etc.,
Pankaj Kumar
Shillong
Khasi community & traditional faith practitioners
Editor,
The article, “Why the CAA is still a danger for everyone in the North East, by Bhogtoram Mawroh (ST March 23, 2024) in one of the paragraphs mentions, ‘Personally, I believe such Christians are more Khasi than those traditional faith practitioners who want to break the community,’ My understanding is that when the writer says “Christians,” he is referring to the Khasi people practising the Christian faith and traditional faith practitioners to be the Khasis practising Niam Khasi and to the Pnar people practising the Niamtre. He blamed the Niam Khasi and Niamtre practitioners for wanting to break the Khasi community. If so, he should please give examples. I do not agree with his views of blaming the Niam Khasi and Niamtre practitioners for dividing the community.
In fact, the Niam Khasi and Niamtre practitioners belong to the same community “The Khasi Community/The Hynñiew-Trep Community.” We are brothers and sisters and we hold on to our culture (religious beliefs, religious practices, religious dances, lineage and kinship, traditional beliefs and traditional practices). So, I believe we are far more Khasi, and we love our community, and we love to do good for our community.
Yours etc.,
Wallambiang Rani,
Upper Shillong
Rise of the Billionaire Raj
Editor,
On the alarming findings in the report, ‘Income and Wealth Inequality in India 1992 – 2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj’ which has recently been published by the Paris based World Inequality Lab, the editorial, “India shining?” (ST, March 22, 2024), has rightly said, “The loot brigade, be it business sharks, politicians in power or the bureaucrats, from the cream of the society enjoy their lives. India is shining for such people only!”
According to the report, inequality in India declined till the early 1980s. Thereafter, it started rising and skyrocketed since the turn of the century. However, the rise of top-end inequality has gained tremendous momentum during the last 10 years.
Now, the top 1 percent of Indians earn 22.6 per cent of the national income and their wealth share has risen to 40.1 per cent. The income share of the top 1 percent of Indians is among the very highest in the world, higher than even South Africa, Brazil and the United States of America. The report says that India is now more unequal than during the time of the British Raj headed by the colonialist forces.
While at one end, the number of underfed people in our country is one billion as per the UN estimation; at the other end India has more billionaires than many developed countries. According to the data from the World of Statistics, India is home to 169 billionaires – the third highest in the world after the USA (735) and China (495). India, where over a billion people could not afford a healthy diet, has more billionaires than developed countries like Germany (126), Russia (105), Italy (64), Canada (63), UK (52), Australia (47) and Japan (40).
Manmohan Singh once said, “India happens to be a rich country inhabited by very poor people.” It highlighted the contrast between our resources and poverty. The time has come to say that India happens to be a country of very poor people inhabited by many billionaires. It will highlight a glaring inequality which has been created after the 1980s and has further been widened in the last ten years.
The Inequality Lab has prescribed a restructuring of the tax policies for both income and wealth as well as a broad-based public investment in health, education and nutrition. It said that a “super-tax” of 2 per cent on the net wealth of the 167 wealthiest families in 2022-23 would yield 0.5 per cent of the national income in revenues and create valuable fiscal space to facilitate such investments.
Contrary to the prescription to levy more tax on the super rich, write-off of huge amounts of bank loans has been done for some rich businessmen without much ado, while subsidies to the poor are being ridiculed as freebies. Instead of broad-based public investment in education and health sectors, privatisation of key sectors has become a fashionable choice for the policy makers. This has hijacked quality education and health from the common people.
India needs to rectify its economic policy to have equitable growth. Banks should sanction more micro-loans for farming, cottage and small enterprises that can mainly generate employment and less NPA-generating macro-credits. Moreover, the poor who are reeling from high inequality, rising inflation and nagging unemployment must not be further burdened with GST. GST should exist only on luxury and non-essential goods. But essential goods must have zero GST.
A lopsided growth cannot be durable in the long run. It is like building a trillion dollar house of cards. Moreover, inequality gives rise to human rights violations. Inequality and poverty not only cause stagnation in the market but also lower the quality of the workforce in skill and health.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata