Contraceptive pill abuse

With a lot of advertisements regarding the emergency contraceptive pills, there has been a lot of misuse, especially by teenaged girls, all over the country. Unaware of the ill effects and complications of using ECPs, young girls have been popping the pill every then and now as these are easily available. They forget that these pills do not provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases which can be life-threatening. There must be a ban on the advertisements of the emergency contraceptive pills. They should be given only when prescribed by a registered doctor.

Dr Shruti K. Chawla, Chandigarh

Repair sewers

Rains have put life out of gear in lowlying areas in various cities. Contrary to the claims of municipal corporations, committees and councils, rainwater takes a lot of time to be cleared through the sewerage. It is strange that the proposals for the construction of stormwater sewer systems in various cities has been delayed. The Punjab Government should ensure release of funds to review the sewerage in the cities that need new sewers for the outlet of rainwater.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru Jalandhar

Freeing undertrials

The decision of Supreme Court to release those undertrial prisoners who have completed the sentence in the petty offence will reduce overcrowding in jails. This move will benefit poor persons who cannot pay heavy amounts for sureties/ municipal counsellors/lambardars or for surety bonds etc. for the release of their kin.

Darshan Gupta, Sangrur

Social defamation

It's smart of the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to utilise social sites to control corruption. Pictures of officials caught redhanded on Facebook will surely make aware the concerned department as well as public about black sheep. Fear of defamation and legal action can made officials to say no to bribe and other wrong means. Such initiatives should be taken in the entire country to achieve a corruption-free society.

Sukhdeep Singh Aulakh, Amritsar

Ticketing issues

I boarded a PRTC bus (Chandigarh to Amritsar) at Jalandhar for Amritsar at 5:45 pm. I showed my Roadways bus pass to the conductor, which is from Jalandhar to Tangra, and told him to give me a ticket for the later journey (Tangra to Amritsar). He took Rs 20 instead of Rs 25, but did not issue me the ticket. I asked him thrice, but he did not respond. In the end, when the bus entered Amritsar, he took a ticket, which was from Jalandhar to Amritsar, from another passenger and handed it over it to me and said: “Aah la ticket. Hun Jalandhar to Amritsar tak da fare claim kar sarkar kolon.” This is happening to many people everyday, but they do not complain. Punjab Roadways should appoint a team of checkers to tackle with such cheats.

SURINDER SAINI, Jalandhar

A teacher's job

This refers to the very beautiful "Thought for the Day": "I am so glad I can go home at 2.30 to relax....." said no teacher ever (September 5). It breaks the myth that teaching is an "aaramdayak naukri" (comfortable job). It is rightly said that a good teacher is like a candle who first lights himself to become a source of inspiration and guidance for his students.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Teachers’ Day

Prime Minister Modi's decision for reviving personalised communication with the children on Teachers’ Day through web channels was a fantastic idea but could not be implemented in the same spirit. The time of the address created chaos. Then, providing the infrastructure in schools was not child's play. The sanctity of Teachers’ Day lies in the fact that they must try to revive the honour of a teacher by reviving the tradition of idealism, selfless service and character building of young students.

Neelam, Chandigarh

Opportunity lost

It would have been better if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had interacted with the children on November 14, Children's Day. On Teachers' Day, he should have interacted with teachers. He lost an opportunity of enhancing his and his government's image in their eyes.

Nahar Singh, Principal, Ludhiana

Act locally

The reports of J&K flood victims victims throwing stones at Army rescuers are heart-shaking. A disaster forces human beings to behave erratically and irrationally. In the mad race to development, we bypass the responsibility towards our environment and this is the cause of natural disasters. Let’s think globally and act locally.

Sanyam Bhatia, Amritsar