Coordinated efforts needed

With reference to ‘Shielding children’; the ill effects of social media platforms on the physical and mental health of people, particularly youngsters, are well-known. Various countries have tried to restrict access to harmful content in order to safeguard children. But a blanket ban on social media may risk alienating them from useful online resources and support networks. The government, social media companies, parents and guardians need to come together with a shared commitment for devising ways to address the sensitive issue. Nevertheless, the effectiveness and impact of Australia’s proposal will be watched with curiosity all over the world.

Krishan Kant Sood, Nangal

Negative impact of social media

Apropos of ‘Shielding children’; the proposal is a commendable step on Australia’s part. Enacting a similar ban in India is the need of the hour to save children from the negative impact of social media. The dark web provides easy access to every type of content, which affects youngsters’ mental health. Students are falling prey to drugs, smoking and liquor consumption due to peer pressure, which is heightened due to social media. Sometimes, teenagers are driven to suicide due to emotional distress, bullying and mental health issues. It is, therefore, imperative that India must also follow suit to legislate a ban on social media access to children. The earlier it is done, the better.

MD Sharma, SHIMLA

Frame stringent laws

Refer to ‘Shielding children’; Australia needs to be appreciated for taking a bold step to address a problem which many countries tend to avoid. The content available on the Internet is a dark underbelly of the world. The young generation is succumbing to the lure of social media. Children of all age groups need to be guided by their parents and teachers about viewing content that is beneficial for them. Moreover, the government needs to frame stringent laws that can help save the youth from the harmful effects of social media platforms and also regulate access to content.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Jet plan was doomed to fail

Apropos of ‘All over for Jet Airways’; the Supreme Court’s order to liquidate the airline after Jalan Kalrock Consortium could not comply with the resolution plan marks the final chapter in Jet’s long struggle to stay afloat. The resolution plan was doomed to fail due to its inherent flaws as the winning bidder did not know the intricacies of the aviation business to turn around Jet Airways. The liquidation process is lengthy, and though the book value of Jet’s assets is only 6 per cent of the total admitted claims, auctioning may fetch only 50 per cent of the total value. Hopefully, this judgment will lead to much-needed changes in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code framework.

Bal Govind, Noida

Timely course correction required

With reference to ‘All over for Jet Airways’; liquidation of two airlines doesn’t augur well for the future of the aviation sector of India. The SC’s order would provide much-needed relief to creditors, employees and other stakeholders. They have waited for years for the repayment of their loans and clearance of pending salaries. The shrinking number of players in the aviation sector is a matter of grave concern. Timely course correction is a must to prevent the liquidation of more airlines, which are financially distressed and on the verge of being shut down. The government must do much more to sustain its regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN.

Roshan Lal Goel, Ladwa

Prioritise public good over gains

Refer to ‘To prosper again, Punjab must reinvent its institutions’; the urgency of institutional reform in Punjab cannot be overstated. The state must work on fostering a holistic and sustainable growth model. To achieve efficiency, sufficiency and equity, it should revisit the canons of public expenditure articulated by Dr BR Ambedkar. Policies and programmes must be executed with integrity and have no vote-bank compulsions. Punjab’s growth story needs a synergy between sound economics and people-centric politics, prioritising public good over short-term gains.

MM Goel, Kurukshetra

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