Diplomatic test

The article ‘Take one step at a time’ paints a realistic picture of the situation arising from the sudden withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan. This ignominious withdrawal has thrown up a number of problems for India. With America leaving and the collapse of the Afghan army, a large cache of arms and equipment has fallen into Talban’s hands. It is feared that it may not be transferred to terror groups to be used in Kashmir. Picture about the top Afghan leadership is not yet clear, but one thing is known that Haqqani is in control of Afghanistan’s national security. This is a matter of concern for India. There have been some diplomatic moves, including the meeting between Modi and Putin, but the situation is still unsettled. It is a real test for Indian diplomacy — to rein in/win Taliban by friendly gestures, ward off terrorism and cut Pakistan to size.

Beant Singh Bedi, Mohali

Fiscal measures

Apropos of ‘Expedite GDP growth’, the latest GDP estimates expectedly show that national output rebounded in Q1 of the current fiscal from the record contraction in April-June 2020, when the pandemic’s onset and the lockdown gutted the economy. The numbers, however, show a different picture when compared with either the preceding quarter or the pre-pandemic first quarter of fiscal 2019-20. The economy is not yet out of the woods, though there are signs of recovery. As the growth in touch-intensive service sectors has still not recovered, the government should increase its investment to boost growth capital expenditure in the country and fiscal measures should ensure that the overall consumption demand does not weaken.

SS Paul, Nadia

Narrow prism

Refer to ‘Decoding hate-for-the-record phenomenon’; a sense of déjà vu engulfs the reader. It appears that the writer has made Uttar Pradesh her journalistic playground and she rarely ventures outside this province for gathering information. She has inadvertently developed a habit of generalising the whole country on the basis of her experiences in UP. But even that is not without bias. For example, she conveniently overlooks what some Muslim clerics utter every other day. It would have lent her discourse some element of genuineness had she included their utterings. Conscientious citizens do not think that a state like UP can represent India as a whole. She should make a holistic assessment before expressing her views.

LR Sharma, Sundernagar

Reopening schools

Schools are returning back to their original offline mode where students can physically interact with teachers. This is a boon not only for rural kids who have no or little access to digital gadgets, communication signals and even electricity, but also for city students whose screen time has enormously increased. However, the inoculation of the teachers and students is a must. The enforcement of the Covid-19 guidelines among children is a humongous task for schools. The threat of the third wave looms large, but paediatric health infrastructure is still short. The governments should promptly focus on revamping health infrastructure, vaccinations and testing.

Varinder pal Singh, by mail

Pollution index

India is ranked as the worst-hit by air pollution in the world. Soil, water and sound pollution are also harming human health, besides air pollution. The use of insecticides, allowing mixing of effluents of distilleries and industrial units, uncontrolled deforestation, unrestrained disposing of garbage in megacities in the open are some of the causes for pollution. The annual air quality life index published by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago is dangerously alarming. Life expectancy would be reduced by nine years. NGOs, religious groups, all media, authorities, state and union governments should take strict and effective action in this regard. A large part of the budget is squandered by all political parties for advertisements to influence voters. Nothing is done to awaken people to climate change and pollution. Most of an individual’s income is spent on medicines, but the real and ultimate root cause of diseases is ignored. The health and other ministries concerned should be directed and empowered to take action against the guilty and save the lives of the innocent masses.

DILWAR ALI MEERAK, TOHANA

Poor air quality

India is the most polluted country in the world. A recent study shows that if this problem persists, it can shorten the lives of the people and have an adverse effect on their health. If timely steps are not taken to control it, it will be difficult for people to survive. The authorities should take major steps to contain pollution.

Kirti Jain, by mail

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