Eradicate dehumanising practice
Refer to ‘Manual scavenging’; the Supreme Court has rightly called for the eradication of manual scavenging. The dehumanising practice is a blot on any civilised society. The fact that such a profession exists is a matter of collective shame for India. Manual scavengers suffer from various health problems, including skin diseases and respiratory conditions, due to the exposure to toxic fumes in septic tanks and sewer lines. As many as 347 persons have died cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the last five years. Unfortunately, the profession is inseparable from casteism. Mere compensation is not enough. The court ruling should translate into effective steps to root out the scourge of manual scavenging.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Forced into manual scavenging
Apropos of ‘Manual scavenging’; the inhuman activity has been banned in India for three decades but it continues unabated. Besides ensuring compensation, we also need to consider that domestic workers, community toilet cleaners and sanitation workers are also part of this vicious cycle. Many a time, they are forced into manual scavenging. Made to perform this dehumanising task, they often experience social isolation. Building proper sanitation infrastructure and training workers professionally can go a long way in curbing this practice.
Tashi Baheti, Ujjain
Upgrade rail infra
Apropos of ‘Namo Bharat rolls out’; the semi-high-speed trains will mark the beginning of a new era of state-of-the-art ultra-modern urban transport in the country. Although the government is working towards introducing high-speed and comfortable trains that can run at a speed of 180 km per hour, it should also look into revamping and upgrading the existing railway infrastructure, which is in dire need of attention. Most of the trains are in a bad condition in terms of facilities and run at low speeds.
SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI
Focus on railway safety
Refer to ‘Namo Bharat rolls out’; though semi-high-speed trains will reduce travel time, the Railways must design tracks that can enable trains to run at that pace. In view of recent accidents that have cost many lives, the government should provide more funds for strengthening the safety mechanism rather than launching a number of high-speed trains to impress the public in view of the forthcoming Assembly polls and the General Election next year.
Rajinder Singh, Patiala
Escalating unrest in West Asia
Apropos of ‘Institutions & laws must be re-examined’; the US, which has been talking about ‘world peace’, had dropped atom bombs on Japan during World War II, killing thousands of people. It is following Mao Zedong’s message that ‘war can only be abolished with war’. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, the US is adding fuel to the fire instead of dousing it. By doing this, it is promoting its arms sales and bringing many nations in its fold geopolitically. India is one of the countries under the US’ protective umbrella. Piling up nuclear weapons is not a step towards peace.
BM SINGH, Amritsar
Civilian killings not justified
Refer to ‘Institutions & laws must be re-examined’; over 4,000 Palestinians, including over 1,750 children, have been killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The US, Australia, France, Norway, Germany, India, Canada, Poland and the UK should have thought about these consequences before supporting Israel. Killing civilians, especially newborns, is inhuman, to say the least. India supporting Israel but sending tons of medical and disaster relief material for the people of Palestine smacks of duplicity. Is it mandatory for India to follow the US in all matters relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict? History proves that the US uses nations for its own benefits. It’s time India stopped following the country whose only aim is to sell arms and ammunition to war-affected nations to earn profits.
GURPREET S MALHOTRA, by mail
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