Tirupati shows the way in waste management
The 16th Financial Commission of the Government of India has showered praise on the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati for its solid waste management. The uncompromising attitude of the corporation toward waste management sets it apart from the waste management systems of other temple towns. The ways in which the temple town segregates and disposes of different kinds of waste are truly commendable. It stands out from the rest of the temple towns in its unrelenting pursuit of excellence in waste management. Temple towns are usually negligent in proper waste management. The temple town of Tirupati faces the challenge of millions of people visiting it every year, generating tonnes of waste. Yet, the corporation carries out waste management very efficiently. Collection, segregation, processing, and disposal are done in commendable ways. There are lessons to learn from Tirupati for large cities. While other programmes draw the attention of administrators and politicians, waste management is often neglected. The shallowness of waste management across the country has come under severe criticism. Towns and cities in India must take a leaf out of Tirupati’s book.
Venu G S, Kollam
Prioritise skill devpt
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent remarks offer a powerful lesson for India as it strives to become a global manufacturing hub. In a recent interview, Cook emphatically stated that, contrary to popular opinion, Apple’s choice to manufacture its phones in China isn’t driven by cheap labour but by the country’s unmatched skill, scale, and precision in manufacturing. India, which is aggressively promoting “Make in India” and attempting to woo tech titans, must take note: low wages alone won’t attract or retain world-class manufacturing. What matters more is a highly skilled, vocationally trained workforce, robust infrastructure, advanced tooling, scaling capability, and a seamlessly integrated supply chain. To compete with China, India must invest in vocational education, upskill/reskill its labour force, streamline logistics, and strengthen manufacturing ecosystems. But most importantly, in the Indian context, politics should be kept out of land allotment for setting up plants; BJP-ruled states should not get preference, as is the case now. Cook’s message is a wake-up call: true manufacturing success depends on quality, not just cost. For India to become the next big tech hub, skill development must become a national priority.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Rein in stray dogs
This refers to the front-page news report, ‘Toddler mauled to death by stray dogs in Ponda’ (NT, April 19, 2025). India records around 20,000 rabies deaths a year, which, according to the World Health Organisation, accounts for 36 per percent of the world’s deaths from the disease. This fatal disease has been eliminated in many countries. However, it is a challenging task in a country like India, where dogs are allowed to roam freely. Rabies can be eliminated by vaccinating all dogs over a number of years and sterilising the stray dog population. Bhutan has successfully sterilised and vaccinated its entire stray dog population after pursuing a 14-year-long programme. Most of the victims of dog bites and rabies belong to the poor working class of our society and their children. It is really annoying that their deaths evoke little public sympathy and a lukewarm response from the authorities. All stray dogs must immediately be sterilised, vaccinated, and kept in enclosed areas to minimise the colossal loss of human lives.
Sujit De, Kolkata
On CCTV surveillance
Footage of a scooter theft in broad daylight from Mudda Waddo, Saligao, on Good Friday, while the owner was attending mass at the Mae de Deus Church, Saligao, was caught on a CCTV camera. The Saligao Police team has now reportedly recovered the stolen vehicle from a teenager in Porvorim. People should compulsorily install CCTV cameras outside their residences, near bike/car garages, and at all other important entry/exit locations around their houses.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Ubiquitous plastic menace
The World Economic Forum predicts that by the year 2050, our oceans will contain more plastic than fish, leading to significant plastic consumption. As a fossil fuel product, plastic doesn’t biodegrade but breaks down into particles that contaminate our food chain when ingested by fish. Furthermore, plastic waste in landfills pollutes groundwater with toxic chemicals. Therefore, we must commit to ending plastic pollution daily as a simple and cost-effective way to protect our planet. Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day began the modern environmental movement in 1970. It raises awareness and promotes action to protect our planet, with people engaging in clean-ups, tree planting, rallies, and educational programmes. This year’s Earth Day theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’. Let’s embrace this theme and eliminate plastic pollution together.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
