LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Not a seamless option  

I recently visited the ‘ Spirit of Goa’ festival and came across a  DRS (deposit refund scheme) machine demonstration there. Essentially the machine needs to read the digital payment QR code on the phone of the person depositing the plastic/glass waste for claiming a refund. This entails that only people using digital payment systems like GPay, PhonePe etc can get a refund, also they need to have data services enabled on phones. What happens if a person is using a push button phone or doesn’t have internet on his device? Will the DRS machine be useful in areas having low or nonexistent cellular coverage? We already know how students studying online during the Covid pandemic had to face great difficulty in signal deficient areas. Also why would anyone spend fuel and time to go to a DRS machine to claim a measly refund. I think waste collection agencies should be co-opted for this purpose and a handheld device be given to their workers so that they can collect the garbage at the doorstep and transfer the money to the consumer. This will also incentivise waste segregation at the household level. The system need to be carefully thought through and deficiencies ironed out before rollout.

Misha, Varca

Decoding honeybee attack

A routine foundation-stone laying ceremony in Bicholim took an unexpected turn when a swarm of honeybees  descended upon the gathering, targeting the local MLA and accompanying officials. What was meant to be a symbolic beginning of development instead became a powerful reminder of a truth often overlooked that nature is not a passive backdrop to human ambition. Honeybees, among the most vital pollinators in our ecosystems, are not aggressive by nature. They typically attack only when they perceive a threat to their hive. This only goes to prove that development activities usually proceed without adequate consideration of existing ecosystems. Deforestation, hill cutting, etc. frequently disrupt habitats, not just of large, visible wildlife, but also of smaller yet ecologically critical species like bees, birds, and insects. This is an incident that calls for introspection among policymakers, planners, and citizens alike. Environmental impact assessments must be sensitive to all forms of life.  

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Bolster anti-defection law

This refers to the recent call by veteran social activist Anna Hazare to reform outdated laws in light of the growing trend of elected representatives switching parties after securing victory. Such defections undermine the mandate of the people and call for urgent legal intervention. Decades ago, instances of inducements offered to MLAs to destabilise elected governments—both at the state and central levels—were widely reported. Today, the situation appears to have escalated, with allegations of large-scale inducements aimed at influencing even two-thirds of MPs. This alarming trend must be curbed without delay. As rightly observed by Hazare, such actions reflect sheer “selfishness” rather than any commitment to public service or the welfare of citizens who placed their trust in these leaders. At a time when many young people hesitate to enter politics, the conduct of senior leaders should serve as a source of inspiration—not disillusionment.

N Mahadevan, Chennai

Uplift workforce

Workers across the globe should know that it is always better to prepare and prevent than repair and repent because they are consistently exposed to dangerous workplace risks and hazards. The ‘feel safe” factor is quite important to prevent or reduce absenteeism and augment efficiency plus productivity.  However,  workplace deaths are on the rise.  ‘Good psychosocial working environments: A pathway to thriving workers and strong organisation’ is a reasonable theme for the World Day for Health and Safety at Work  observed on April 28.  Insect bites, viral and bacterial infections, skin and lung inflammations, sound and radiation injuries, postural abnormalities, stress and strain, wire trap leading to electrical burns,  sexual harassment – all these endanger the workplace atmosphere.  Inadequate ventilation and sign boards,  machines  unattended are additional risk factors.  

Ganapathi  Bhat, Akola

Double standards  

By its constant criticism against the Trinamool Congress  government in West Bengal over the alleged  lack of democratic environment and law and order in the state, it successfully turns the attention away from the April 26 Gujarat local body elections where the State Election Commission declared about 700 unopposed wins for the ruling party after withdrawal of nominations by rival candidates. The focus on the stones thrown at the West Bengal administration diluted the impact of the news report that an elderly woman and her nephew were allegedly assaulted and pressured to vote for the BJP by paramilitary personnel in the Chopda Assembly constituency, West Bengal, on April 23. 

Sujit De, Kolkata