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Safety first

The Surat incident where a man slipped from the 10th floor and got entangled at the 8th-floor balcony grill gives goosebumps. The good thing is that the man was alive when rescued. High-risers generally don’t have grills on windows, which is highly dangerous. Even if the builders don’t provide it, residents must put grills on their own for safety purposes. Living on a higher floor is a craze nowadays, but safety should not be overlooked. 

Maya Hemant Bhatkar, Pune

Newspaper 

reading

This refers to the order of the UP government making newspaper reading a must for students of all the state-run schools. The order, inter alia, states that schools should keep reputed English and Hindi newspapers and allocate a 10-minute slot for news reading, select at least 5 new and difficult words from the papers and explain the meaning of the same, mandatorily display these words on the school blackboard, etc. The initiative is laudable, especially at a time when the children are spending considerable time on smartphones. 

V.S. Jayaraman, Chennai

Selective 

discipline

Congress leaders appear united in one thing: correcting each other. Digvijaya Singh praises the RSS’s discipline, Tharoor demands discipline in Congress, and others rush in to clarify what discipline really means. The BJP, meanwhile, watches quietly as Congress conducts a live workshop on internal disagreement. Ironically, the controversy proves Singh’s point. The RSS speaks in one voice; Congress speaks in footnotes, disclaimers and damage control. Admiration, opposition and clarification now coexist, sometimes in the same sentence.

Gopalaswamy J., Chennai

Vaibhav is no 

Sachin

Apropos the report “It was Sachin then… it is Vaibhav now?” No doubt, Vaibhav is a budding star. However, his knock of 190 against a low team like Arunachal Pradesh cannot equate him with Sachin. He has scored runs in domestic tournaments; however, he is yet to play against any of the SENA countries, who have world-class bowlers. It is too early to induct him into the national team, especially when we have talented players like Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, etc. on the waiting list. 

N. Mahadevan, Chennai

Consumer is king

Apropos the edit “Keep the Consumer King” (Dec 29), the NCH resolving 67,265 refund complaints in eight months without the court’s intervention is commendable. The onus is on consumers to promptly report refund issues, while businesses must act swiftly and remain consumer-friendly to prevent cases from reaching courts.

P.V. Prakash, Mumbai

Sudan crisis

The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan has quietly slipped into the background of global attention. Millions displaced, cities reduced to rubble, and basic human dignity under siege, yet the world responds with muted concern. While statements are issued and meetings held, real relief remains painfully slow. Conflicts in poorer regions rarely sustain media interest, turning human suffering into passing headlines. This selective outrage exposes an uncomfortable global hierarchy of empathy.  

Hasnain, Patna

Care for disabled

My heart beats for the disabled and physically challenged who have to travel miles to earn their livelihood in public transport in spite of infra hurdles at all levels. Accessible infrastructure is their constitutional right, but poor facilities are a huge handicap, in spite of tall promises by the government. But the spirit and help from fellow citizens is what keeps them kicking, and they never let their disability act as a hurdle in their travel plans, which is truly heartwarming. Basic facilities like ramps, escalators, earmarked handicap seats, etc. must be made available by the govt!

S.N. Kabra, Mumbai

Brett Lee 

honoured

Australian pace bowler Brett Lee has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. Brett Lee, who was one of the fastest and most exciting bowlers the world has seen, is also an ambassador for world cricket. He has a large number of fans around the world and has carved a niche of his own in the hearts of Indians by being a part of the Indian culture along with his remarkable stint in the IPL. 

M. Pradyu, Kannur

Redefining Aravalli Hills 

The Supreme Court’s suo motu cognisance and hearing on the controversial redefinition of Aravalli Hills on December 29 highlights grave environmental concerns. Fragmenting this vital ecological barrier risks irreversible damage to biodiversity and water security. Authorities must stop mining and preserve the range for future generations. Urgent protective measures are essential.

T.S. Karthik, Chennai