Letters to the Editor: Zero tolerance to corruption

Earlier, we the tax payers of the state hardly saw any activity from the anti-corruption branch of our law enforcing authority, as if there was no act of corruption in the state. We were very euphoric after the new government at Dispur under Himanta Biswa Sarma came to power as things have started changing overnight. Every alternate day we have started seeing some big guns of politics, bureaucracy, banking services, teaching fraternity, civil servants etc being nabbed by the CM's Vigilance Cell red-handed on the charge of corruption. It is no doubt a sign of good governance sending the message of zero tolerance to corruption to all. I once again congratulate our Chief Minister for his good job.

Lanu Dutt Chowdhury

Guwahati

Ensuring women's safety

Do you think women are really safe in India? Do you think women can do everything? Do you think they can go everywhere without worrying about anything? Or do they have all the freedoms like men? Let's discuss.

Women's safety is our need. Everybody should make our country a more secure spot for women so that they can live peacefully. It is anything but a singular obligation. However, everybody, including government, corporates and people, have to take responsibility. If we explore the internet, there are many stories of girls/women being physically abused at different places - sometimes by cab drivers, sometimes in metros. Sometimes they become victims of acid attacks, some girls are married off in their childhood and in many places, female infanticide is still practiced. In every culture, every country, every religion and every society, women have to endure the most.

Every person has the freedom to feel safe. The Indian Constitution states that every person is even before the law. But unfortunately, it is not practiced everywhere. Women and girls around the world should be given access to education, they should be able to freely walk in any place, reach hospitals, get the opportunity of choosing a career, have the freedom to choose their marriage partner and also the freedom to wear the clothes of their choice. They should not be punished for the selection of garments, friends, and other extra-curricular activities. Education is the demand of the hour.

We can encourage women's power by working on their potential and empowering them. The government should give information, advise, clinical and psycho-social care to women at risk. Women empowerment encourages equality between women and men and supports women by allowing them with power and courage to be the decision makers of their lives. Women's empowerment in India has achieved power with the support of women's welfare organizations by giving them all the required support.

Chandini Bharadwaj

Guwahati.

Super-tech Twin Towers razed

We witnessed the razing of the super-tech twin towers to the ground at Noida, live on TV screen. Obviously, it was not a spectacular scene to feel good. Twin towers were the epitome of big ticket corruption which crumbles like a pack of cards. This type of corruption is happening across the board. This is a lesson for home buyers as well. And stern messages have also gone to the unscrupulous builders across the country not to indulge in misadventures. Without doubt the Supreme Court had taken a pragmatic decision.

Taking cue from the above, I want to put something in perspective. I booked a flat in Guwahati in 1996. The builder was House Fed (state government agency). I got the possession of the flat in June 2001. Since I was working outside Assam, I could occupy the flat only in June 2011. This is a six-storey building having six blocks A to F. Altogether there have been 72 flats. During construction of the flats I saw some open space, which I considered to be the green space for the residents. If we consider minimum three members per family then total population of the apartment would be (3x72) 216 heads. This is the population size of a small village. What does a small village need? A small green area for children to play and a small area for elders to stroll, relax or gossip. When I came to stay in my flat in 2011, I found two more buildings coming up in the vacant space, which I presumed to be the space for welfare activities of the residents. Out of those two, one is a seven-storey apartment. The second one is a commercial building. I know for sure that commercial establishment has been maintained by throwing all norms to the wind.

Though it is late, I want to highlight a few more flaws with the builders. First, site selection for construction of flats was not proper. This is a low-lying area. The Bahani river/drain is passing along the side of our apartments. The area gets flooded even after a small shower. We have to spend lot of money to maintain and de-water the water from our campus. Second, no fire hydrant system is in place in our apartment. Now, the point is who will bell the cat? We have no voice or power like Noida residents to bring the builders to their knees.

Prafulla Dowarah

Guwahati