LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
28% GST slab is too high
The highest GST slab of 28% covers items like chocolates, instant coffee, aerated drinks and aftershave lotion among other things. These are not luxury items by any stretch of imagination and so one wonders why these should attract 28% tax. Rahul Gandhi is quite right in pointing out that 18% GST should be the highest slab as the UPA had proposed. With 'revenue buoyancy', 'revenue neutrality' and similar terms (which the common man does not understand) being used liberally, the whole objective of unifying the tax structure seems to be the generation of more revenue through the
backdoor. It will be in order if the highest slab of 28% GST is removed altogether. The poor common man does not get additional income to meet the exponentially increased monthly expenditure.
— V Subramanyan
Plastic and eco damage
Plastic is extremely bad for the environment. It is one of man's worst inventions. Plastic is nonbiodegradable. This means that waste plastic cannot be turned into any other substance that is eco-friendly. Although tonnes and tonnes of plastic are burned down in the most advanced incinerators, all that remains is plastic. It doesn't change into anything else like many other materials do. Hence, plastic waste is dangerous to the environment and we should decrease its usage.
— Jubel D’Cruz
Advantages of simultaneous polls
The for and against arguments on simultaneous general and assembly elections have been rekindled with the Election Commission of India giving its nod on the feasibility of such a move. India is a federal
country, and skeptics would definitely scorn at the idea of holding concurrent elections though the time has come to undertake permutations and combinations towards heralding such a system. Major political parties have to be taken into confidence, several amendments need to be brought to a host of articles of the Constitution, and the Representation of People Act, 1951 will have to be similarly improved upon. The EC will have to brace itself logistically and practically for the mammoth exercise. Serious logistic and practical problems exist because elections were held in five states each in 2016 and early this year and two more go to polls at the fag end of 2017. The apparently tough, unpleasant and unpopular changes like extending the terms of some state assemblies, and curtailing a few, will have to be undertaken. The advantages, however of holding simultaneous polls are manifold.The ticklish multi-phased polls which are the bane of the country, diversion of public mind, unnecessary holidays, unmentionable expenditure to ensure multi-level elections in different states, repeated deployment of security personnel and teachers can be done away with.
— Ganapathi Bhat
Punish those engaging in humiliation
The eager beavers must desist from publicly mocking those who defecate in the open (‘Open defecation drive recoils’, October 9). Garlanding those who come back from the fields after relieving themselves, taking their snaps and then posting it on social sites cannot be condoned. It is akin to harassment, more so when the victims are women. Such type of humiliation cannot serve any purpose. The government must be relentless in its drive to make the country defecation free. At the same time, those who entertain themselves at the cost of others’ self respect must also be punished. The champions of ‘Open Defecation Free Drive’ must be told where to draw the line.
— Vijai Pant
World Mental Health Day
We still have a long way to go when it comes to mental health. The objective of World Mental Health Day observed on October 10 is to raise awareness of mental health issues & mobilize efforts in support of mental health. Initially when someone close to you is diagnosed with mental illness, people feel ashamed and lonely and find it difficult to open up because of stigma attached to it. Bill Clinton said, "Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." A change in people’s perception and through improved public awareness and mental-health literacy can society remove the stigma and discrimination that stands in the way of finding cures and help people diagnosed with mental illness live a complete life they deserve.We need to support those suffering & help them to recover and integrate into society. Let us remember If we replace 'I' with 'We' illness becomes wellness.
— TS Karthik
Sena’s challenge could boomerang
The Shiv Sena chief has dared the BJP to quit the government and face mid-term poll in the state. If BJP accepts this challenge and indeed goes in for dissolution of the House, then such a move will boomerang on the Sena itself.The moment the CM asks the Governor to dissolve the Vidhan Sabha, the Shiv Sena will witness a vertical split in its rank & file; with a sizeable section walking over to the MNS and a substantial number taking shelter in the BJP fold.
— Arun Malankar