Modi’s ‘moving’ speech
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a scintillating presentation showcasing India as a future investment destination (“In Davos, firms meditate on quest for mental well-being”, Gulf News, January 26). He has promised that red tape corruption will be replaced by red carpets. This is great. However, a red carpet cannot be spread over the dilapidated roads of most Indian cities. Nor will healthy living be possible in smog-impacted cities like Delhi. The government should ensure that the performance matches the promise. The indignation of Modi against protectionism is understandable. India and China wish to welcome more investments and export goods and talent to the US. However, President Donald Trump would like to protect American jobs and encourage American production to create more jobs for locals. America and many European countries like UK and Germany, will protect the livelihoods of their own people. This has to be accepted. India also indulged in massive protectionism of local industries in the 1960s and 1970s, when all foreign investments were considered evil and colonial. Moreover India must also focus on decreasing inequalities within its people. An Oxfam report states that 1 per cent of India garnered 73 per cent of the national wealth in 2017. Naturally, there will be anger and bitterness. Instead of seeking growth based on foreign investment alone, India should get its own home sorted first.
From Mr Rajendra Aneja
India
A needed breakthrough
It’s a breakthrough for the scientist to clone monkeys successfully for the first time (“Scientist successfully clone monkeys”, Gulf News January 26). The first cloned sheep, Dolly, was born in 1996. After that discovery, scientists have cloned lots of mammals including pigs, dogs, cats, camels and more. Now, research scientists are very close and confident in cloning human beings. It is not far when we would see organisations cloning human beings.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Passion to be set by students, not parents
The long-awaited stream selection part of the year has arrived. In the heat of the moment, students of tenth standard are put under tremendous pressure from their schools and homes. It is now that I see, many of my friends struggling in the science stream, which has been stereotyped to be the best stream out of all, due to their parents’ desires. Despair fills me, when I hear about parents pestering their own children to pursue a career that does not fascinate them. Indeed, parents should have a major influence on the decisions of their children, but then it should be a positive and encouraging one. It is high time that parents realise engineers and doctors are not the only ones the world requires. In fact, there has been growing unemployment in these sectors. Today’s society craves for a variety and diversity in occupations. Let your child chase her cup of tea and enlighten the world through the thoughts that she has woven in her mind for years. Your child may be a future journalist, a good leader, a life changing psychologist, a good teacher or even an inspiring sports person representing his or her country. You shouldn’t make your child bite off more than they can chew, instead, open the window for your child to fly toward their dreams and soar. After all, it’s their life and they needs to live it.
From Ms Afeefa Roshan
Dubai
Waste of paper
In my school, the teachers regularly ask us to bring worksheets from home. I admit that these worksheets are helping us learn and enhancing our knowledge, but are the teachers not going overboard? As a solution to this matter, I do not print all the worksheets the teachers tell us to as a lot of paper is being wasted without any use. I suggest that instead of printing worksheets, the whole class can solve the worksheets on the smart-board. This will also help the students cooperate in class.
From Ms Saumya Sheth
UAE
Less paper, less waste
I remember being in school and using up so much paper for assignments and worksheets. We were supposed to print everything and take it back to school, which was pointless. After the teacher would correct it, it would be dumped somewhere. I think with the digital age, we should try our best to use it as much as possible. The lesser paper we use, the less wastage there is going to be.
From Mr Raj Vir
Sharjah
Fire safety is priority
It is important to teach children about fire safety (“Letters: Should young children be taught fire safety?”, Gulf News January 28). Whether it is done by a school or the building management, knowing the right procedures can save a life. I don’t know how to use an extinguisher, neither do I know any breathing techniques. I think it is mandatory for people to get some fire safety training. You never know when disaster can strike and where you might need to step in and help. This should be taken seriously.
From Mr Sanya Khatri
Abu Dhabi
An unfortunate accident
It is very shocking and an unfortunate accident (“Unknown to her 3 kids, Kerala lady doctor falls off train and dies”, Gulf News, January 25). Even though the exact reason of the incident is not yet reported by the police, it seems like a simple accident. However if it is an accident, the real culprit is the Indian Railways because the doors of the trains are not safe for passengers. The doors of the coaches were not constructed properly and keep opening while the train is moving. It should be changed as per the new system and concept. Before moving the train, all doors should be locked automatically. Hope the Indian Railways will do the needful to rectify the system with new electronic technology in a safer method including CCTV coverage.
From Mr Majeed K.
Abu Dhabi
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