Engage children outdoors

Refer to ‘How digital devices are triggering a myopia crisis’; it is an eye-opener for parents, teachers and medical practitioners. Recommending that children engage in outdoor activities for at least one hour twice a day in schools is a valuable suggestion. To implement this measure successfully, schools must have the requisite infrastructure and resources. Today, schools share home assignments via e-mail or WhatsApp groups, which results in increased screen time. Teachers and parents need to collaborate to engage children in outdoor activities and other learning experiences like reading books to keep them away from electronic devices.

Vijay Laxmi, Amritsar

Use digital aids sparingly

Refer to ‘How digital devices are triggering a myopia crisis’; the issue is of paramount importance since it is affecting a body function and the natural development of children, leading to serious health issues. Many scientific studies have flagged the adverse impact of overdependence on digital technology, besides the lack of focus among students. There is an urgent need to use digital aids sparingly. The NEP must include a compulsory outdoor game for every student. Moreover, community parks should be well maintained by the authorities to attract youngsters.

Rupinder Kaur, Ambala

Promote good pedagogic methods

Refer to ‘Turning to overseas lessons for a sound Finnish’; while the initiative of the Punjab Government may have shown good results, other stakeholders — parents, teachers and education providers — can offer substantial additional help if they are approached. We must learn from former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s ‘Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas’ (PURA) scheme. Good foundational education can be provided at a very low cost through NGOs, with the government offering administrative help. Now that teachers are being trained in other countries, the main task is to promote good pedagogic methods by sharing them with others.

GS Gill, by mail

Wastage of public money

With reference to ‘Turning to overseas lessons for a sound Finnish’; the move of the Punjab Government to send teachers abroad for training seems to be a sheer publicity stunt at the cost of the exchequer. English, not being a native language, requires extra efforts and specialised skills both for the teacher and the learner. There is no dearth of well-qualified and highly competent teachers in the country to effectively teach English to our students. It appears to be a wastage of the money citizens pay as tax at every stage.

Anil Bhatia, Hisar

Find alternative to update data

With reference to ‘Empty stomachs’; many people have not been able to avail of benefits from the PDS because the government is using old population data. Food is a basic need and no one should go hungry. Unless the government conducts the Census on priority, new population data will not be available. A viable solution will have to be found by the Centre. Economic growth would tantamount to zero progress if people go to sleep on a hungry stomach. It is unpardonable that the Census has got inordinately delayed. The Central Government must act now to make sure that food reaches those who need it. Moreover, at some places, PDS food goes waste due to a paucity of takers as they find it unfit for consumption. So, the quality should also be kept in mind.

Suber Singh Parihar, Nadaun

Small steps, big benefits

Even as the AAP government in Punjab has completed three years, efforts to make the state financially stable have fallen short of the promises made in the manifesto. By giving freebies, the state has accumulated more fiscal debt. In the remaining two years, the government should prioritise introducing a strict mining policy. Freebies like free power should be provided only to the economically weaker sections. The funds thus saved should be diverted to provide Rs 1,000 stipend to poor widows in the first phase. Small steps like this can help gain huge benefits.

Harsimranvir Singh, Patiala