Illuminate minds

One fails to understand how coronavirus can be defeated by lighting candle or diya in the dark, by switching off the lights, which itself is a symbol of victory over darkness. Are we being dragged to a dark age and being presented with a meagre solace of having a ray of hope in self created darkness? People should think twice before accepting such illogical suggestions otherwise it will mean what the poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi said: Mathe da diva naan baliya, tel taan paia per per pallian.

Aman Preet Singh, Roopnagar

Guidelines for last rites

It was shocking the way Padma Shri Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa’s last rites were disrupted. The World Health Organisation and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have issued certain measures on body management and no such case has come to the fore where a person is known to have contracted the disease following exposure to bodies of COVID-19 victims. The Centre and state governments, in consultation with doctors, must take immediate steps to issue special guidelines for cremation, ensuring respect for the deceased and safety of people around.

Hargunpreet Singh, Patiala

Need for succour

Apropos the editorial ‘The Invisible People’ (April 4), the setting up of a Contingency Fund will be an apt tribute to the tenacity, tolerance and resilience of the people at the lowest level of our society who have suffered the most during the present lockdown. Nobody came to their rescue due to their voiceless entity. Their helplessness due to poverty, insecure jobs and lack of societal empathy made them further vulnerable in a contingency of this nature. With lives and livelihood in doldrums, their claim to succour and relief now needs top priority before it is too late.

Gp Capt JS Boparai (retd), Una

Economic scenario

With continuous rise in the cases of people affected by Covid-19, it is becoming an issue for every level of government. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva has accepted that the world’s economy has come to a standstill and further consequences of this pandemic would be devastating. The fear in the minds of the respective governments and citizens has definitely risen. This situation is worse than the recession of 2008. Analyse the conditions state-wise and clear the dues, so that each can do its best.

Vihaan Gupta, via email

Some positives

Apropos the article ‘Corona crisis offers eco-friendly lifeline’ (April 3), jittery since realising the enormity of the crisis, many developed nations are finding themselves on the receiving end, despite putting in herculean effort to vanquish the lethal virus. Perhaps the ruthless virus is an admonition to the mighty nations to shun violence and become empathetic. Moreover, the adage that every cloud has a silver lining becomes relevant as the lockdown has resulted in a significant reduction in pollution levels. Jalandhar residents received a pleasant surprise when they had a spectacular view of the snow-clad mountain range located over 200 km from the city.

Vimal Sethi, Kapurthala

Natural cleansing

Though everyone is blaming China for the outbreak of Covid-19, very few have noticed the pollution level decreasing and the air becoming cleaner. I see it as natural cleansing and not as a natural calamity. The earth is cleaning itself as humans were not sentient to the ecosystems destroyed. Every evening, I go to the roof to refresh myself and have noticed that the number of birds has increased. That the foothills of the Himalayas have been visible from jalandhar is an eloquent testimony to the fact.

Nishant Rihan, Ferozepur City

Business community hit

The business community has been among those affected the most. Businessmen have been asked to run their enterprises provided they give food, shelter and healthcare to their workers within the industrial unit, but then there is no transportation of raw material in the factory and no transportation of finished goods in the market. Then how can anybody expect any business? Tenants have been told not to pay rent but what will someone, whose daily bread comes from it, do? If people in service get salaries, then why can’t they pay rent?

Meetali, Jalandhar

Jamaat episode

This refers to the news ‘26% jump; President cites Jamaat, exodus’ (April,4); the Tablighi Jamaat congregation has created adverse conditions in the country. It has also created the possibility of community transmission of coronavirus in most states. A blame game has started to evade responsibility. A collaborative approach between the Centre and the states is required to tackle this situation.

Samuel O’ Derek, Jind

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