Provide fiscal incentives

With reference to ‘GDP hits a low’; policymakers should focus on reviving economic activity through targeted interventions. Increasing public expenditure on infrastructure projects can stimulate demand and create employment. Monetary policy adjustments such as reducing interest rates can encourage borrowing and investment. Providing fiscal incentives or tax relief to key sectors can boost productivity and resilience. Simultaneously, measures to enhance consumer confidence such as ensuring price stability and direct benefit transfers can improve household spending. Long-term structural reforms in labour, land and capital markets are also crucial to sustain economic growth.

Sikandar Bansal, Shimla

Dip in India’s GDP

Apropos of ‘GDP hits a low’; our country’s economic engine seems to have hit a rough patch as it recorded the slowest growth in the last seven quarters. This could be attributed to high inflationary pressure, waning urban spending and borrowing costs eating into private consumption. Pick-up in consumption has been patchy and not broad-based. Most of the companies have missed their projections in the last quarter vis-à-vis the same period last year. This means that the trend is towards moderation and momentum is slowing down. The RBI has to keep injecting more liquidity into the system to support the economy, and the government will have to do the heavy lifting in public capital expenditure investment.

Bal Govind, Noida

Raise HIV awareness

Refer to ‘AIDS burden’; the editorial rightly highlights India’s pivotal role in achieving the global target of reducing the AIDS burden. While the reduction in AIDS-related deaths and expanded access to treatment are encouraging, the escalating number of cases in states such as Haryana and Punjab is concerning. Concerted action to raise awareness, particularly in vulnerable communities, is crucial to controlling the epidemic. Furthermore, the government must allocate adequate resources to combat this deadly virus. India must intensify its efforts to ensure equitable healthcare access and prioritise risk-prone populations in order to reduce the burden effectively.

Chanchal S Mann, Una

Accelerate diplomatic efforts

Refer to ‘Empower military with strategic heft’; our neighbours in the north and the west have a hostile attitude. Both the LoC and the LAC are located in very harsh terrain and have inhospitable weather. Soldiers have to guard every stretch of the frontier due to the trust deficit with China and Pakistan. Infrastructure, military equipment and jawans’ miscellaneous needs are taken care of, but much more needs to be done. Simultaneously, efforts must be accelerated at strategic, diplomatic, military, social and commercial levels for stability and peace. A strong cyber system and mechanism for psychological warfare should also be put in place. This might entail a huge economic burden, but it has to be borne in the interest of national security.

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi

Build inclusive digital ecosystem

With reference to ‘Multi-pronged strategy can make children safer online’; creating a safer online environment for children in India requires a collective effort to balance stringent regulations, innovative technologies and widespread education. Regulatory frameworks must consider the complexities of India’s demographic and technological landscape, ensuring that they protect kids while also safeguarding digital freedom. Digital literacy campaigns can empower families, making parents active participants in their kids’ digital journey. India can build an inclusive and secure digital ecosystem that nurtures the potential of its young citizens without compromising their safety.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Fix screen time for children

Apropos of ‘Multi-pronged strategy can make children safer online’; in today’s digital age, it is very important to safeguard children from the harmful impact of technology and social media. A single approach cannot protect them from its negative impact; rather, a multi-pronged strategy would yield positive results. A blanket ban, however, might not be a viable solution. A comprehensive strategy that includes fixing a time limit for screen use; monitoring by parents, guardians and teachers; and encouraging the use of online content for academic purposes needs to be adopted, along with implementing strict regulation on social media content by government agencies.

Ravi Sharma, Dhariwal