Sir — In a path-breaking step, New Zealand’s Parliament has decided to grant mothers and their partners three days of bereavement leave following a miscarriage. The Labour parliamentarian, Ginny Andersen, who drafted the bill, must be lauded. This is reportedly the first law of its kind. Last year, the country decriminalized abortion. Such focus on issues affecting women highlights the need to include more women in the law-making process. In many countries, including India, it is still a taboo to talk about miscarriages or abortions. These nations should emulate New Zealand.

Ayesha Chatterjee,
Calcutta

Noble act

Sir — It was heart-warming to learn about the honesty of the lottery vendor, Smija K. Mohan, from Kerala, who handed over a jackpot ticket worth six crore rupees to a buyer who was yet to pay for it or clear his past dues (“A lottery vendor whose word is worth more than Rs 6cr”, March 27). She is now being extolled for her honesty across the state. It is a fact that honest people do not always find success, but the world goes around because of people like Mohan. She should be sincerely respected for her deed.

One must never forget those who help or support others during their hard times. P.K. Chandran, the elderly gardener who won the jackpot, has shared the plans that he has for his family and himself with the money he won. He should also offer a reward to Mohan. At the same time, attention must be paid to the fact that buying a lottery ticket is like an addiction; many people waste their hard-earned money, banking on fate.

Kiran Agarwal,
Calcutta

Sir — People in modern society should take a lesson in honesty from Smija K. Mohan. Clearly, her word is more important to her than money. Even though she had the golden opportunity to alleviate her own distress and be rich by claiming the jackpot for herself, she decided to hand it over to the person for whom she had reserved the ticket. One must thank the reporter for shedding light on this noble deed in a society marred by corruption and violence. One also expects P.K. Chandra, the winner of the jackpot, to help Mohan and her family in her time of need.

Shyamal Thakur,
East Burdwan

Sir — The best part about the report on Smija K. Mohan was her humble response to the accolades being showered upon her. The fact that she did not even think about claiming the prize money for herself, in spite of struggling financially, speaks volumes about her character.

Reading her story, one was reminded of the fable about the woodcutter who had lost his wooden axe in the river but refused to claim the gold axe and the silver axe that the river god retrieved for him to test his character. At the end of the fable, the honest woodcutter was rewarded with all three. Although such poetic justice cannot be expected in the real world, it would be an inspiration to many others if Mohan were rewarded for her honesty.

Adrita Guha Neogi,
Howrah

Sir — It was wonderful to learn about Smija K. Mohan’s honesty. In today’s world, a virtue like honesty in people is hard to come by. So one is surprised when one comes across such reports. The story of Mohan’s deed is exemplary. Such people make the world a better place to live in. One wishes Mohan the best for her future.

Sourish Misra,
Calcutta

By force

Sir — It was a major setback for the chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, that on Sunday the president, Ram Nath Kovind, gave his assent to the government of national capital territory of Delhi (amendment) bill, that says ‘government’ in the region would mean ‘lieutenant-governor’.

According to the recently passed legislation, the Delhi government will now need to take the opinion of the lieutenant-governor before any executive action. The law also states that the legislative assembly shall not make any rule to enable itself or its committees to consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the national capital or conduct inquiries in relation to the administrative decisions. Any rule made in contravention of this proviso before the commencement of the Act shall be considered void. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress had opposed the bill — the latter even termed it retrograde, anti-democratic and an insult to the people of Delhi.

Bhagwan Thadani,
Mumbai