Sir — Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest slums, has set an example for the rest of the world to follow in its fight, with limited resources, against the Covid-19 pandemic. With social distancing being impossible in such a congested area, healthcare practitioners and community service providers took it upon themselves to help people during this time of crisis. Extensive testing, tracking and treatment massively reduced the number of new Covid-19 cases. In fact, 90 per cent of the patients were reportedly treated in the slum itself. This shows that proper planning is the most important factor while dealing with this disease.

Abhijit Chakraborty,

Howrah

Wrong decision

Sir — The proclamation issued by the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, blocking the entry of workers with H-1B and some other work visas into the country until the end of this year — in the name of containing the Covid-19 crisis — will affect the future of many Indian technocrats who wished to work in the US (“Trump suspends H-1B visas”, June 24). This whimsical move is Trump’s attempt to recover his lost political standing, caused by his own inept handling of the pandemic, by projecting himself as a protector of jobs for Americans. In fact, the suspension of visas will backfire as soon as American companies begin to outsource their work in the domain of information technology to Indians online. The government of India must take up this matter with the US at once in order to safeguard the interests of Indian workers and their families.

Brij B. Goyal,

Ludhiana

Sir — Donald Trump’s decision to suspend new work visas is nothing but a politically motivated move to please his voters. He is clearly championing protectionist policies since the US presidential elections are due in November. In the larger context, however, this move is obviously unwise. That is why it has been criticized by most members of the corporate world, both in the Silicon Valley itself as well as in other countries. Without a doubt, the US is likely to have to pay a big cost for this step in times to come.

Trump’s decision is indeed contrary to the idea of the US that the nation has been seen to uphold. After all, the country is known for its cultural diversity and free movement of labour. A large portion of the credit for the economic growth and development of the biggest superpower in the world must go to immigrants and skilled workers who go to the US to contribute to the workforce. With this ban in place, how the US will compensate for the gap created by the absence of such workers, at least for the next six months, is anyone’s guess. It has been reported that Indians had applied for 67 per cent of the total number of H-1B visas this year. This segment is bound to be hit considerably.

Bal Govind,

Noida

Sir — It is ironic that while many Indians have raised the demand to boycott China, the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump — the ‘great friend’ of India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi — has decided to boycott Indians workers willing to work in the US, by suspending the H-1B visa, among certain other work visas. As president of the US, Trump certainly has the right to decide on the matter of immigration in his country — a number of Americans had voted for him so that he would create more jobs for unemployed citizens. At the end of his first presidential term, with the next elections knocking at the door, Trump has succumbed to this electoral rhetoric to attract voters. It is just a temporary yet recurring ploy to stay in power.

The Trump administration believes that the move will open up employment opportunities for Americans in an economy that has reported record job losses this year. Since the US president considers the restriction of immigration a key campaign issue, it is likely that as the election draws closer, the world will see further action along these lines. Trump’s move should open the eyes of the Indian premier who has always supported the US president. Modi should realize that it is only as long as it suits the interests of the US — whether it is the demand for hydroxychloroquine or highly skilled workers from India — that this relationship stands. As soon as a crisis hits, the US will close its doors on India. As such, it has become a necessity for India to become self-reliant in order to avoid such attacks on its economy by foreign countries.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad

Sir — Many American citizens will feel reassured by Donald Trump’s decision to restrict the influx of immigrant workers into the US. They might even vote for Trump based on this step. However, it is high time that people began to introspect on the reason why workers from abroad — India is an example — claim so many jobs in the US. Cheap labour is surely not the only cause behind this — would not unemployed Americans have settled for the same amount as immigrants in a time of financial crisis?

The common people of the US should realize that several Indians, or other foreigners, sit in high places in their country because they worked really hard: their educational qualifications should be proof. The US citizens, then, should demand more educational opportunities from their government instead of protectionist policies.

Shraddha Sharma,

Delhi