Business casual
Sir — Employees tend to stick to a prescribed dress code in order to better fit into the work environment. However, the pandemic has upended this convention significantly. The return to office after the pandemic witnessed workers embracing a more relaxed dressing style, prioritising comfort over formal attire. It is thus disheartening that a municipal council in Punjab recently banned the wearing of informal clothes such as jeans during work hours. The Bihar education department has also imposed a similar diktat. Given the rising trend among employees to quit their jobs when forced to wear formal attire and the fact that casual clothing actually boosts staff morale, workplaces should perhaps reconsider such decisions.
Sanjeev Rastogi, Ranchi
Fragile lives
Sir — After a string of suicides among students in Kota, the coaching hub in Rajasthan, the authorities have ordered hostels to instal spring devices on ceiling fans that would supposedly dissuade students from taking their own lives (“Stress factory”, Aug 21). This is but a stopgap solution and will not prove effective in preventing suicides in the long run. It is common knowledge that the inhuman pressure that aspirants are subjected to in the coaching centres makes them vulnerable to mental health afflictions. Therefore, finding a holistic solution to this problem is the need of the hour.
Further, the societal practice of pushing students too hard towards achieving academic excellence also needs to change. Parents should understand that premier institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology are not the last word in quality education. Students must instead be encouraged to pursue their passion to ensure their well-being.
Bal Govind, Noida
Sir — The anti-suicide measures taken by the Kota administration elude logic. A spring device and sensor attached to the ceiling fan will further stigmatise the aspirants suffering from mental conditions. The most effective step to address the rising number of suicide cases is through counselling, monitoring students’ behaviour, and creating an ecosystem where they can share their anxieties freely with teachers and trainers.
Avinash Godboley, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh
Sir — Despite a ban, ragging continues unabated in most educational institutions of the country (“Evil ritual”, Aug 15). The latest report by the University Grants Commission has revealed that at least 25 students have died by suicide after being subjected to ragging in the past six years.
The recent death of a Jadavpur University student laid bare several structural problems. For instance, some of those arrested in the case have been overstaying in the hostel for years after their graduation. This is a clear violation of the law and indicates sheer apathy on the part of the college authorities to safeguard the students.
Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai
Sir — It is heartening that Jadavpur University has decided to instal CCTV cameras at the gates of the hostels and inside the campus (“Enforcing discipline a priority: New VC”, Aug 21). While this will help check the entry of outsiders and prevent illegal activities, CCTV surveillance will also stifle the democratic spirit of the institution.
Instead of such knee-jerk measures, the government can include ragging as a parameter for the national rankings of educational institutions. An independent ombudsman can be appointed. Universities should also receive Central grants on a timely basis to implement these steps.
Shayan Das, North 24 Parganas
Partisan agenda
Sir — In “A fresh perspective” (Aug 20), Ather Farouqui discusses the various aspects of the Uniform Civil Code in detail. While the author fails to weigh in on the other religious communities outside of Hindus and Muslims, he rightly concludes that any politically-motivated UCC will not withstand judicial scrutiny.
The religious partisanship of the ruling dispensation is well-established. This is evident from the fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party continues to prioritise the UCC over burning issues such as the Manipur conflict, rising unemployment and poverty.
Manoharan Muthuswamy, Chennai
Sir — Ather Farouqui’s article, “A fresh perspective”, investigates the motivation behind the Centre’s eagerness to implement the UCC. The UCC is a highly-contentious issue concerning diverse religious communities. Any discrepancy in the law will severely impact the secular ethos of the country. Farouqui raises a pertinent point regarding personal laws, elaborating on how they are in conflict with customary practices.
Given the changing dynamics and complexities of the times, the draft legislation should consider the views of not only the stakeholders but also legal experts.
Ronodeep Das, Calcutta
Paper icon
Sir — The use of postcards has become a rarity. Gone are the days when people made a beeline in front of post offices to buy the iconic yellow postcards, which were also cost-effective. One hopes that the postcard will not vanish from our lives like Telegram.
Sourish Misra, Calcutta
Maiden victory
Sir — Spain have created history by winning their maiden Fifa Women’s World Cup title, defeating England 1-0 in a thrilling final in Sydney (“Spain roar silences Lionesses in final”, Aug 21). The left-footed shot by the skipper, Olga Carmona, cemented the Spanish victory. Thereafter, Spain put up a firm defence, denying the English any chance of making an equaliser.
Amarjeet Kumar, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
