Use well

Sir — The average lifespan of electronic products can be alarmingly low. Not only do companies upgrade their products every few months, but also certain accessories and parts are discontinued altogether, making it difficult, if not impossible, to fix damages. Hearteningly, people are holding on to their gadgets longer, replacing them only when necessary. But a reduction in the consumption of electronic goods will require greater quality control by manufacturers. The carbon footprint of electronics is about 3.7 per cent of global greenhouse emissions. Manufacturers must prioritize the well-being of the planet over monetary gains.

Sarmistha Chakraborty,
Calcutta

Grave shock

Sir — It is shocking to learn that eight people, including women and children, have been massacred in a village in Birbhum in retaliation to the murder of the deputy chief of the Trinamul-run Barshal gram panchayat (“Bloodbath”, March 24). This heinous crime has led many to question the TMC government’s ability to maintain law and order in West Bengal.

The chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, must ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book. The police have already arrested more than 20 people connected to the violence. The TMC must see to it that people do not lose faith in the government.

Janga Bahadur Sunuwar,
Jalpaiguri

Sir — The West Bengal director-general of police, Manoj Malaviya, is of the opinion that the deaths of eight people in Birbhum should not be attributed to political motivations. But Malaviya must admit that the timing of the incident is suspicious. The police must investigate the incident thoroughly before arriving at any conclusion. This is a highly sensitive matter and must be handled swiftly and fairly.

Anuradha Bansal,
Calcutta

Sir — Mamata Banerjee must take responsibility for the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal. Even if members of the ruling TMC were not directly involved in the carnage at Birbhum, the local administration should have been proactive in pacifying the angry villagers. The government must reflect on its inefficiencies. Banerjee needs to assure the people that the government will do all it can to ensure justice.

Arun Gupta,
Calcutta

Steady steps

Sir — According to the Union health ministry, the maternal mortality rate in India has declined by 10 points and the country will soon meet its Sustainable Development Goals of 70 per lakh live births by 2030 (“Uneven progress”, Mar 21). However, not all states have performed well. While seven states — Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu — have met the SDG target, some others have, unfortunately, seen a rise in the MMR.

Pregnancy-related complications are the primary cause of death among girls between 15 to 19 years of age. Early motherhood, education and societal attitude towards women influence maternal health risks. Another major cause of death is anaemia, which is a result of a combination of prepartum iron deficiency and excessive blood loss. The Centre and state governments must jointly address these persisting problems if they hope to bring down the MMR across the country.

Kiran Agarwal,
Calcutta

Lost treasures

Sir — In a gesture of goodwill, the Australian government returned 29 stolen antiquities to India ahead of the virtual meeting between the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi. The items — primarily sculptures and paintings — were stolen from different parts of India. The oldest artefacts date back to the 9th and 10th centuries. In September last year, the United States of America returned 157 artefacts and antiquities to India and vowed to combat the theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.

Many Western countries are guilty of looting cultural treasures from the global South. A significant number of ancient Indian artefacts were stolen during the colonial period, many of which are still displayed in museums around the world. Although India has recovered several such items, many more are yet to be returned. The former colonizers must return stolen antiquities to their countries of origin and remedy historical wrongs.

Abhinav Sharma,
Gwalior

Sir — The decision of the Australian government to return 29 pieces of centuries-old artefacts to India is welcome. This will help strengthen the ties between the two countries. Other countries must follow suit.

Kirti Wadhawan,
Kanpur

Hidden gem

Sir — It was heartbreaking to learn that the veteran Japanese actor and voiceover artist, Akira Takarada, has passed away at the age of 87. Takarada, a beloved figure in Japan, is best known to international audiences for appearing in the 1954 film, Godzilla.

Many people love to watch kaiju films — a genre of films and television shows featuring giant monsters — but are rarely aware of its Japanese origins. In fact, Steven Spielberg, who revolutionized American monster cinema, has cited Godzilla as a major inspiration for Jurassic Park and Jaws. The advent of the internet has made it possible to track down and watch the original Japanese film. We must accord due importance to this cult classic.

Anamika Saha,
Calcutta