Hero’s burden

Sir — Many of us who have grown up reading comic books have often dreamt of possessing a superpower. But the impossible feats that are achieved by fictional superheroes make us aware of our human limitations. Significantly, scientists have now said that while Homo sapiens cannot fly like Superman, their bodies seemingly possess superhuman traits that can be acquired through genetic mutation. The evolved genetic advantage of sherpas that helps them survive in high altitudes is an example. But possessing a superpower can be both a blessing and a curse. One need not look further than the real-life example of women who, while blessed with multitasking skills, are disproportionately burdened when it comes to balancing career and nurturance.

Binita Maity, Calcutta

False claims

Sir — The Supreme Court of India has rightly reprimanded the Bharatiya Janata Party-led dispensation at the Centre for failing to act against Patanjali Ayurved, a company co-owned by the self-proclaimed yoga guru, Ramdev, for carrying out misleading advertisements claiming that its products can cure Covid-19 (“SC slams govt on Patanjali’s Covid claim”, April 3).

It must be remembered that Harsh Vardhan, the former Union health minister who is himself a medical practitioner, had endorsed Coronil, the controversial pill promoted by Patanjali Ayurved as a cure for Covid-19 in spite of it not being reviewed by the World Health Organization. Moreover, the prime minister has often been found lauding Ramdev and promoting Patanjali on public platforms in his push for traditional medicine. The truth is that Ramdev is not qualified to practise medical science. It is unfortunate that such an unscientific mindset is being perpetrated in a modern nation like India.

Basudeb Dutta, Nadia

Sir — Ayurveda can have positive effects in healthcare only when used as a complementary therapy alongside modern medicine. However, lack of regulatory oversight has led to companies like Patanjali Ayurved making exaggerated claims about ayurvedic medicines, which are not even subjected to rigorous clinical trials like allopathic drugs. Ramdev’s remarks discrediting allopathy and its proponents are damaging and uncalled for.

Innovations in modern medicine, such as vaccines and antibiotics, have been able to rein in mass killers like malaria, tuberculosis, cholera and so on. If traditional science is that effective, why do celebrities and politicians get admitted to elite hospitals and opt for advanced allopathic treatment instead of rushing to a traditional healer?

H.N. Ramakrishna, Bengaluru

Verify it

Sir — It is heartening that the Supreme Court has notified the Election Commission of India about a writ petition seeking a complete count of voter verified paper audit trail paper slips in the polls as opposed to the current practice of counting only five randomly selected electronic voting machines in each constituency. There is no justification for the government spending nearly Rs 5,000 crore to purchase nearly 24 lakh VVPATs and tallying slips from only 20,000 of them.

Several Opposition leaders, organisations and dignitaries have charged the ruling party with EVM tampering. The ECI should undertake a complete tallying of VVPAT slips to restore public faith in the electoral process.

Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai

Be prepared

Sir — The initiative for a pandemic treaty by the World Health Organization to get the global population ready for future pandemics is reassuring (“Get ready”, April 2). However, the stakeholders are still miles away from achieving a consensus on the most salient features of the agreement. Global cooperation made it possible to defeat Covid-19. It seems that the lessons from Covid have been forgotten too soon.

Sanjit Ghatak, South 24 Parganas

Sir — The WHO has tasked the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to come up with an international instrument to respond to future pandemics by May. The primary objective of the initiative must be to protect the people from another pandemic irrespective of their economic status. The editorial, “Get ready”, rightly highlighted the serious institutional lapses in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The world must come together to ensure equitable access to life-saving drugs and vaccines so that each life can be saved.

Sukhendu Bhattacharjee, Hooghly

Job trap

Sir — Shockingly, over 5,000 Indians have been forced into cyber slavery in Cambodia by fraudsters. The Indians were lured to the Southeast Asian country with the promise of jobs but were then forced to become part of the cyber fraud network there.

The government has revealed that such companies take away the passports of Indians and make them work 12 hours a day. Refusal to follow orders would lead to electric shocks and assault. New Delhi should step up diplomatic pressure on Cambodia to not only ensure the safe return of the Indian nationals but also crack down on such fraudulent schemes.

Dattaprasad Shirodkar, Mumbai

Towards equality

Sir — It is heartening that the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur has decided to introduce a course on gender sensitisation and gender justice from the upcoming academic session (“Gender sensitisation course at IIT”, April 3). At a time when more women are feeling empowered to join the workforce, doctrines on mutual respect and appropriate workplace conduct must be inculcated into students to ensure a safe work environment for women. Such courses should also be made part of the school curriculum.

Vinay Asawa, Howrah