Same old trend

Sir — The list of reasons why the world is always angry with Gen Z is long. The latest entry in this list is their need to photograph airport security trays laden with their aesthetically arranged possessions — a carefully curated collection of items like vintage sunglasses, cute shoes, a travel-size perfume bottle, a trending paperback and so on. Anyone who has experienced the mad rush at airport security and the cut-throat competition for empty trays would, understandably, be irritated with such photo sessions holding up the queue. But the real culprit might not be Gen Z; it might be the ubiquitousness of the phone camera. After all, telling those close to us every little detail of our travel is not new — what earlier took hours of cramped writing on postcards to communicate can now be done with the click of a button.

Shibesh Paul, Calcutta

Get to the root

Sir — It is heartening that Naxal violence in India has reduced by 76% between 2010 and 2022 (“Maoist death toll at 15-year high”, Sept 8). Initiatives like Operation Green Hunt have gone a long way towards curbing the Naxalite violence. But parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra are still under the shadow of Naxal violence. A multi-pronged strategy is necessary to eliminate this menace. A bottom-up approach to development and the use of modern technology like Artificial Intelligence for surveillance in dense forests, special rehabilitation packages, and building a robust socio-economic infrastructure are steps that can eradicate Naxal insurgency completely.

Prasun Kumar Dutta, Kharagpur

Sir — Once again, the Union home minister, Amit Shah, has said that the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government will free India of left-wing extremism by March 2026. But Shah had made a similar promise, albeit with a deadline of March 2024, last year. Several historical and socio-economic factors led people to turn to Maoism. Economic development in the impoverished regions afflicted by Maoism can root out this kind of violence.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

Sir — The recently passed Maharashtra special public security bill, 2024 gives the state government the power to label people as ‘Naxals’. One must ask why this bill was tabled without adequate discussion on the issue. Has there been a spurt in Naxalite activity in the state? If so, why has the evidence not been published in the public domain? The bill is intended to intimidate political opponents of the Bharatiya Janata Party and arm the police with draconian powers. The vague and generalised definitions in the poorly drafted bill leave room for arbitrary interpretations.

Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai

Intolerant lot

Sir — The right-wing is an exceptionally sensitive bunch (“Gets under the skin”, Sept 8). Why is it that people on that end of the political spectrum are so unwilling to budge from their point of view or accept the correctness of other schools of thought? There is just one reason behind this: hatred is what gets them votes. The Centre and the Left also need to introspect about how to counter the culture of intolerance that is being spread by the Right.

Fateh Najamuddin, Lucknow

Harmful dose

Sir — Much is written and said about the dangers of the overuse of antibiotics. But antibiotics are not the only drugs sold over the counter. Another popular medicine these days is montelukast, an oral medicine prescribed for long-term use to control asthma and allergic rhinitis. This drug has serious neuropsychiatric side effects — a British teenager who had been on montelukast for two years committed suicide after struggling to cope with mental health issues. Yet, it is widely prescribed to Indians, who, given the country’s high levels of pollution, are particularly prone to lung ailments. In a country where post-marketing surveillance of medicines tends to be limited and mental health issues are largely under-reported and stigmatised, we need to raise awareness about this drug.

Kunal Saha, Ohio, US

Health hazard

Sir — A nation cannot progress unless its people are ready to toil (“The sloths”, Sept 10). According to a report, 155 million Indian adults and 45 million adolescents do not meet the required levels of physical activity laid down by the World Health Organization. A few years ago, a Fitbit survey found Indians to be the laziest people in the world. A sedentary lifestyle makes people prone to serious medical conditions. This, in turn, has a serious impact on the economy of the country. Lazy people are a threat to global health and the world economy.

Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana

Be prepared

Sir — Air pollution worsens each winter. It is thus crucial to take preventive steps before the arrival of the cold months when we are susceptible to respiratory ailments owing to air pollution. For instance, as we approach the festive months, we should not burn firecrackers. It is heartening then that Delhi has imposed a ban on the production, storage, and selling of firecrackers until January 1.

Jakir Hussain, Kanpur

Real romance

Sir — For the swipe-right Gen Z, the thrill of surprise connections made in unexpected places might be foreign territory. This is probably why some hobby applications such as Strava, a platform for runners, or Letterboxd, an app for cinephiles, now appear to be doubling up as no-pressure dating zones. Hobby apps afford youngsters the chance to forge a connection over a shared interest before moving things to the next stage, not to mention make real-life bonds that cannot be replaced by online romance.

Sourish Misra, Calcutta