Avoiding conflict
The article “On a collision course” and “Growing Animosity” point out the reasons for elephants straying into human habitations. The recent incidents of hordes of elephants raiding certain pockets in Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh from Orissa indicate that they are forced to stray into human habitations due to scarcity of fodder and water and fast depletion in the forest coverage area. To avoid human-elephant conflict, there is an immediate need to earmark free movement zone for elephants and stop poaching of animals.
Nemani Vivekananda Rao
Hyderabad
G. Ananthakrishnan (“On a collision course”, May 10), in an otherwise balanced article, seems to suggest that we should not be alarmed by the number of human deaths caused by elephants because it is insignificant compared to other sources of mortality such as road accidents. To further his point, he then cites the high number of elephant deaths which are attributable to humans. What is the take-home message here? Is it that we should start worrying only when the number of elephant-caused human deaths matches up to other causes of deaths? Or do we wait till it is significantly more than the number of elephant deaths? Unlike economic losses, the loss of lives in conflict incidents, whether human or elephant, should not be reduced to mere statistics. Every such loss is unfortunate and worrying and needs to be dealt with in a sensitive case-by-case basis.
Vena Kapoor and Hari Sridhar
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Your report on the giant beast was instructive and eye-opening. Though the elephant does not face the danger of extinction like the big cats , nonetheless, it may loose its chosen habitat and in the long run may face a serious threat. It is time that we, the animal lovers, take steps to preserve them in special areas remote from human occupation and allow them a life of freedom.
Dr. R.N. Behera,
Nowrangpur,Orissa.
Flaws in the system
With reference to Ms. Usha Jesudasan’s article “Say ‘no’ to ragging” (Magazine, May 10), the rapid rise in incidents of brutal ragging have exposed the flaws in the education system, which may be successful in producing academically brilliant students, but has surely failed to inculcate the right values in them. Educationists and policy-makers should now lay more stress on value-based, rather than career-based, education.
Kajal Chatterjee,
Kolkata
The article was illuminating. The ragging menace cannot be totally eliminated from educational institutions even if stringent measures are introduced. However, it can be minimised to a certain extent. As pointed out by the author, ragging is the handiwork of a few students.The parents and teachers have a greater role to play in moulding the character of students, to prevent the ugly manifestation of sadistic mindset of the students towards freshers.
N.C. Sreedharan,
Kannur
The article was a thought provoking one. In earlier days ragging was done to make the juniors feel at ease so that they can mingle with their seniors without any fear and to get help and guidance. Of late it has turned into a misery in the lives of juniors. Here we have to understand that just enforcement of law is not enough but it is the duty of every parent, teacher and educationtist to educate the students on the importance of kindness and compassion with juniors to develop strong friendships. Do they ask their own brothers/sisters to do all kinds of impossible tasks and make them cry with fear? Each student must think about this.
Kala Krishnasamy
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