Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s star-like reception in Australia has been all over the media, and one of the recent inspirational slogans he echoed in Sydney was that he admired the Australian ethos of “dignity of labour”. When he returns to India, he must effectively implement the law against manual scavenging in India. Indeed, there is no dignity in such degrading slavery. Human Rights Watch has raised this issue in a 2014 report, and the BBC, among other western media outlets, has covered it. I also find it ironical that Mr. Modi gave this speech after unveiling Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Brisbane. A first step to bringing dignity to India's exploited and demeaned citizens is the reappraisal of its past “saints”, instead of erecting and worshipping their idols.
Rajiv Thind,
Brisbane, Australia
Plastic menace
The insightful remarks by the Chief Justice of India on the lack of implementation of environmental laws in connection with cases of animals suffering after ingesting plastic bags should be an eye-opener on the urgent need to ban plastic (Nov. 19). The case of plastic garbage weighing 52 kg being removed from the stomach of a cow should make plastic manufacturers realise the harm being done.
D.S. Reddy,
Vijayawada
Despite a ban on the use of plastic, the law does not seem to be effective. It is unfortunate that while the cow is revered, we continue to harm the animal. There needs to be a national debate on the use of plastics and bags. It is a fact that plastic does not degrade in the environment and causes great harm to numerous animals.
Balasubramaniam Pavani,
Secunderabad
The report has come at a time when grave danger awaits not cows but precious wildlife in some of the most pristine parts of Kerala. With the months long pilgrimage season to Sabarimala about to begin, wildlife lovers are gravely concerned about the annual problem of plastic articles being strewn in the area. In February this year — and just after the end of the previous pilgrim season — the necropsy of a dead elephant in the area found polythene carry bags, aluminium foil papers and packed food wrappers in its digestive system. It had died of constipation and intestinal blockage. Plastic waste has also been found in the dung of other wild animals.
Preeti Menon,
Kochi
