Neighbour wars

In my opinion, inappropriate upbringing of a child should also be considered as child abuse. Our neighbours have a very different lifestyle. They sleep during the day and are up all night. They have been complaining that we make noise and disturb them while they are sleeping. But we have no intention to do so. We are a family of three and we don’t indulge in any extravagant activities to make noise. It is worth mentioning that we do have a music system and a television at home. In order to retaliate for the noise we apparently make, our neighbours send their 10-year-old son to the roof (as they are on the ground floor and we are on the first floor of a two storey building) with a hammer and ask him to hit the floor of the terrace to disturb us. Occasionally they turn off the water valve to our apartment to irritate us. I feel sorry for their child who is being bought up in this manner. They are instilling revenge and hatred in his innocent mind. .

From Mr Kamran Ali Asghar

UAE

Unaffordable medical services

I once read a story about an Emirati who paid the hospital bills of an expatriate and discharged him from the hospital, so he could get his passport back from the hospital management. To some people it was a pleasant story, but to others it a horrific tale of the expensive medical services in the UAE. My company does not give any medical benefit to their employees. I was diagnosed with a multiple disc problem at the age of 31, and I was very weak. I was unable to walk for a few weeks due to the radiating pain in my legs. My company did not even pay me for my sick leave, unless I cried and begged them. I use to pay a minimum consultation fee of Dh500 during my treatment. Then I had to spend on my medication and required medical tests and screenings. Tell me how will a person with a Dh3,000 monthly salary survive these expenses? Thankfully I managed to get medical insurance this year. Believe me, it’s such a relief. I think the concerned authorities need to look at the expensive medical service for the health of the nation. They must make it mandatory for all companies to provide medical benefits to heir employees.

From Ms Tania Bhatt

UAE

Indian political situation

The euphoria created by the unexpected victory of Aam Admi Party (AAP), a year old political outfit led by the astute bureaucrat-turned politician Arvin Kejriwal, has surprised one and all, especially the mainstream political parties (‘Kejriwal must show he cares for the common man,’ Gulf News, January 23). The common man, frustrated by the unrestrained corruption and helplessly watching the rampant nepotism around them, jumped onto the bandwagon of AAP expecting a turnaround of the current dispensation to a more credible and transparent system of governance. Lack of a comfortable majority notwithstanding, the Kejriwal team could deliver a couple of important promises made to the electorate such as free water and subsidised power within a short period of time. Law and order problem in Delhi and its surrounding areas, especially crimes against women, was a major concern for the people in Delhi. However, the central government controls the Delhi Police and the state government can at the best act only as vigilantes to stop the crimes. Even though the party’s vigilantism in coercing the police to take action against the alleged criminals is debatable, according to the reports, they did so at the behest of the local residents who assert that they complained to the police department time and again but without any response. An altogether different political party as it claims to be, AAP and its ministers cannot turn its back and ignore the genuine grievances of its constituents and therefore such actions should be seen in the right perspective. So the criticism that vigilantism is not the way to resolve an issue of governance is unfounded. Considering the support being extended by the middle class and the common man to the AAP throughout the length and breadth of the country, it seems AAP has struck the right chord with the masses rendering sleepless nights to the mainstream political parties in the election year.

From Mr Sathyan Purameri

Dubai

Dangerous radio contests

Radio channels have become a part of our life. Most people listen to it while driving. Listening is okay but participating in contests is becoming more and more popular. This is a problem as people text while driving trying to be first on air. Even the radio station urges listeners to text immediately. The other day while I was listening to the radio, someone won a prize. The Radio Jockey (RJ) asked him that why were there so many special characters between the words in his text message. The winner proudly responded that he was driving so he didn’t realise. I was shocked to hear this. My father has been driving for 30 years but has never texted while driving. Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the police are trying their best to keep people from using their phones while driving, but at the same time the RJ’s convince people to reply immediately. This can be dangerous and can lead to fatal accidents. Radio stations should not give prizes to people who text and call them while driving. Their anxiety to win a prize can lead them to trouble or a mishap. I request all the readers not to even touch the phone while driving. The authorities are struggling hard to make roads safer. We all must abide by the rules and restrain the urge to use mobiles while driving.

From Mr Raunak Kapur

Sharjah

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