Her life for the common man
Irom Chanu Sharmila is known as the world’s longest hunger strike activist in the present century (‘Irom Sharmila’s bold act of resistance’, Gulf News, August 15). Sharmila is an icon for human rights in India and all over the world. The hunger strike was unique and she started her fast at the age of 28, in protest against the massacre of 10 innocent people in the Indian state of Manipur. Her fight was to revoke the law that allows security forces to shoot at sight and arrest without any warrant.
I do appreciate and salute Sharmila for her determination and dedication, which she carried out throughout the years, and it cost a lot for her personal life as well as health. We all saw the tears of joy rolling down her cheeks.
All the successive governments who were in power did not take any steps to end this strike. Now she has so many dreams. First to contest the election in 2018 and become Chief Minister in Manipur and plans for a wedlock with her long-time fiance. Let us hope all her dreams come true and benefit the common man and make quality change in the lives of this state.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Loans often necessary
Loans are a part of life here, as most people are forced to take loans out to pay for their annual rents (‘UAE personal loans jump 7.5% to Dh430 billion’, Gulf News, August 18). Landlords insist on having it in one payment and until this is changed, loans are a necessary evil.
From Mr JP Le Roux
Dubai
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Living expenses
Loans are real burdens, especially for small enterprises. Salaries are low compared to the workload, employers in some companies want results without understanding practical problems or exploitation of middle managers. Rents and education fees are issues that will continue to exist until some real solutions are implemented. Some families may prefer schools without considering the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) ratings if the school fees are more affordable. Reduce rents, make education free and reduce business initial set up fees. Merely reducing interest rates will not solve the rising personal loans.
From Mr Kant Chander
Dubai
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Airport taxis
It’s a good move by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), but I personally have never faced any issue like bad behaviour from taxi drivers (‘English language test for new taxi drivers’, Gulf News, August 16). I have used the Sharjah airport taxis twice, however, and both times I’ve had a bad experience. I think that this should also be the case for all airport taxis.
From Mr Arun Munroe
UAE
Website comment
Speeding an issue
Good move by RTA for taxi drivers, there are many ill-mannered driver who lack the discipline needed. I would like to see drivers control their speeding, instead of potentially endangering their lives and the lives of their passengers.
From Mr Saif Saeed Abdul Rahman
UAE
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Long shifts
There is good and bad in everything, everywhere. What they need is not a stiff target with a 12-hour shift. We all need to think about that.
From Mr Bismilla Khan
UAE
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Expensive project?
It will benefit them personally in addition to improving their conduct and customer service. The worry is the cost of such skills and who will pay it. Taxi fares are already higher than before. I only hope this doesn’t raise the fare.
From Mr Praveen Mehta
UAE
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Put passengers first
I think this should extend to bus drivers, too! I had a horrible experience on a public bus a couple of weeks ago! Never again. Drivers need to drive safe and put their passengers first.
From Ms Katrina Whetham
UAE
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Too much work?
In my four-year stay in Dubai, by luck or by chance, only twice did I have an undesirable experience with an RTA taxi driver. So I guess I have nothing to complain about.
From Mr Carlos Ante
UAE
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Learning a skill
Great job, UAE authorities! I faced a driver from Sharjah to Dubai who had very disappointing behaviour. With this, they can learn something useful for their job.
From Mr Farhat Iqbal
UAE
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Stressful
You’re thinking about yourself only. You’re not thinking about the taxi drivers. Their salary, food, accommodations, and traffic fines are stressful. Ask the drivers how their job is going?
From Mr Zubair Bin Musa
Dubai
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Important lessons
Being able to communicate is very important. Most either pretend they don’t understand English or really don’t and say ‘yes’ to everything. While you’re at it, teach taxi drivers some other skills to mind their own business and to not ask, women in particular, personal questions that are none of their business. It’s a job and that’s it. Just do your job as a taxi driver. Stop taking us on scenic tours pretending you don’t understand English. They shouldn’t be allowed to be a driver until they know directions and how to use a Global Positioning System (GPS). Maybe those skills also need to be taught.
From Ms Simone Donges-Bdiwi
UAE
Facebook comment
Teach customers, too
Actually the problem is with you, not with taxi driver. Check yourself and change your attitude with taxi drivers, then you’ll find a good taxi driver. It’s not good to judge all people by one standard, it just doesn’t make sense. I don’t know who’ll teach customers. There is a big difference between being well educated and being a human being.
From Mr B. Shahin
UAE
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An economic turn
Indeed there was a turnaround in the Pakistani economy after the transition (‘Today in history: Pervez Musharraf resigns as President of Pakistan’, Gulf News, August 18). Militarily, the country is one of the most powerful Muslim nations in the world. Pervez Musharraf did steer Pakistan into great economic prosperity, but then came the politicians who have ruined the country’s economic prosperity.
From Mr Aziz K.
UAE
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A passionate leader
It was honestly the end of an era! A solid Pakistan was being steered by Musharraf. It was one that did not differentiate between good or bad terrorism. He was a truly passionate leader of his country and his statesmen skills are highly respected. If only he would have been elected rather than come to power through a coup, many strong nations would have no moral authority to request for his departure.
From Mr Ajay Bhatia
Dubai
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True sportsmanship
The Olympics is not only about winning medals and certificates, it is also about participating and winning hearts (‘India gymnast Dipa Karmakar within a whisker of medal’, Gulf News, August 15). Victory is not only about earning medals at the podium, it is also about rising in defeat with a renewed determination. This was aptly demonstrated by a young Indian athlete, Dipa Karmakar, at the recent Rio 2016 Olympics. Karmakar coming from a humble family background through her hard work and dedication rose to heights to represent her country in gymnastics in the international arena. She gave her best, but missed the medal for her country by whiskers as somebody else’s best was better than hers! She may have not won medals, but she won millions of Indian hearts with her stellar performance and determination to come back for a “gold for life” as she said. Kudos to Karmakar for showing true sportsmanship. We need more like her in the Olympic Games to come.
From Mr Ravi Chitnis
Dubai
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