Reduce fares
From Mr. E. Eappen, Dubai.
I refer to the news item "Call to drop airfare hike plans" (Gulf News, January 1). It is unfortunate that all airlines operating on the Gulf sector from Kerala have increased their fares from January 1. It will affect almost 2.5 million Keralites working in the Gulf. In the past 10 years Air India has increased the fare by 400 per cent, although its service is poor compared to other airlines.

Non Resident Indians (NRIs) working in the Gulf are India's main contributors of foreign currency. Yet the government ignores their basic demands, like reduction in airfare, pension scheme, voting rights.

The Indian government should allow other foreign airlines to operate from Thiruvanathapuram, so we will get good service at a reasonable rate. All Gulf based Indian organisations should press the Indian government for a reduction in air fares and to allow landing rights to foreign airlines.

Intrusions
From Mr. C.G. Ganesh, Dubai.
Your Special Report "Protecting consumers' rights" (Gulf News, January 6) prompted me to write about the number of advertisements inserted into videos of Indian films. I rent English and Indian regional language videos and notice that while an English language video,will have trailers at the beginning, no advertisements are shown during the film.

With Indian films there are no advertisements at the start but as the movie progress, there are lots of advertisements, usually at crucial parts of the story in the film. If it was a free video, I would not bother, but I pay for them.

Moreover, the videos are produced under copyright laws and by selling them to video libraries, the producer makes money. Is it legal to constantly insert advertisements during the film? If so then why there are no advertisements in English language videos? We pay for a service and should get a quality product that is to our liking.

Fine not so fine
From Ms T.A., Dubai.
I refer to the law banning children under 10 years from the front seat of vehicles (Gulf News, January 2). I agree with those who have written that the law and the paltry fine are not enough. I have lived here for two years but red flags still go up for me when I spot a police car following me - or even a car that at first glance resembles a police car - and I instinctively check my speed. How silly of me.

Everyone knows the police leave matters of speeding to radar. Anyway, the fines are insignificant.

In my home country, fines are high and the traffic police are, for lack of a better word, "pro-active". As well as speeding, police pull over motorists when they notice violations regarding seat belts and child safety restraints. Fines are high. Lack of an approved car seat for an infant or small child will result in steep fines, also.

Passive application of law makes for lax adherence to it. Parents without the instincts to restrain their children in a car probably won't be enlightened without facing a hefty fine or a tragedy.
* Full name withheld by request.

Change hours
From Mr. C.K. Gopalakrishnan, Dubai.
During Ramadan traffic was much smoother. Now that schools have reopened, traffic jams and bottlenecks are commonplace again. The reason the traffic was smooth during Ramadan was most companies, factories and schools had different hours of work. So if we have different hours for schools and offices, traffic problems can be solved.

Saving turtles
From Mr. H. Barreto, Abu Dhabi.
The article "Sea turtles get a headstart" (Gulf News, Friday magazine, December 29-January 4) brought back memories of my recent visit to Galgibaga, in picturesque south Goa, where I saw the fantastic efforts of the Forest Department, Government of Goa, supported by the local parish priest Fr. Mariano Goes Proenca, in saving the sea turtles.

The area is  now the premier nesting grounds for turtles in India. During my visit the serene beach had around 20 nests waiting to incubate. The site is guarded 24 hours a day by local fishermen.

I appreciate the programme launched by Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of ERWDA, in saving the sea turtles. A very laudable conservation effort indeed!

Productive
From Mr. Krishnaunni, Dubai.
I agree with Mr. Gurfham ("Action needed" Gulf News, January 5) that Indians should know that they have little to do with the whims and fancies of politicians. But I disagree that the 50 years of independence was unproductive.

If it were so then Indians would not be where they are now. We would not be the Non Resident Indians (NRIs) we are. Our conditions would have been little better than those of the citizens of many other nations which are in the state of absolute poverty and bankruptcy. We can hold our heads high because we have done far more than what the "developed" countries in the world did in their first 50 years of independence.

We are at par or sometimes are more developed than the developed countries in certain fields of activity. We need to do a lot more, that's all. We cannot stamp our first 50 years of independence as unproductive. Unproductive are those nations which failed to achieve the goal of providing the basic needs to their people.

Hacking cops
From Mr. C.G. Philip, Dubai.
Hacking has turned out to be the most fascinating aspect of Internet. Illegal entry into military systems, downloading top secret files, incorporating virus programs have all turned out to be a part of this highly motivated net game play.

What if hacking is used for a better purpose? Hackers are now on a mission where 19 teenagers in India have opted to become cybercops to tackle Internet crimes (Gulf News, January 4). Can this be an antidote to a dreadful fantasy or will it give rise to a new genus of Internet hackers?

Silent workers
From Mrs. B.T. Ali, Abu Dhabi.
I refer to the letters "Move them away" (Gulf News, December 31) and "Matter of luck" (Gulf News, January 5). The contributions of those who helped develop the country is ignored. The true test of civilisation lies in creating and constructing.

The labouring class, coming from the lower strata of the society, is the  backbone of any country's economy. They are hard working and self-reliant. Too long have they been exploited by the educated class. We should help them secure their rights in the name of social and economic justice. They are innocent, sincere, humble, respectable people who have the right to visit areas to meet and exchange salutations well within their limits.

Real nuisance
From Mr. R. Kumar, Ras Al Khaimah.
I appreciated the letter "Move them away" but did not expect the negative reactions that followed.

Not everyone is affected so it is meaningless to comment from a moral, puritanical, ideological and theoretically humane manner about the serious menace of growing number of migrant labourers in certain city locales.

I do not deny