An inspiring woman to follow
While most reports are either frightening or making readers sad, some reports, like the piece on the first female bus driver in Delhi, India, are a relief to read (‘Driving her way into history’, Gulf News, April 24).
The report says that Vankudothu Saritha, a 30-year-old driver, has been appointed by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) as the first woman to drive a bus for Delhi’s public transport. The DTC has almost 243 women as conductors, but none as drivers. Of course, with this new assignment, she may become an inspiration to many. I am sure that many will be inspired by her story and follow in her footsteps. Now, after her dream is fulfilled, she wants to help her parents who are poor farmers, with five daughters. Kudos to Gulf News for introducing such an inspiring and innovative person to readers.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
Kerala makes hasty decision
Kerala’s government has shown unprecedented urgency in making such a huge decision, without the collective opinion of the public in the case of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) results announcement (‘Glitches hit Kerala exam results’, Gulf News, April 24). Their hasty decision has jeopardised the studies of many pupils for no fault of their own and the Indian government stands responsible for all this mess!
The reports from the country’s education minister and chief minister blaming software problems, is absolutely absurd and simply an eyewash. Liberally awarding scores, to boost the percentage of success is a wrong practice. The state average is going to go down.
From Mr M. K. Gunaseelan
UAE
Dangerous taxi drivers
I think it’s good that there are alerts for taxi drivers when tailgating occurs, but what about when taxi drivers are tailgating the car in front of them (‘Dubai taxi drivers to get tailgating alert’, Gulf News, April 23)? Do passengers still have to alert the driver that they are driving dangerously and to back off?
From Mr Jesmond Magro
Dubai
Facebook comment
Taxis risk their lives
In response to Mr Jesmond Magro, I think, yes, the cars behind also need a warning because, unlike the taxi drivers, they are not on the road driving 12-hour shifts. They may just be on a rushed 30-minute journey to work. It is not just taxi drivers that tailgate!
From Mr Phil Jones
UAE
Facebook comment
Choosing safety over pride
If someone is faster than me and coming up from behind, by all means, I should move. I’m putting myself at risk by driving too slow in the fast lane. If someone is tailgating me because I’m way too slow and the road is empty, I definitely should move if it’s possible.
This is just my opinion and I know there are people who are driving slow and wouldn’t move because either their pride doesn’t allow it, because it’s against the law or because they just have failed to notice that they are driving too slow in the fast lane. By all means, follow your own philosophy, as long as it is within the confines of the law. I just want to reduce the chance of someone behind me tailgating to the point that it actually gets serious and I get hit. I’d rather be safe and move, rather than stay in the fast lane and drive slowly.
From Mr Hadee A. Abu Zahra
UAE
Facebook comment
Good move by Bangladesh
This was a good move by the Bangladesh authorities, as they followed up for their fellow citizens’ welfare and helped console the affected victims’ families (‘All 19 Bangladeshi victims of Al Ain crash 2013 get blood money’, Gulf News, April 24). It is very strange to know the Indian embassy lost contact with the families of victims to get a follow-up and to pay them what they deserve. Everyone may have forgotten until Gulf News called them up to find out what happened to the blood money promised to the families. Hats off to Gulf News!
From Mr Yehiya
UAE
Website comment
Unacceptable inefficiency
There is no need to pinch pennies when it comes to blood money. We should let the victims’ families get the allotted sum. As for Indian embassy, how can they lose the families’ details? Get organised!
From Mr Khalid
UAE
Website comment
Respecting blood money
As a Bangladeshi, I thank the UAE authorities for their help in the matter. The authorities have always proven helpful towards workers after such incidents.
From Mr Syed M. Dostagir Probel
UAE
Facebook comment
UAE, ensure no corruption!
Thank you to the UAE authorities for their efforts and I hope that they make sure that this blood money goes directly to the victims’ families’ accounts. In Bangladesh, there are too many problems to face when trying to collect a large sum of money.
From Mr Syed Mir
UAE
Facebook comment
Why ignore migrants?
The migrants who died in the capsized boat in the Mediterranean all left in search of greener pastures (‘Desperate migrants meeting death in Mediterranean’, Gulf News, April 23). The Western world has in the past, reaped many benefits from the African continent in the way of treasures, but in return, they do not seem to be helping refugees attain peace, stability and safe shores.
From Mr Claude Lache
Dubai
Facebook comment
New strategies for Yemenis
Let us hope that the new phase of the Saudi Arabian-led coalition brings together the various factions in Yemen to resolve issues (‘Arabs can stand up to Iran, Riyadh says’, Gulf News, April 23). In the past few months, the common people of Yemen have suffered from constant strife.
There is a heavy human cost in such conflicts. The scars of suffering are lifelong. Many ordinary people have lost their family members, their homes and their livelihoods. Whilst their pain and grief cannot be erased, at least they should be resettled quickly in terms of their housing, their jobs and businesses.
The various stakeholders in Yemen like Al Houthis, Iran, ex-Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, current Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries should realise that eventually, the brunt of the battle is borne by the common folk. It is time to give peace a chance.
Yemen is one of the poorest Arab countries. The Gulf countries should now join efforts to rebuild the infrastructure and economy of the country. In the new operation, they should build homes, bridges, roads, shops and offices. No one can rebuild fractured lives, but we can help people regain their daily lives and livelihoods.
From Mr Rajendra K. Aneja
Dubai
Valuing human life in Delhi
This tragic incident of the farmer that committed suicide, took place at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally in Delhi, India (‘Rajasthan farmer commits suicide at Kejriwal rally’, Gulf News, April 23). Parties are fighting against the land bill and creating such agitation did not help save this innocent farmer from his suffering. Whatever be the compensation, his life has ended. Watching this tragic incident were Delhi’s chief minister and the police, which I find unacceptable. A probe should be conducted and the truth should be voiced. The value of a human life should be respected. Blaming each other is India’s political gimmick.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
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