MyVoice: Views of our readers 7th June 2026

Act, don’t cover up NTA blunder

Onthe one hand, the country is glorifying Nalanda, once the seat of learning that drew seekers of knowledge from all over the world, while on the other hand it is fumbling to conduct examinations and entrance tests in a proper manner. India has proudly showcased universities of international repute like the Madras University, which was hailed as ‘Cambridge of the South’. Now bringing disrepute to the illustrious intellectuals and subjects of the days gone by, are a spate of irregularities, misdeeds, corrupt practices and scams, which together are showing the country’s education standards in poor light, which is something that we cannot brush aside. The NEET faux pas is not an isolated instance. Misdeeds surrounding examinations are mounting to such massive levels the country’s educational standards are the butt of ridicule beyond Indian shores. The government and the concerned ministry cannot claim innocence over the myriad irregularities. Sale of question papers, impersonation, deplorable standards of valuation, and manipulation of even results have become commonplace these past few years.

being manipulated and such complaints are becoming more a common feature in the media. Students committing suicide fail to draw the attention of the officials. All these developments are essentially a fallout of the government’s policy of converting education into a commodity. Closure of government schools in good numbers, increasing dropout rate and declining enrolments in government schools on one side and flourishing of private educational institutions and coaching centres on the other indicate that they enjoy government patronage. Seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court and the government assuring the court of the Prime Minister’s supervision in future in this regard exposes the casual approach of officials. The saddening part of these episodes is that the boy who had brought the shocking facts to light is being trolled and labelled as anti-national. On his part, the education minister is blaming the opposition for the tensions and stress faced by students. Candidates with ‘0’ grade are also declared eligible for admission in medical PG courses by NEET. Do we need to touch the nadir to awaken the authorities? It is time to act and not to cover up.

A G Rajmohan,Anantapur-515004

Nip it in the bud

TheCBSE and NEET paper leaks have caused unbearable mental agony to sincere and hardworking students who appeared for these exams, by burning midnight oil. One can notice a ‘structural weakness ‘, which is orchestrated by solver gangs, proxy candidates and highly compromised examination centres across the country. The arrest of several faculty members and experts in physics, chemistry and biology, has exposed the deeper involvement of scamsters. The NDA government must remain watchful and act cautiously while dealing with young minds. Nationwide momentum demanding resignation of the Union Education Minister is gathering steam. A deft handling of the ‘sensitive issue’ by the Union Government and punishing the guilty persons can ensure that such incidents do not recur.

R J Janardhana Rao,Hyderabad-28

Let us all shoulder social responsibility

Itis a pitiable state-of-affairs that Telangana is in. There is no money for providing tin-roofs to protect the food grains from sudden drizzle and floods, but thousands of crores are splurged to create state-of-the-art infrastructure for cinema theatres, temples and stadiums hosting cricket matches. I feel that there is no point in waiting for funds from the government for everything. If every citizen donates at least a rupee everyday towards social welfare, as a measure of giving back to the society, then we can generate around Rs 143 crore every day. This can be used in such a prudent way that every agricultural field and market yard would have tin-roof shelter to protect the harvest. The money generated can also be used to repair government schools, provide decent wages to the poor workers from organised and unorganised sectors, build animal shelter homes and orphanages and ensure better healthcare and quality education.

Sreelekha P S,Secunderabad-61

Contain the menace of superbikes

Thisrefers to “Illegal superbike racing rife amid threat to public safety” (June 4). This has become a dangerous menace and one that puts both riders and unsuspecting citizens at grave risk. Tackling it requires a multi layered approach. First, enforcement must be uncompromising: police patrols, speed cameras, and immediate seizure of bikes involved in illegal racing can deter offenders. Second, strict licensing and registration checks should be routine, with heavy penalties for violations. Third, urban planning must designate safe, controlled tracks for enthusiasts, so thrill seeking is channelled away from public roads. Fourth, awareness campaigns highlighting the fatal consequences of reckless racing can help shift public perception, especially among youth. Technology too can play a role—GPS tracking, noise sensors, and AI enabled traffic monitoring can identify racing hotspots in real time. Other countries have curbed similar problems by combining harsh penalties with safe alternatives. India must adopt such integrated measures to protect lives. Above all, buying superbikes should not be allowed by parents and they must monitor such activities of children.

Dr O Prasada Rao,Hyderabad

Bike stunts can be fatal

Gen-Zis increasingly into fatal bike stunts on public roads to impress others and post on social media. As reported by The Hans India (June 6), illegal superbike racing has become a trend among college students, with many trying to emulate stunts shown in Hero-Honda TV ads, including lifting the front wheel and riding while holding a girl’s hand. Before punishing and counselling the youth, the government should first ban TV ads that glamourise these stunts. Advertising must not normalise behaviour that puts lives and public safety at risk. Students must understand that social media fame is not worth risking their lives.

Ganti Venkata Sudhir,Secunderabad

Malviya Nagar Hellhole

MalviyaNagar, originally developed in the 1950s to resettle Hindu refugees displaced during Partition, was carved out from Shahpur Jat village. Having lived in Delhi for more than 25 years, I still fondly remember spending summer vacations at my maternal grandfather’s house there. The area was then peaceful, green and sparsely populated, with only a few houses, a tiny market and merely three DTC bus routes connecting it to the city.

Today, the locality has become notorious for reckless and unplanned construction, traffic congestion and crumbling civic infrastructure.

Ironically, despite being represented mostly by BJP leaders, MCD being under BJP control for years together, political blame is constantly shifted to AAP. Even basic issues remain unresolved, including PNG pipelines laid years ago during the Congress period but connections reportedly never provided to many residents. Malviya Nagar has sadly turned from a pleasant colony into an urban hellhole. I really don’t know how a upscale south Delhi colony is infested with all kinds of non-local shoddy people.

N Nagarajan,Hyderabad-103

Fire tragedies: Utter disregard for lives

Callousdisregard for human life underlies the frequent occurrence of fire tragedies in our country. The reason for fire tragedies is not far to seek – a total disregard of safety rules. Ultimately, it all boils down to the poor enforcement of building safety rules. A lackadaisical attitude to safety proves to be costly in terms of life. The reported stashing of LPG cylinders in the basement without fire isolation barriers and a single entry-exit route at the “bed-and-breakfast” facility in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar were clear breaches of fire safety regulations. Poor building design, use of low-quality materials for construction, confined spaces, cramped conditions and lack of ventilation make a building unfit for occupation and prone to fire accidents. Buildings in a state of dilapidation are relatively more flammable and more easily engulfed in flames in the event of an outbreak of fire. Visuals of individuals jumping from the upper floors to escape being burnt alive as the flames were blazing through the six-floor building did not bear looking at. Blessed are those who jumped on the mattresses laid out by the local shopkeepers as they did not suffer any serious injuries. Fire tragedies usually happen in places – be they hospitals, lodges or eateries – where relatively impoverished people go as they find them affordable and places where safety protocols are put in place stringently unaffordable. The point is that there is thus a class angle to avoidable man-made tragedies and poverty enhances vulnerability to them. It was telling that among the victims were nationals from some of the world’s poorest countries.

G David Milton,Maruthancode (TN)

Spread AI awareness right from school level

Inthe article “Preparing students for an AI-powered future: Why curricula must evolve”, Jaspreet Bindra presents a timely discussion on the growing need to align education with technological advancements. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an integral part of daily life and workplaces, educational systems are being called upon to bring in relevant changes that prepare students for future challenges. The article points out several key factors driving this shift.

AI-powered tools are showing up across learning platforms, search engines, and communication systems. Since these technologies can take over routine tasks and assist with problem-solving, curricula need to move beyond memorisation and focus on critical thinking, creativity, communication, and analytical reasoning. Students must also learn to figure out how algorithms work and understand the limitations of AI-generated content.

Educational institutions have a crucial role in carrying out these reforms. Schools can build in AI awareness, digital literacy, media literacy, and ethical discussions within existing subjects. Such initiatives can help students sort out reliable information from misinformation and deal with issues such as deep fakes, data privacy, and algorithmic bias. Parents, too, need to step in by encouraging responsible technology use and guiding children to think through the information they encounter online.

Students, on their part, should seek out opportunities to develop adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and lifelong learning habits.

This evolving approach to education can open up new career opportunities by equipping learners with skills that employers increasingly look for in an AI-driven economy. At the same time, it can bring about ethical understanding, technological awareness, and the flexibility needed to keep up with rapid changes. Such preparation will enable students to thrive in a future where humans and intelligent systems work alongside each other.

Raju Kolluru,Kakinada

Echoes of a golden era: Celebrating two singing legends

Both voices represent distinct yet equally significant threads in the fabric of Indian music history. Asha Bhosle is celebrated for her versatility, energy, and reinvention across genres and decades. Her voice carried emotion, rhythm and vitality through an extraordinary range of songs that continue to resonate with listeners.

Suman Kalyanpur, on the other hand, is admired for her gentleness, elegance, and understated artistry. Her singing is marked by a rare softness and emotional clarity that has left a lasting impression on audiences who value subtlety and grace.

Together, they reflect an exceptional generation of playback singers whose work defined the golden era of Indian film music.

Their songs have become deeply woven into everyday life—echoing through family gatherings, wedding celebrations, radio broadcasts, and long journeys. They remain part of the emotional landscape of millions. The continuing appreciation of their music serves as a reminder that great artistry does not fade with time. Instead, it evolves into memory, influence, and cultural heritage.

These singers are more than performers; they are enduring touchstones of an era that shaped the sound of Indian cinema. Even today, their music lingers in recordings, in shared nostalgia, and in the countless lives their voices have touched—reminding us that true artistry does not end, it only deepens with time.

Jubel D’Cruz,Mumbai

Students haunted by academic year anxiety

With the academic year for students ending, and medical, engineering and MBA aspirants gearing up for seeking admission in the colleges of their choice for the new year. This makes fall easy prey to agents and middlemen helping out in the admission process in metro cities. Parents have their own ambitions for their wards and seek admissions in mainstream colleges. They try to get them admitted by hook or crook in prestigious colleges. Students looking for a bright career fall into the trap laid by the agents and other middlemen. Even ministers, MPs and MLAs try their hand to obtain admission by paying lump sum fees. The students get admission by forgery and cheating at the instance of the street-smart agents. When the whip is lashed, then they lose their admission as well as reputation. From a caste certificate to every document is available for a price and the racket thrives due to the eagerness of the gullible students.

Gundu C K Maniam,Trichy-641012

Regulate traffic signals in Vizag

Thetraffic signal timers in Visakhapatnam city are programmed for more than 60 seconds to stop on turning red, which is holding a rapid flow of vehicles. No one bothers to switch-off the ignition, due to which there is wastage of fuel. In the prevailing heat wave, it is very difficult for two-wheeler riders to keep their vehicles exposed to harsh sunlight at traffic signals. It is suggested to fix the timers at 30 seconds not only to enable the smooth flow of traffic but also to minimise the pollution levels.

Murali M Mallareddy,Visakhapatnam