Of school bags and homework

With reference to ‘Centre's fiat on weight of school bags and homework’ (November 27), we should ensure that the weight of the school bag is reduced.

All attempts should be made by teachers, education Department and schools to reduce the weight of the school bags of children. Although we have time table system, children out of fear, carry all the books to schools thus burdening their bags resulting in back pains at a young age. Secondly children at the primary levels should not be burdened with all the subjects.

This will reduce the number of books the children have to carry to schools. Thirdly at primary level good habits like cleanliness and hygiene, reading habits, solving puzzles, telling and listening to stories, rational thinking, sportive spirit and sports should be imbibed in students which hardly require any books. The primary school students children should also be taught other virtues like protecting the environment, saving electricity and water, social responsibility in their formative age.

Playing in open grounds and encouraging various indoor and outdoor sports will make the children strong and energetic. Less books and more knowledge and fun should be our motto for children in primary classes.

Thane

With reference to the editorial ‘Fuzzy forecasts’ (November 27), we tend to forget that over the last three decades, the epicenter of growth has been shifting.

The global share of primary energy consumption of US fell from 25 per cent to 20 per cent; China went up from 8 per cent to 18 per cent and India from 6 per cent to 10 per cent.

Brent crude, from the highs of $145 in 2007-08 fell to $90 by end 2010 and to the sub $30 plunge at start of current decade. For a nation that is fixated on growth, we have done little all these decades, to reduce our dependence on crude imports, which is stubbornly stuck at 80 per cent.

Our current dilemma over oil is hence not new and nations, big and small, have learnt to cope with the vagaries of oil prices. Technology has enabled copious shale oil and natural gas exploitation, post the crude shock of the 2003-2007.

Oil is now waiting for the right price to be produced, in the range of say $60-70, to keep pace with elevated levels of global growth and trade and hence find an overall equilibrium.

Navi Mumbai

With reference to “The importance of getting venture funding ” (November 27), the emerging scenario in securing venture funding has been correctly brought out. Though majority of funds prima facie claim that their focus areas of investment support will be in select sectors only as per their fund philosophy, ultimately their investment strategy will always be centered on their returns and exits from the investment.

In the process, naturally the final selection will happen only in financially sound and deserving cases, leaving a number of investment aspirants in quandary.

On the flip side, a good number of companies especially start-ups lack financial knowledge and various legal compliances. The start-up initiatives should also include guidance and investee education from institutions such as the IIMs to make them acquire knowledge of venture capital terms and to be more competitive in securing VC funding.

Bengaluru

It was heartening to learn that on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack, US President Donald Trump said that the United States stands with the people of India in their quest for justice. None can forget the 26/11 attacks which caused to kill 166 innocents, including six Americans.

Really it is an absolute affront to the victims of Mumbai and to their families that even after 10 years, those responsible for these despicable acts have still not been convicted

. Every individual must join the friends and families in remembering the 166 victims, including the six American citizens killed during the attack, and he should stand in solidarity with the people of India who have demonstrated their resilience in the face of such violence.

Hyderabad

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