Scientific Evidence Essential for Ethanol Blending Policy
India's ethanol blending policy must be grounded in scientific evidence and subject to periodic review by multidisciplinary committees representing agriculturalists, automobile manufacturers, environmental experts, and consumer groups, according to a letter to the editor from Vijay Kumar Katial of Panchkula. The programme must evaluate factors such as carbon emissions, groundwater usage, food security, and utilization of surplus grains.
Since ethanol is hygroscopic, prolonged vehicle idling may lead to moisture absorption, affecting fuel systems and elastomer components. Katial suggests mandatory consumer advisories, periodic fuel-filter replacement, and subsidized E20 compatibility retrofit kits to ensure a smoother, fair transition without placing the financial burden solely on vehicle owners.
Environmental Concerns and Sustainable Alternatives
In another letter, K Kumar of Panchkula emphasizes that the strategy to implement fuel blending must prioritize sustainability while considering options like electric mobility, compressed biogas, green hydrogen, and efficient public transport. Greater emphasis must be placed on second-generation ethanol produced from agricultural residue such as paddy straw and sugarcane bagasse, converting waste into clean fuel while reducing stubble burning.
Policies should also promote crop diversification, water-efficient farming, universal engine compatibility, and rational fuel taxation to maximize environmental and economic benefits without burdening farmers, consumers, or future generations.
Curbing Cross-Border Crime
Vandana of Chandigarh writes in reference to 'Global crackdown' that the US indictment of jailed gangsters exposes the alarming reach of global criminal syndicates that exploit borders, technology, and diaspora networks to carry out extortion, drug trafficking, and targeted violence. India must consider sharing intelligence with friendly countries, strengthening financial surveillance, and ensuring strict accountability of law enforcement agencies to tackle transnational crimes.
Private Schools Have an Edge
Sunil Chopra of Ludhiana, responding to 'Education data', attributes the gradual shift of students to private schools to the lack of modern infrastructure and well-trained faculty in government schools. Parents now have higher aspirations and a great affinity for English-medium education for better career opportunities. Private institutes offer better science, computer, and language labs, periodic student assessment, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, along with staff accountability and greater concern for children's safety.
Changing Outlook of Youth on Honour Killings
Abhyam Sharma of Pathankot, with reference to 'False pride in honour killing', notes that this crime pertains to social perversities against human dignity, and societal change through awareness campaigns is crucial. The right to choose one's life partner has been recognized as a fundamental right by the Constitution. The worldwide mobility of youngsters towards urban centres offers a silver lining, with education, skill enhancement, and a cosmopolitan outlook among effective remedies. The force of constitutional law needs to be supplemented with liberal cultural pluralism.
Ravi Sharma of Dhariwal adds that such murders are deeply entrenched in the patriarchal, caste-based system, imposing familial dominance over children. Any deviation from societal norms relating to marital relations is perceived as a challenge to parents' notion of prestige and honour, sometimes leading to violence against runaway couples. The solution lies in launching a movement against this regressive social practice, and society must rise above caste-entrenched notions and change its attitude towards daughters, who should have the freedom to take their own decisions.
