Cruel approach

• Sir - Stray cats and dogs in India have pathetic lives. They seldom get love or kindness from humans. Even puppies and kittens are not spared abuse at the hands of people. Besides throwing stones at them, beating them with sticks, people do not hesitate even to poison them. Few drivers care about strays while driving. Although animal rights organizations are of great help, common people, especially those who love animals, should come forward and protest against such cruelties. Moreover, there should be a strict crackdown against those who treat animals cruelly.

Sourish Misra,
Calcutta

It's complicated

• Sir - The Kerala High Court has ruled that an adult couple being in a live-in relationship is not illegal ("Old enough", June 7). The judgement was passed in a case where the father of a 19-year-old girl filed a habeas corpus petition regarding his daughter and her 18-year-old live-in partner. India has always taken pride in the institution of marriage and the joint family system. These are under threat. If live-in relationships begin to substitute marriages, then the structure of Indian society may change.

In case of arranged marriages, a couple can expect family members to help in case of a rough patch in their conjugal life. But in live-in relationships, that possibility is feeble. Moreover, the future of children out of such a relationship does not have clear legal safeguards.

Hira Kumar Singh,
Bhagalpur

• Sir - Most parents in India are not comfortable with the concept of live-in relationships. There are several reasons behind this. First, couples in a live-in relationship do not necessarily have to take any responsibility of each other's families. Then, there are also legal discrepancies. The marriageable age for men is 21 years. Yet, a boy of 18 is legally allowed to be in a live-in relationship.

Live-in relationships are becoming more common. This may be because separation from a partner in case of difficulties in the relationship becomes easier in such cases. None likes a long-drawn legal battle. The process for getting a divorce should be made simpler and more affordable. Moreover, a child born out of a live-in relationship does not have well-defined legal rights. Such a child will also have to face social stigma.

Benu Kumar Bose,
Calcutta

• Sir - It is heartening that the court has, once again, reiterated the legal validity of live-in relationships. The absence of a legal contract or some rituals do not have any impact on a relationship. While some live-in couples take care of each other families, there are married couples who think nothing of abandoning their parents.

It is high time people stopped treating physical intimacy outside marriage - the real reason most people object to live-in relationships - as taboo. What goes on between two consenting adults - as long as they are not harming anyone - is nobody's business.

Rima Roy,
Calcutta

Unbearable noise

• Sir - It is unfortunate that the use of loudspeakers and sound systems has increased prodigiously. The sounds of blaring music or speeches have become an integral part of public life. I do not remember the last time I heard the chirping of birds. Nowadays, the serenity of dusk is more often than not shattered by loudspeakers. To add to the woes of people, this din continues into the wee hours.

The police should play a more active role in minimizing the usage of loudspeakers and ensuring that the permissible decibel limits are not crossed.

D. Mukhopadhyay,
Hooghly

Lax laws

• Sir - The threat that tobacco poses to human lives cannot be stressed enough. The editorial, "Smokescreen" (June 6), rightly observes that existing laws are not working well. Unless strict restrictions are imposed by the government on the cultivation of tobacco, warnings printed on the cigarette packets and other laws are bound to fail. Moreover, such measures only help the government shirk its responsibility.

It is sad that people in power - the powerful tobacco lobby - are more concerned about their profits than people's health. If the government could impose regulations on the cultivation of opium, then can it not do the same for tobacco?

Sanjit Ghatak,
South 24 Parganas

Parting shot

• Sir - Surveys have suggested that children who are more engaged in classroom discussions and read stuff beyond their school syllabi are likely to learn better than those who remain more focused on their textbooks. Interactive sessions should thus form an important part of classwork. Teachers should look for ways to make classwork more attractive by including debate and discussion.

It is also a pity that children these days hardly show any interest in playing outdoor games or reading books and newspapers. Newspapers not only help a child gain knowledge but also improve his vocabulary. Most parents put undue pressure on their wards to do well in academics and fail to encourage other talents. Although many schools have laid stress on innovative teaching methods, attention needs to be paid to the all-round development of a child.

Kiran Agarwal,
Calcutta