Raise a stink

• Sir - Jinxiang in China is known as the garlic capital of the world. Recent investigations have revealed a shocking secret. The garlic exported from Jinxiang is processed by Chinese prisoners and under-trials. Both domestic and international trade laws debar prison-produced goods from being exported. Yet, many of China's export commodities involve prison labour. Exploiting prisoners who work for free, is a way of reducing cost of production. The pungent acids in the garlic can melt prisoners' fingernails, exposing the flesh underneath. This is a violation of basic human rights.

Indira Roy,

Calcutta

Dangerous game

• Sir - After the life-threatening Blue Whale challenge that claimed several lives last year, another such game, Momo Challenge, is now doing the rounds. The game, which apparently originated in Argentina, targets the psychologically vulnerable. The ultimate goal of this game, like the previous one, is to get the participant to commit suicide. This is worrying to say the least.

Hearteningly, the Assam Police has been proactive in trying to counter this threat. It has sent out repeated messages to children and even appealed to people on Facebook and Twitter to abstain from engaging with this game. In my opinion, hoardings should be put up across the state and the country to make more children and adults aware of the dangers of this destructive game. Many youngsters do not follow the police's social media handles and, as such, may not receive the message.

Police representatives, teachers, volunteers from non-governmental organizations should spread awareness about the Momo Challenge in schools and colleges. Parents should keep a close eye on children and be alert to any sudden changes in their behaviour, if they are to be saved from this game.

Ashim Kumar Chakraborty,

Guwahati

• Sir - Social media sites and instant messaging applications like WhatsApp should take a more aggressive approach when it comes to countering threats like the Blue Whale or the Momo Challenge. Some sort of a filter must be developed to block the accounts from which these games are moderated.

Governments and law enforcement agencies should extend as much help as possible to technology companies to contain these menacing games. Awareness about the dangerous games must be shared with children. Parents should monitor or restrict the usage of WhatsApp and social media by children.

Suman Jalal,

Calcutta

• Sir - Alarmed by the recent reports of two people allegedly committing suicide in West Bengal after receiving invitations to join the online game, Momo Challenge, the state administration has started taking precautionary steps to combat the threat. But nothing can substitute parental guidance. Parents should be more careful before handing children gadgets that can lead them into such fatal avenues. Kids who are already active on social media or have phones with WhatsApp installed on them should be briefed about the dangers of following online trends blindly.

Mohd. R. Shaikh,

Mumbai

Weighty issue

• Sir - The disadvantages of children carrying heavy school bags have been discussed time and again. But given that curricula show no sign of getting streamlined, another solution needs to be arrived at. One option could be to make it mandatory for school bags to be trolleys. This way children would not have to carry the heavy bags on their backs every day. This can be a way to ensure that children stay healthy without their education being compromised.

Benoy Sengupta,

Kharagpur

• Sir - Children mostly need to carry their books back home each day as they have to do homework. If textual homework is substituted with field research or case studies, not only will children learn more, but they will also not have to lug heavy textbooks around.

Ratna Das,

Calcutta