MyVoice: Views of our readers 19th September 2026

An avoidable Ganesh immersion tragedy

This refers to ‘6 students drown during Ganesh idol immersion’ (THI Sept 17). My heart goes out to those six students of an orphanage home maintained by a Trust, who drowned in Nereducharla lake of Kanjerla village in Patancheru police limits on Wednesday.

It is deeply distressing and unfortunate that every year, our youth continue to meet watery death. Children and teenagers, who cannot swim, must be barred from entering the water during immersion of Ganesh idols. This must be ensured by the GHMC and concerned authorities to avoid recurrence of tragedies.

Zubair Khan, Hyderabad

Six students drown

The heart-wrenching incident, in which six students of a trust-maintained orphanage drowned in Nereducharla lake of Kanjerla village in Patancheru police limits during Ganesh idol immersion, was too tragic to hear and read about. Such incidents are being unfailingly reported during the immersion of Ganesh idols, despite precautions being in place to avoid such incidents from happening.

The over enthusiasm of children and devotees is the main reason for such incidents. This is particularly so when adults and children venture into waters, without having any swimming experience. Such tragedies can be prevented by watchful adults, and dedicated personnel manning the lakes and other water bodies.

K V Raghuram, Wayanad

Bolster domestic economic strength

K Krishna Sagar Rao’s insightful article, “India’s multi-alignment: A strategy or a mirage?” (Sept 18), provides a timely and realistic evaluation of India’s contemporary foreign policy. The distinction made between non-alignment and multi-alignment is particularly sharp. In an increasingly multipolar and transactional world order, navigating complex relationships from the Quad to BRICS reflects strategic maturity rather than ideological hesitation. However, the author rightly emphasizes that diplomatic flexibility is meaningless without a strong foundation of national capability.

True strategic autonomy depends heavily on domestic economic strength, technological self-reliance, and secure supply chains. As global powers demand greater reciprocity, transitioning to “calibrated multi-alignment” with clear red lines and measurable strategic outcomes will be essential to ensure India’s diplomatic agility remains a source of power rather than one of vulnerability.

Mhoksha Ravula, Hyderabad

Need to keep track of merchants response

This refers to “UPI MDR issue has now become political football” (THI, Sept 18). One important consideration should be in preserving the convenience that made UPI widely accepted. People now use digital payments for everything from a small purchase to a substantial bill. Any change in the cost structure should therefore be designed carefully so that merchants continue to welcome UPI rather than encourage cash payments.

Monitoring should cover not merely whether customers are charged directly, but also whether merchants begin refusing or discouraging digital transactions, which can be prevented by quick grievance redressal. The government should also review the threshold and rates by keeping track of actual market behaviour. A payment system becomes sustainable not merely when its operators recover costs, but when consumers, merchants, banks and technology providers can all participate without unnecessary friction.

K Sakunthala, Coimbatore-641671

Set up a complaint mechanism to check improper charges

This is further to “UPI MDR issue has now become political football”. Although customers may not be directly charged MDR, the possibility of merchants passing the cost into prices cannot be dismissed. A small additional charge on every transaction may appear insignificant, but repeated across millions of purchases, it can influence household spending.

The sensible approach is to monitor actual pricing behaviour rather than argue about it in the abstract. Merchants should clearly display whether any additional amount is being recovered from customers. Authorities could also establish a simple complaint mechanism for improper charges. At the same time, consumers should understand that maintaining a nationwide digital payment network comes with a cost.

B A Neboba, Perundurai-638052

Distinguish between large and small businesses

Apropos “UPI MDR issue has now become political football”. The effect of MDR on small traders needs careful attention. Large businesses may be able to absorb a transaction-related expense, but a neighbourhood shop with modest margins may find even a small additional cost significant. If merchants respond by raising prices or discouraging UPI payments, the convenience built over the years could suffer.

The policy should therefore distinguish between large and small businesses, rather than applying a uniform approach without considering their capacity to absorb costs. The government should publish data after implementation to show whether merchants are passing MDR to customers. Evidence, rather than political claims from either side, should guide any subsequent adjustment to the framework.

Abbharna Barathi, Chennai-23

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The Hans India