It is important to note that the local elections in province numbers 3, 4 and 6 have been completed peacefully except for sporadic incidents of violence and mismanagement on the part of the Election Commission and some security lapses.

But the counting of votes is very slow and it is just like 20 years ago when it also took a long time to count the votes in heavily populated cities. It has been more than one week since the conclusion of the first phase of local level elections.

Officials have not been able to conclude counting of the votes in major cities. The method of counting of votes has not changed and it is the same as it used to be 20 years ago. Shockingly, this tells us how our country’ human resources have been working in their fields.at a snail’s pace. This must be changed.

By doing so, therefore it will not shape the country as per the spirit of the common people’s aspirations. Similarly, it is hard to predict our country’s upcoming developmental activities in various areas.

Had the EC adopted new technology the counting of votes would have been swift and all the results would have been published within hours of casting of the votes. Adopting new technology such as the electric voting machine (EVM) would be cost effective compared to the cost for printing the ballot papers and ballot boxes.

Had we used EVMs, we would also have saved a lot of time of the EC officials, political parties and security personnel and other costs such as those involved in providing logistic support.

The Election Commission and the government must consider using the EVM in the provincial and parliamentary elections over the use of traditional ballot papers and ballot boxes that are time consuming and most expensive.

Saroj Wagle, Bara

Road rage

The killing of four students in a road accident involving their college van and a truck near Thuckalay in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India, has sent shock waves.

The deceased are from a famous college for women located in Chunkankadai in Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district. Personally and professionally, I am aware of this college.  I phoned the madam principal of the college immediately after reading the newspapers that had highlighted the incident.

And she was concerned about the accident and had expressed displeasure at the same. It is a clear inference that she is a stickler for the road safety measures.

Besides, I am familiar with many areas in Kanyakumari district such as Nagercoil, Thuckalay, Marthandam, Kuzhithurai and Kaliyakkavilai where I have often visited for my teaching activity, all in Tamil Nadu, India. To be frank, these areas are cool and away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Despite this, accidents like the one in Thuckalay have taken place.The fact is that serious and sincere steps are needed to improve the road safety measures.

P Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai