Non-resident Indians may not be visiting India very often or maybe many of them are making short visits home, but they are an integral part of the country's population (Expatriate Indians in the UAE call for their right to vote, April 3).
They remit huge amounts of funds to the country, they have families back home to support, many have their own businesses there. Keeping in mind their importance, steps must be taken urgently to enable them to cast their ballots from their respective places.
It’s simply not feasible for most people to travel to India to exercise their franchise. It is disappointing that this time it is not possible. Non-resident Indians should not have to wait for another five years.
Fatima Motiwala, Abu Dhabi
I am sad to know that Indian expatriates in the UAE will be unable to exercise their franchise this time despite promises made by the government earlier. Many voluntary organisations in India have been trying to raise awareness about the importance of voting. But I fail to understand why there is no pressure on the government to allow millions of Indians living abroad to vote, especially at a time when India needs a change more than ever.
K Ragavan, US
Leaders must keep followers motivated
The article Stay self-motivated and success will surely follow (April 5) was interesting. It needs to be understood that a person can become a leader when he or she has followers. So if followers are not motivated enough, we wouldn't have a leader in the first place.
We live in an era when companies look at making profits at the cost of their employees. But a progressive company is the one that not only looks at its profit but also gives priority to employee satisfaction, motivation and retention.
Manoj Kapur, Dubai
Health care sector needs attention
I agree with the points made in the opinion article Our health care system should give equitable access to all (April 1).
I recently heard of a lady who needed an emergency c-section. The doctors told her that they would not perform the operation until she paid up. What kind of emergency was it exactly? Surely, if there had been a real emergency the moral and ethical thing to do would be to save the life of the mother and the baby. I also have had a sad experience and heard of other people being given a long list of medicines and recommended procedures that were not necessary.
Name withheld by request
Tackling unruly drivers isn’t tough
The opinion article, Other motorists’ disregard for the rules is driving me crazy (May 4), was interesting.
One solution to the problem would be to deploy a large motorway patrol force that will be responsible for pulling over cars and issuing fines. While driving in New York, my home state, I always feel there is a policeman behind me or on the roadside that could pull me over for any violation. This kind of feeling among drivers here would help. For that, a strong motorway police presence is required.
J Wayne, Dubai
If you are from a country like Australia for example, like me, you get a shock at how rude, inconsiderate and arrogant drivers are in the UAE. I mean, there is no common respect for other road users, no one gives way, and if there is a gap that you could get into, the car behind you will accelerate to block you off.
Not to mention that people don’t know how to drive. It is not allowed to turn all the way round a roundabout in the outermost lane anywhere in the world. Why do people do it here?
Only 0.1 per cent of the population indicate when turning and people just stop their cars anywhere they feel like. It’s not a matter of driving culture, the police are just not enforcing driving rules as much as they do in other countries in the western world. Take an average UAE driver to Australia and he would lose his licence within one hour.
John Paravalos, Dubai
Most smartphone apps are safe
The news article Eight out of 10 smartphone apps at risk from hacking (April 5) doesn't sound convincing. In fact, there are a million apps for the iPhone and not one is infected. This story may have been provided by the Abu Dhabi police, but it is necessary to perform some minimal fact-checking before printing such news. I have been reading the The National for five years now and this may be the most inaccurate article I have ever seen in this paper.
Terry Horton, Abu Dhabi