Kenya school stampede: one life lost is too many

Our readers have their say on a stampede in East Africa, India's budget and David Copperfield

A parent sits next to her daughter as she gets treatment at Kakamega Hospital in western Kenya. AFP

With regards to Kenya school stampede: at least 14 children killed (February 4): it was sad to read about the 14 school children who died in a stampede in a school. This should be condemned. The cause for the pupil's panicking should be probed and the guilty should not be spared. I pray for the innocent school children and their grieving family members.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Safety first: Emirati students are coming up with cool ideas

With reference to Kelly Clarke's report Emirati students develop alert system to save lives of 'forgotten' children left in cars (February 3): we have this in Italy too. It is mandatory and a very good thing.

Beatrice Forgia Plambeck, Abu Dhabi

We should start with putting them in car seats.

Jeremy Young, Abu Dhabi

It's not where you're from but what you're made of

With reference to Gavin Esler's article on While watching David Copperfield, suspend disbelief – and your prejudices (February 3): it is not where you are from but what you are made of in terms of your talents which will always and should shine through any racial prejudices. Like Esler, I have a proud Scottish heritage through my mother and education but consider myself to be a citizen of the world through having lived and worked in many countries.

Anthony Wills, Harpenden, UK

India's pedantic budget: where is the dynamism?

In reference to the report India promises to boost purchasing power in budget to revive growth (February 1): the Indian economy has been spluttering for the past two years. GDP growth rates have declined from eight per cent to about 4.5 per cent. Unemployment is running amok at six per cent. Consumption is falling in every sector; be it cars, houses, two wheelers, etc. Companies are laying off hundreds of thousands of workers. So it was widely expected that the Indian budget would be dynamic and lead to demand and investment revival. Unfortunately the finance minister has presented a pedantic budget, which will not provide the desperately-needed stimulus to the economy. The Sensex Index fell by 1,000 points, underscoring the lack of confidence in the new budget proposals. A golden opportunity to boost the economy and provide jobs is lost.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai