{ முகநூல் கருத்துக்கள்}{ட்விட்டர் கருத்துக்கள்}

Opinion Polls are sometimes seen as barometres of public opinion. However, even in technologically advanced societies, they have often turned out to be widely off-the-mark. This is the reason why some derisively call it an art, rather than a science. If this is the case with surveys done by million-dollar companies - who do meticulous research and sampling - consider the stature of Internet Polls from Kayalpatnam.com!

The response to our first Poll question - How would you describe your feelings about the present condition of Kayalpatnam? - was revealing - in its own limited way. Of the 44 odd people who cared to vote, nearly 91% are either Very Unhappy or Unhappy over the present condition. In the current gloomy climate, this is really the silver lining. Unless we are unhappy, we wouldn't be thinking about 'change'. If it isn't broke, why fix it? The fact that an overwhelmingly large number of people think it is broke - gives hope that this gloom would prod us to chase those dark clouds away.

Like any large society, Kayalpatnam faces problems on multiple fronts. In responding to those problems, we need clearer heads and honest approaches. Not knee jerk reactions.

Fever - as every doctor would tell you - is not a disease by itself. It is only a symptom - thrown up by the body fighting some disease. Likewise, we must realise, incidents like girls running away, prevalence of prostitution, adultery etc are only symptoms of a deeper malaise. Arresting and prosecuting those involved - directly or indirectly - after due legal process - is a necessary and important step. It would show the society's firmness in identifying the black sheeps in the community and set a precedent for those other criminals waiting to raise their ugly heads in the future.

However - we must not forget the fact that treating symptoms all the time is not an ideal way to fight diseases in the long term. We must come face to face with the reasons that are causing those symptoms. To use another analogy, you can have mosquito repellents to safeguard yourself against mosquitoes for rest of your life. This is a good measure. But even more better measure is to see why and where those mosquitoes breed - by looking for stagnant waters and cleaning up the environment.

In order to do this - we as a society - first must sit together, identify the reasons why anti-social elements keep emerging all the time, why men and women indulge in adultery, why prostitution is so pervasive, why people mortgage their houses, why marriages are seen as huge burdens etc.

The anger is there. It is for the community to channel that anger in a peaceful and constructive way to achieve its lofty goals. We must not forget what we are witnessing in Kayalpatnam since last few months can only be seen as a movement towards end of the beginning, not an END to all the huge problems we are facing - most of which we still have not even begun to identify - let alone address.