No strings attached when it comes to taking action

Use of lethal Chinese/plastic strings can leave a person with deep cuts. Irrespective of repeated warnings, shopkeepers have been found selling Chinese strings openly. The government and NGOs have been demanding ban on the use of plastic string to avoid any unwanted fatal mishap to humans, animals and birds. The authority concerned must raid shopkeepers who are dealing in this trade and if found guilty they must be punished. There should be a particular office which should issue licence to sell kite flying string and those found violating norms should be banned from selling strings for atleast three consecutive years. Teacher, parents and senior citizens should also educate their kids about harmful effects of Chinese strings. 

Farzana Khan

Make buyers aware 

Shopkeepers are able to sell Chinese strings because people are not aware about it. People should be informed about the short comings and consequences they will have to face if found using Chinese string.

Youth in particular should be told about incidents which took place due to Chinese strings. A stern law is need of the hour to ensure that youth refrain from buying and stop illegal sale of Chinese strings in markets. 

Ekroop Kaur

Make ban more effective 

Chinese strings can prove deadly, but still they are most preferred by kite flyers. It is very important to ensure that traders and shopkeepers are unable to sell banned string in market. To make the ban more effective, there should be regular inspections at shops of kites and strings sellers. If someone is caught selling Chinese string then the said person should be punished directly by authority concerned. Apart from keeping regular tab, increasing awareness among users, especially youngsters is very important. Youth must be told about mishaps which have occurred due to use of Chinese strings. 

Nikhil Nagpal

Be more vigilant during festive season

Ban on Chinese string must be made effective on the ground. Non serious approach of authority concerned has resulted in accidents and injuries to many people, especially those riding two-wheelers, including bicycles, scooters and motorcycles. It is difficult to dispose plastic strings as burning it causes air pollution. By keeping a strict watch on imports, ban can be made more effective. The police should regularly inspect shopkeepers dealing in this business and confiscation of stock and imposition of heavy penality can help in checking sale of Chinese strings in market.  Awareness drives must be held to educate citizens regarding harmfull effects of plastic strings. Such programmes should be held at school and college levels. Sale and use of Chinese strings usually takes place during festive season, and this is the time when authority concerned should be more vigilant to rein in violators. 

Dr G Dev

Impose heavy penalty on sellers, users

Chinese strings have been a cause of worry for residents and drivers alike. Ban on Chinese string has hardly been effective on the ground. Kite string manufacturing units should be inspected and raids must be conducted at regular intervals to curb this meance at point of origin. As responsible citizens we must stop buying Chinese strings. Heavy penalty must be imposed on shopkeepers found selling selling Chinese strings. Another alternative can be complete adoption of unharmful strings.

Sanskriti Verma

Conduct raids at point of origin of Chinese strings

Chinese strings are coated with glass to make them more sharp and light. However, these strings have led to numerous incidents, especially during festivities. The ban on Chinese strings has remained ineffective to great extent. To curb this menace, production of Chinese strings need to be stopped at the point of origin and stern action should be taken against a person who is is found selling these strings. The police needs to keep a check on wholesalers and retailers dealing in this business. 

Laveena Sharma 

Need to create awareness 

If the government really wants to check misuse of Chinese strings, then it should impose a strict check on supply of banned strings to local dealers. When dealers will not receive supply of Chinese strings, they will be left with just normal Indian strings. Moreover, parents should ask their kids not to purchase and use banned strings. Schools and colleges should organise debates and lectures on this issue. Kite flying is done usually during festivities in India and why change festive mood into mourning by using Chinese strings. Every year Chinese strings sniff out so many innocent lives. It is not just harmful to humans, but animals and birds too become its target. There is hardly a single advantage of using Chinese strings. Therefore, we all should pledge to shun plastic and Chinese strings.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi 

Onus lies on govt, citizens 

Every year thousands of Indians fly kite and there have been numerous incidents when kite strings laced with glass have proved fatal for commuters and pedestrians. Various state governments have banned Chinese strings, but lack of effective implementation has created more hurdles. Chinese string is non- biodegradable and good conductor of electricity. As a result, it leads to electricity interruption, kill birds which get entangled in strings and also proves fatal for humans. Those caught selling or buying Chinese strings should be penalised. Strict punitive measures can only discourage the usage of this string. Moreover, parents should also educate and sensitise their wards not to use Chinese strings. It is collective responsibility of the government and citizens to discourage use of Chinese strings.

Dr Jasdeep Kaur

Make stringent laws

Festivals are backbone of every religion. In India, there are numerous religions and festivals. In Punjab, youngsters fly kites on the occasion of Lohri and Baisakhi, among others, at large scale. Due to lack of awareness they resort to use Chinese strings which proves dangerous not just for human beings but for birds and animals as well. The government should make stringent law to curb the use of plastic strings. Pedestrians and commuters often become victims of Chinese strings every year. Everbody should take a pledge not to use plastic strings while flying kites. Parents should also keep a tab on their kids and should make them aware from time to time. Inspections must be held at manufacturing units and markets, among others, and those found selling Chinese strings should be put behind bars. One must promote and use strings which are not harmful. Manufactures, suppliers, and shopkeepers should act in an honest manner and assist in tackling this meance.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Deliberations, stern measures needed 

Notwithstanding ban, lack of effective implementation strategy, and shortage of manpower to keep a tab on violators, among others, had led to increase in demand and supply of synthetic, glass coated Chinese strings in Indian market. Authorities concerned have failed to conduct raids and break supplier, dealer nexus. As a result, Chinese strings are still being discreetly sold in several parts of the city. Despite knowing that plastic strings pose a major threat to human beings, birds and environment, Indian manufacturers, too, are replicating Chinese techniques to earn some quick bucks. Prohibition has further led to smuggling of plastic strings. Discussions and stringent measures are the need of hour.

Ravi Chander Garg

Think about other living beings as well 

This is a typical example of hypocrisy of today’s generation towards its surroundings. Just for the enjoyment of a few minutes, we have become so nasty that we consider it better to shut our eyes and refuse to improve our habits which are dangerous for others. Indian society claims to worship all forms of nature but despite knowing the ill-effects of Chinese kite strings we never spurn its usage. First of all, we should become sentimental towards other living beings, including birds and animals. They have equal rights to live and it is our responsibility to provide them a safe environment. Other measures include stiff punishments for both buyers and sellers, heavy fines which should run into thousands of rupees.

Pardeep Singh Bhamra

Government, society go hand in hand 

Use of Chinese kite strings has become a bane for society. Such strings are dangerous not just for human beings but also for birds and animals. Last year, many cases were reported related to deaths of birds and people driving two-wheelers receiving severe cuts on their necks. Still, people are using Chinese strings for the sake of enjoyment. Though Chinese strings have been banned but the same can be easily purchased from market. Authorities have done their part, now it is turn of residents to behave sensibly and follow the rules. Residents should come forward and complain to the police if they find anyone using Chinese strings.The government should keep be a strict check on manufacturers and sellers.

Garima Aggarwal

Stop illegal import of Chinese strings

As Lohri is approaching, kite fly will pick up in the city. Shopkeeers sell Chinese strings which are banned after procuring it illegally. Use of banned strings is rampant because it is cheaper and stronger than normally used strings. These strings often cause severe injury to humans, birds and animals as well. It is our responsibility to think about surroundings. One should promote use of common Indian string. Government should find the source and probe how Chinese strings are making inroads into Indian market. Stringent norms should be in place and there is a need to create awareness among youngsters regarding use of Chinese strings.

Kalpna Maurya