The decision taken by our Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Vigilance Department to probe into the recruitment undertaken especially in Health Department by previous government, ahead of the recently concluded Assembly Elections is a welcome decision. This is in response to the action of the youths who a staged dharna in front of official residence of Chief Minister.
The government should thoroughly probe into recruitment process and bring culprits to book for the mess created and playing with the future of our youth. Also, the allegation made by St. Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh that the maximum number of candidates selected to Health Department were in majority from the former Health Minister’s constituency needs to be investigated.
Recruitment undertaken by other departments during the same time should also be investigated by the Government either through anti-corruption branch of Vigilance department or by Lokayukta as and when it is formed. Our government and Chief Minister should look into this matter in the interest of our youth.
Praveen Narayan Shanbhag, Chimbel
Voluntary bandh?
While the all-India bandh called by the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left parties on May 31 in protest against the petrol price hike evoked a mixed response in the rest of the country, in Goa it was a near-total bandh. Goans have had a reduction in the price of petrol because of the abolition of VAT on petrol by the state government.
Hence the response to the bandh in Goa should have been partial instead of being near total. Bandhs are used by political parties to flex their muscles and as a show strength. In the bargain it is the common man who gets affected. Even though the BJP in the state declared that it would be a voluntary bandh, the ground reality was different. Party cadres were forcibly asking the business establishment to close shops and the buses to stay off the roads.
The bandh brought hardship to people, especially the tourists and a loss to the business community.
Whether this sacrifice will bear fruit, by way of a roll-back in the price of petrol, remains to be seen.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
SSC exam results
It seems there is a slight drop in the number of students clearing the SSC examination held in the academic year 2011-12. This caused some heartburn and alarm.
The Goa Board, as reported in the press, will investigate the matter. Since the Board has no work for a few months, it can afford to do that. Any person who has some knowledge of a public examination would know that the pass percentage in the given year depends on a number of factors: the quality of students in that year; the questions set, and the evaluation process.
Sometimes in a given year, the quality of students taking the examination may be quite high and the pass percentage is also high. Then the questions set in a given year, may be easier than the previous year and the evaluation also can vary within a certain range. One may also surmise that the drop in the pass percentage may indicate an improvement in the quality of examination and evaluation.
If there is no serious bungling somewhere, the fluctuations in the results at a public examination are normal.
SND Poojary, Miramar
Clean Goa
Blaise Costabir’s views in the article ‘Clean Goa Possible’ (Herald, June 2, 2012) reminded me of an incident in 1950 during the Portuguese rule. A gentleman, from Camara Municipal (I suppose), came to my house near Rua de Ourem in Panjim. He was a Goan. ( I recall that the government offices were occupied mostly by Goans. The Director of Fazenda was a Goan. Even Goans were judges and policemen.) He said, “You threw the garbage in the river.” I replied innocently, “I didn’t throw it. My housemaid did.* He said, “I know that you didn’t throw it. But see that your maid doesn’t throw it in the river.” I said, “All right”. He smiled and went away. (I didn’t even think of bribing him.) I like to compare it with Councillor Pinto’s attitude when he found out who the garbage owner in Benaulim was.
Most modern Goans want punishment for offenders that is so stringent it would embarrass fascists.
John Razana, USA
Medical College
It has been reported that the Health Minister has proposed the setting up of the medical college in Margao. On the one hand, in principle the proposal sounds favourable considering the fact that the demand for medical seats increases every year.
There is also an urgent need of well- qualified doctors in Goa. The idea also seems to be in line with the overall development of Goa. Further the well-equipped medical college will go a long way in helping the people of Goa. After having stated the advantages of such a proposal, the government on the other hand, cannot afford to ignore the ‘ailing Hospicio’ in Margao.
The latest report on ‘ailing hospice’ (Herald, June 4, 2012) is appalling. It calls for immediate action by the concerned authorities, otherwise the bio-medical waste may become hazardous for the residents of the locality and others as well.
