PM Modi should walk the talk
Most opposition parties have reportedly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing politics during his recent meeting with chief ministers on the Covid situation by raising the issue of fuel prices and passing the buck on to states to reduce prices of petrol and diesel.
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Well, Modi is known for blaming not just the chief ministers of opposition ruled states but also our first Prime Minister & main architect of modern India, Pandit Nehru for all the ills/problems that are being faced in this country today and frequently distracting the people from all his own major failures to show himself like one biggest political victim of India.
Well, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the above mentioned latest discussion was heard selectively accusing a few chief ministers of some opposition ruled states for not reducing VAT on petrol & diesel and for still selling the same at a much higher rate despite the excise duty being cut by the Centre last November.
Hey, let’s face it. The excise duty which was just 9.48 and 3.56 in 2014 was raised to 32.90 and 31.80 on petrol & diesel respectively by 2020. It was later brought down to 27.90 and 21.80 on petrol & diesel in last November as a Diwali gift to bluff the people of this country.
Today, 68% tax is still being taken by the Central government. Now, can Modi advise the chief ministers of some opposition ruled states to reduce VAT on petrol & diesel and to sell the same at a much cheaper rate in their respective states?
I think that Modi should scrap all central taxes on fuel on the lines of farm laws to give a permanent relief for the people of this country and then try to project himself like a people’s PM instead of misguiding everyone by selectively targeting a few chief ministers of some opposition ruled states to mischievously play his own dirty political games to somehow finally market himself like one undisputed ‘Heavyweight champion’, if not a ‘Superman’ of India using his own Godi-media.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Compensate the Lifeguards
It is shocking to note that in a suspected case of arson ten two-wheelers belonging to Drishti lifeguards were gutted in fire in Candolim in the wee hours of Wednesday. It is understood that the fuel pipes from the bikes were disconnected and the petrol from the tanks was used to set the bikes ablaze. Drishti Lifesaving provides professional lifeguard services on behalf of the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa and is deployed across Goa. Drishti Lifesaving is the largest and premier water safety and rescue service in India. The tourism department has extended their contract for providing lifeguarding services till June 2022. Drishti lifeguards have for long been providing yeomen service in Goa. These brave lifeguards have been responsible for preventing several deaths due to drowning in the sea. Goa is blessed by a vast coastline and has several world famous beaches which attract both local and foreign tourists. People venture into the sea without knowing about the dangers. Hence the important task these lifeguards undertake in saving lives can never be underestimated.
The fire incident will have put these lifeguards to a huge financial loss. On compassionate grounds the Goa government could lend them a helping hand by compensating them for the loss incurred. The police on their part need to carry out a thorough investigation and apprehend the culprits.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Govt schemes are meant for poor
Government Social Welfare schemes are meant to benefit the truly poor and needy while not being misconstrued as largesse of the political party in power.
In 2001 when the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) was launched, very high-handedly the application forms were available only with Ministers and ruling MLAs who started distributing them on their birthdays. As this was a public scheme, I was constrained to immediately move the High Court which directed that the application forms be made available to the public at the offices of all the Mamlatdars.
It is imperative that the certifying of eligibility for social welfare schemes should be by revenue authorities and not the MLA or MP. It is on account of this that hundreds of fraudulent and ineligible persons have managed to get themselves enrolled as beneficiaries of schemes they were not entitled to.
It is also imperative that all payments to the needy are unfailingly made monthly and the applicants do not have to wait for months to receive their much needed benefits. It would be prudent that the government should not launch new schemes unless it first has the finances to be able to regularly pay the beneficiaries of existing schemes.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Rampant roadworks
It is indeed good to see the Margao City roads tarred. They were in a pathetic condition barely two months ago.
Tarring of roads in the suburban areas of Margao has also been carried out. Bad roads prove to be fatal for two-wheeler riders where balance is crucial.
The Flyover to Navelim repair works have also been completed and the Flyover has been thrown open for public use. Safety barricades have been installed at a few points along the Flyover. It would be ideal if they are installed along the entire length of the Flyover as erratic riders are sometimes found travelling in the center or wrong side of the road. Also, traffic rules clearly state that overtaking on bridges is not allowed.
In the past people often thought that various government departments would be better off digging their noses than digging up newly laid roads. During a previous election however, they exhibited presence of mind. While the main roads in Margao were tarred, the inner roads were left untarred due to the ongoing sewerage works. These roads have now been tarred. Due to the moratorium on roadworks during the monsoon it is imperative that tarring of roads is done well in advance.
Vinay Rodrigues, Margao
Unfortunate tragedy
The tragedy that struck the Kalimedu area of Thanjavur district when a temple chariot came into contact with a high-tension overhead power line is unfortunate. Eleven people, including three children, perished in the accident, and twenty-two others sustained injuries.
The high-voltage shock threw the persons pulling the chariot, and those who rushed to save them also felt the shock as the road was damp with water.
Many areas in our country have low-hanging overhead power lines, posing a threat to life and limb, and the authorities would do well to insulate them.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Speed up the process
I applied for demarcation of my property on 15-06-2021. It is measuring about 1200 square meters. The process of demarcation is not completed as of 28-04-2022. I have followed it up extensively and must have visited the survey Department at Margao at least two times a week for the past 10 months. For onsite demarcation of a property of this size, the surveyor takes about 4 hours. The process must not take 300+ days to complete.
The trouble starts from day 1. The form is difficult to get. After asking different people in the department, I was given the form which I had to photocopy and give the original back. This form like many other forms must be available on the department’s website. If I look around the office everyone is very busy working and it appears that the office is understaffed.
Recently some new recruits have also arrived and hopefully, in the coming months and years, the process will improve. We need to speed up the process for the development of Goa.
Antonio Barbosa, Colva
