Politicians v/s aam aadmi
Dear Goans, I would like to bring to your kind notice what I have experienced in my life in Goa. I still remember when I had approached a famous school in Margao for the admission of my little child in nursery. My child was forced to face a interview. During the interview my child was given some plastic toys and was asked to separate animals and fruits and he did that, then he was asked to name the fruits and the animals, he did that too. After this the principal who was taking the interview told me that my child did very good and he is selected but there is only one seat available, so I have to spend something.
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I asked if my child did very good then why I have to spend? So I gave up and left the school. He got admission in some other school. After his SSC again he had to face an interview for higher secondary education. After that again a student has to answer GCET, NEET, IMU, etc. to continue further studies.
So a common man, so called ‘aam aadmi’ has to face so many exams to settle in life but what about a politician? Even if he is illiterate, seventh/eighth failed, SSC failed, does not to utter a word of English can stand for elections And we fools are electing such persons, calling them Sirs and beg to get our jobs done. Why? Are we so lazy? Some of us do not even vote. Why can’t we stand for elections when we are well educated, engineers, doctors, master mariners, surveyors, chartered accountants, lawyers, ex-navy, ex-police, etc. When same ‘aadmi’ retires gets peanuts as pension, seafarers gets zero whereas these uneducated politicians who never answered interviews and exams to become politicians get handsome salaries and good pension. What is this logic? Any answer?
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Corruption has hit State’s economy
After former Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik exploding corruption, now fair shop owners Association levelling the alleged corruption in the distribution of food grains during pandemic highlights the corruption virus disease in state. It points out on functioning of civil supplies department in a non-transparent way. The inability of governments to check misuse of the scheme by certain sections of beneficiaries, government officials has defeated the good intentions, benefited all the wrong people, and wasted taxpayers’ money.
A wave of corruption-related incidents linked to the current situation underscores the importance of continuing and strengthening transparency and accountability efforts. The Central government’s Food Security Act was introduced after alarming figures emerged about child malnutrition. Moreover the allegations of corruption in Covid-19 management, all these needed a thorough investigation.
K. G Vilop, Chorao
Entertainment village
GIDC has begun formulating a master plan for an entertainment and animation village at Mandrem to attract high end, long stay tourists from India and abroad. The proposed village will be based on a PPP model as with other big ticket projects and will generate employment for Goan youth who will get an opportunity to showcase their skills within the state itself. Mandrem as such is yet to see any development, work on the Tuem electronic city project which was initiated five years ago is proceeding at a very slow pace and it’s completion is a moving target. Hopefully after the Mopa airport is commissioned, the whole of Pernem taluka shall see some real progress.
Mandrem inexplicably has seen a sharp rise in land prices prompting many locals to either sell their lands at a hefty profit or build guest houses for tourists. The village has many temples, is lush green and is ideal for a quiet getaway from the hubbub of cities provided accommodation infrastructure is built up. Hopefully the entertainment village project shall be completed on time and serve as a template for similar ventures across the state.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Bio-methanation for waste management
It is learnt that the formal commissioning of the 5TPD bio-methanation plant by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has been put off to a future date. The main reason being the need to first have trial runs in order to check the efficacy of the plant and its functioning. The bio-methanation plant is one of three such plants approved by the civic body.It is understood that Bio-methanation is a process by which organic material is microbiologically converted under anaerobic conditions to biogas. Microorganisms degrade organic matter by biochemical conversions to methane and carbon dioxide. In this process, organic fraction of the wastes is segregated and fed to a closed container (Biogas digester) where, in the presence of bacteria and under anaerobic conditions, it undergoes bio-degradation producing methane-rich biogas and effluent.
Biogas is eco-friendly and is a healthy cooking alternative. Biogas generation also produces organic fertilizers. Bio-methanation provides an excellent urban waste management solution as it results in several end products that can be used for a wide range of applications.
A bio-methanation plant could be the only way out for the Sonsoddo dump. The current pace and method of treatment of wet waste at Sonsoddo could only lead to a creation of another mountain of residual waste thereby nullifying all efforts of clearing the legacy dump.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Aryan’s arrest is illegal
Aryan Khan’s arrest in the recent drug seizure case has once again reiterated the dangerous side of fame. There’s no denying the fact that in India if you are a celebrity, your life is not your own. With the advent of social media, fans have got a close access to stars and their lives like never before.
In a plot that seems straight out of movies, Bollywood superstar’s son Aryan Khan and his friend Arbaz Merchant were arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau on October 2 when the two twenty-something boys were on their way to a private party on a luxury cruise off the Mumbai coast. The party was a ticketed one with tickets costing up to Rs 2 lakhs each. The guest list reportedly consisted of mostly young adults.
Considering the entry ticket was exorbitantly priced, it’s safe to say that most of the people who attended the party were from affluent backgrounds.
But why arrest just Aryan Khan? There are beggars sitting on the roads and consuming drugs. The NCB should arrest them too.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Is it last or lost chance
All the praises for Supreme Court. National security has become an all weather dress for the government. They must know their limits. It is a hallmark ruling by the SC wherein the Judges have reiterated that the privacy of the individuals are sacred and should be fully respected. Also most importantly the Judges raised their concerns about the fear of the involvement of the government or the foreign power regarding the matter of surveillance, which is unfortunate.
The SC has rightly taken the responsibility of appointing the committee to investigate the allegations citing the settled judicial principle against bias and also have made a clear mention about the government’s inaction of not denying the allegations specifically in spite of getting enough opportunity on this matter.
The SC has stressed that the government cannot get away with anything citing vaguely national security as the main concern. Though such surveillance cannot be questioned in a monarchy rule, it should never happen and that too arbitrarily in a major democracy set up like India.
C. K. Subramaniam, Mumbai
