Govt must increase sugarcane cultivation
Goa’s only sugar factory has shut shop bring distress to the poor sugarcane farmers. The Sanjivani Sugar Factory which was founded in 1973 has been running at a loss from its very inception. The accumulated losses to date is over Rs 100 crores which is attributed purely due to gross mismanagement amidst allegations of rampant corruption. There has been no transparency and accountability in the functioning of the factory. A very sad and sorry state of affairs which is absolutely unacceptable.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The State-run factory set up on a huge 1.5 lakh square meters of land at Dharbandora was running with outdated machinery which was surprisingly second hand machinery bought from a factory in Uttar Pradesh. On account of shortage of availability of sugarcane, the factory was not operating to its full capacity.
The focus of the government now must be to increase the sugarcane cultivation and start the factory initially with a lower capacity so that it is cost effective. This will be a huge relief to the sugarcane farmers who are solely dependent on this income for their sustenance.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Open letter to Chief Minister
Please retrospect upon your recent statement. Our only agenda isn’t just to oppose everything. Yes, we want the supposedly ‘Best-Governed Small State’ to grow. We welcome development, but cannot blindly compromise our natural resources on such a massive scale.
Kindly get your priorities right. First, we want our common infrastructure to be developed. What kind of development are we witnessing? Bumpy roads with shoddy patchwork, hospitals lacking basic facilities, water shortage… must we say more? Thousands of crores for substandard projects, cracking and crumbling apart! The taxpayer’s money is flushed down the drain, and who’s to blame? We are losing confidence in the government, Sir!
We embrace development, but not the kind that threatens our biodiversity and benefits a privileged few. We need progress that truly matters… that truly satisfies! Certainly, a more sustainable solution can be worked out?
Jude Fernandes, Vasco da Gama
Goa and Goans
It is heartening to know that Goa has been adjudged as the best governed small State by the PAC. We need to pat ourselves. This is mainly because “Goa governs itself” – I mean the people run it, despite the Government’s efforts to mess things up.
In that sense I am amazed by Goa. There is a strong intuitive sense of what’s best for individuals and communities. Almost no presence of cops. People in our villages are kind, generous and articulate. There is a sweet mix of good “newcomers’ reinforcing the best of what the locals have to offer.
Of course there is the stray bunch of some elements who don’t know their faces from their elbows. But they are held in check by locals who long since located their faces and elbows. So balance. We are kept afloat by old families; landed, educated, seasoned. Compared with other states and the rest of India, we live in relative peace. We are able to air our views without attracting FIRs. We are able to live what was once called civilized lives.
I have not seen this level of peace and harmony anywhere else in the twelve Indian states or the nine foreign countries I visited. Of course there are issues. And they are spoken of and action is demanded.
In all of this, it would do us well to realize how well we are doing. When our neighbour airs his views, we don’t ask that he be arrested for sedition. We either listen or laugh or call him mad. Fair enough. That is what balanced folks do.
I pray that in the midst of a world falling apart, Goans in true Goan villages applaud themselves for not falling apart. It is truly amazing to behold. Look for the same in any other state, It’s as scarce as hen’s teeth.
Jonas Correia, Aldona
Biometrics
Judging by the public’s response to the resumption of biometrics in Government Offices it appears there was mass misuse of its absence.
Today, the same finger print recognition system can be upgraded to a facial recognition one with the small addition of a camera and display unit. It not only recognizes the face with a pandemic type mask but also records the temperature all in a couple of seconds. Imagine an employee coming in with a bag in one hand, a bottle, lunch box or file in another: how does he sanitize his hand for the finger print? The former is a true walk through system with all safeties in place and savings of sanitizing solution to boot!
The moot question is: did the HOD’s make an appeal to all the employees to not misuse the no attendance condition especially during these trying conditions? Why not? Because the noise of the masses count not logic or fairness? While on social media, Indians are portrayed as the best in the world, at the grass roots we acknowledge we are the worst? Does the new education policy correct this anomaly?
Hong Kong has once again banned Air India flights because 5 passengers were tested positive on arrival despite carrying the mandatory negative RT-PCR certificate. On the one hand we have culture speak and on the other, problem solving: not compromising.
R Fernandes, Margao
Goa Government competency
The Goa Government in defense of its controversial projects opposed by many Goans e.g Mollem Sanctuaries High Voltage Transmission lines, SWR Rail double tracking, IIT in forest areas etc. are heavily promoting them as that they are for the future of Goa and betterment of Goans. They are telling us they know what’s best for Goa!
But if same Government can’t even manage basic health facilities in Govt hospitals, cleanliness and maintenance of Goa’s food markets, cities, bus stops, parks, beaches, getting rid of the garbage eyesore etc?
Can such a government which cannot even manage Basics, be believed on the controversial projects that they will be Best for Goa?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Onion prices threaten to skyrocket
The soaring prices of onion are literally making people cry. Onions in India have been witnessing an upswing in their prices on a regular basis for quite a long time. The saga of price spike in onions is as old as three decades.
It is indeed the middlemen who seem to be the greatest beneficiaries as they continue to exploit the farmers in the event of a price rise as well as during a price fall. It needs to discipline the trade by cracking down on the chain of middlemen, wholesalers, and pseudo farmers who eye windfall profits in the hoarding game.
Market intervention is also an effective instrument in controlling prices in essential commodities like onion. The government should take cue from the successful experience of Tamil Nadu, farmers’ market or rythu bazars need to be implemented in States. This is an effective mechanism of getting rid of the dominance of middlemen in agricultural trade.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Terrorism in France
France is a Democratic country where there is freedom of religion to all communities including Islam to practice their religion.
However, there is no freedom to slit throats in any country including the most violent countries in the world. We have to respect the laws of every country where we live and the same applies to all citizens of France. You can voice your protest in different ways but killing is not the way to show your protest in a civilised world.
So let us hope that the violence will stop not only in France but in all the countries especially in the Muslim world.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
