Give decent hike in salaries of Goans
The Labour Department has reportedly increased the minimum wages for all schedules of employment in the state by just Rs 100. Now, what kind of joke is this? Does the government think that most Goans working in all the private sector companies such as industries, factories, hotels are all big ‘bhatkaars’ or big landlords and are rich enough to support their own families with Rs 100 extra?
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Well, as far as I know, most Goans working in all the private sector companies such as factories, industries, hotels etc are still getting the same old peanut salaries in the range of Rs 8,000 to 15,000 per month even after working in one place for the last so many years in the state.
Unfortunately, the one thing I still don’t understand is that why the government which has already passed the Goa Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of the Legislative Assembly (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the Legislative Assembly recently to give a hefty hike in the salaries of its own elected MLAs is still not bothering to give a descent hike in the salaries of all Goans who are currently working in the private sector.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
PM devoted only 10 minutes for Manipur
It is highly unfortunate that in his two-hour-long speech in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi just spoke for ten minutes on the violence-hit State of Manipur. The remaining part of his extensive speech was devoted to diatribes, attacking the Congress, the newly formed Opposition alliance INDIA, previous UPA governments, and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The whole of India looked forward to Modi answering the queries raised by the Opposition on Manipur violence, for which the no-confidence motion was precisely tabled in the Lok Sabha. But his speeches sounded more like a campaign speech for the 2024 general elections, and they offered very little hope to end the months-long turbulence and restore peace in the north eastern State. It is all the more disappointing that in his speech, Modi has completely evaded the all-important question of why he hasn’t visited Manipur yet, which is his moral obligation being the head of the central government. More than anything else, the inner voice of his guilty conscience for not having visited this strife-ridden State will bother the PM forever.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Shifting focus from Manipur
The debate on the no-confidence motion, which took centrestage in Parliament and where the Prime Minister spoke at length was a disappointment because it did not go beyond the usual and expected posturing and narratives of both the ruling side and the Opposition.
The outcome of the no-confidence motion brought by the coalition of Opposition parties against the NDA government was a foregone conclusion as the NDA had the numbers that were required.
In a speech that lasted over two hours, PM Modi devoted the entire duration recalling past misdemeanours of the Congress governments under Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and taking jibe after jibe against Congress leaders. He spoke on Manipur after the Opposition walked out as there was no mention of it for over 90 minutes of his speech. His downgrading of Opposition especially the Congress clearly reflects his attitude of ‘how dare you question me?’ Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been suspended until the Privileges Committee takes a decision about his alleged unruly conduct in the House which means he is away from Parliament session for an indefinite period.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Why no hue and cry on atrocities in Manipur?
It was painful that Prime Minister Modi spared only a few minutes to speak on the mayhem in Manipur and the most dastardly and highly condemnable atrocities committed by the hooligans there. Out of the two hour long speech he made in Parliament, one got more agonised, when besides the BJP MPs and ministers, even the BJP women MPs and ministers went into peals of laughter enjoying the jokes cracked by the Prime Minister! This is when the entire nation remains depressed in sorrow over what has happened / happening in Manipur, particularly to our women there! While the women Parliamentarians of the BJP have failed to record their empathy and sympathy towards our sisters in agony in the burning state ruled by their own party, it is surprising that they have complained to the Speaker over Rahul Gandhi’s flying kiss sent to the Treasury benchers who were shouting against him when he was leaving the house and accused that his gesture was an affront to their modesty!
While they have not raised any hue and cry over the atrocities committed against the modesty of women in Manipur, doesn’t it sound hypocritical?
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Hike salaries of common man
We are in an era where we are seeing a downturn in jobs, steep rise in inflation, lower GDP, low per capita income, price rise on all essential household commodities, hike in fuel rates such as LPG, petrol, diesel etc. And suddenly the CM announced and hiked the MLAs’ salaries, perks, allowances etc. The hikes are as follows –housing loan of Rs 45 lakh, purchase of personal car hike from Rs 15 to 45 lakh, free petrol of 500 litres, pension hike of Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000. Roughly an average increase of 65-100% .
There should be a reciprocal hike in salaries of all citizens of the state. Common man has been put to excruciating financial distress in providing all essentials to his family, because of prevailing rapid runaway inflation. The common man finds it hard to put food on the table when there is a burden of various other expenses to be encountered, ending up in a micro tailspin of household economy. Burdens of housing loans, car loans, insurance, school and tuition fees, mobile phones bills, cable TV payments , all have skyrocketed and still escalating. All these have catapulted the “acche din” on the backburner, contrary to what the government claims that we are on a cusp of seeing euphoric times on the back of a double engine sarkar. Some find it difficult to make ends meet, literally scrambling for all possible relief avenues available to get some solace. This disparaging gap between the rich and the poor should be narrowed on all fronts, if we were to see all kinds of crimes reduced. After having achieved so much, the rich have nothing more to get but only to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and downtrodden.
Ashley Noronha, Fatorda
Enforce law in letter and spirit
The hit-and-run case at Banastarim bridge a few days ago puts the spotlight once again on drunk and reckless driving. Even as we get better roads and highways, and the latest cars, we seem to have scant regard for how we drive. Road rage, and cutting lanes and speeding up to avoid a red signal continue and this is not the preserve of taxi and bus drivers alone.
As the Banastarim incident shows, educated and well to do can be equally guilty, and it’s a tragedy to see what the outcome is. It also shows us Indians another side of our lives post-liberalisation. We have the best IMFL products, and yet we cannot ‘hold our drinks’. While the guilty must be held accountable, let’s not make this a cause celebre because of their well to do background. The victims of road accidents can be people of any caste, community and economic background. It’s time for those responsible to reach out to those who are affected – an entire family has been ruined. The guilty need to make amends. This is the time for the guilty to atone, and for our leadership to enforce driving laws and regulations to benefit society.
Brian de Souza, Margao
