Doorstep banking
services needed
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
It is learnt that the ATMs of certain banks are not accessible for Persons with Disability (PWDs) thereby discriminating against them and in violation of Section 3 and Section 40 of the Rights of Persons With Disability Act 2016. Senior citizens and elderly persons have to wait in long queues in the banks to get their work done.
It may be recalled, that after an extremely long wait, an 85-year-old woman from Carla in Sanguem who could not go to the bank received her 16 months pension of Rs 32,000 from a local bank at Quepem delivered at her residence after South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes took up the matter with the bank manager.
Be that as it may, Doorstep Banking Service (DSB) is a facility introduced in line with the RBI’s directive to cater to both financial and non-financial banking needs of the customers of all banks. Doorstep Banking services are extended to senior citizens and differentlyabled persons including the visually impaired. The financial services include cash pick-up and deposit, cash delivery against withdrawal from account. The non-financial services include delivery of Demand Drafts, submission of KYC documents, submission of Life Certificate, etc. There are no charges for availing DSB services. Banks need to help retired persons having health issues by delivering their monthly pension at the doorsteps.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Need for DEI in
Goan workplaces
I am an octogenarian member of a well-renowned club here in Panjim, and over the years, I have seen many changes—some for the better, others deeply concerning. One such concern is the treatment of staff, which highlights the urgent need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in Goan workplaces.
Despite their dedication, long-serving staff receive lower pay than newcomers. Hard work and loyalty go unnoticed, while undue stress and low morale plague employees who fear being shown the exit door. Bonuses and increments are selectively granted, with efficient and committed staff often targeted and forced out—whether due to personal biases, excessive workloads, or fabricated complaints.
A high employee turnover speaks volumes about the Board’s regard for its workforce. Recognizing and respecting differences, providing equal opportunities and protecting employees from discrimination should be core values—not just for the sake of ethics but also for business performance. A demoralized workforce will only lead to declining service standards, ultimately affecting a company’s reputation.
It is time for workplaces in Goa, including esteemed institutions such as this, to embrace DEI not just in words but in action too.
Antonio Alvaro Miranda, Assagao
Black mark on US
air safety record
There has been another accident involving a US Navy jet on February 12, in San Diego. The occupants survived the crash and thankfully no one was killed. This is the fourth or fifth air accident in the US since the Black Hawk helicopter collided with a civilian airliner just outside Washington DC recently that had all 67 on both aircraft killed.
This is a black mark on the US air safety record apart from avoidable loss of life that has also disrupted operations. The collision of the Black Hawk helicopter with the civilian airliner was attributed to a lapse of the air traffic controller who had been on duty for 2 consecutive shifts. It was also found that the pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter had not switched on the anti-collision device that is standard fitment on these helicopters.
These are very serious lapses that has possibly been repeated causing the other accidents. Is this not what Donald Trump should be bothered about and maybe issue an Executive Order on it? Instead of throwing his weight around the world, he should turn his attention to closer home and put his own house in order. Inanities like renaming the Gulf of Mexico and to replace paper straws with plastic should be stopped.
Srinivas Kamat, Mysore
Valentine’s Day
is all about love
Valentine’s Day is here at last and everyone is busy thinking about what to buy for their loved ones. Though the festival commemorates the martyrdom of a Christian saint called St Valentine, the festival as it is celebrated today, has very little religious significance. The day is usually commemorated as a celebration of love. But love is not about showering people with gifts. It means standing by one’s loved ones in good times and in bad.
Valentine’s Day is an international festival that celebrates the feeling of love and friendship.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Long way to go in
controlling corruption
India has been ranked 96th in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in public sector with a score of 38 by Transparency International (TI) that ranks 180 countries from 0 to 100 (highly corrupt to very clean). India’s overall score was 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022. It ranked 93 in 2023. As per the TI, there are meagre institutional checks and balances to control corruption.
Its report is a warning to all stakeholders, who are in a position to control corruption, to get their acts together. Generally, however, countries of the world have come to a “standstill” in their fight against graft. Even nations at the top of the index, have revealed signs of going slow against corruption.
It has been shown that any country that has failed to uphold its democratic fabric, and faltered in preserving human rights, has not done well in dealing with corruption.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
LA fires costliest
in history
The Los Angeles fires last month are not just a local crisis but a wake-up call for global unity in the face of climate disasters. Residents of Los Angeles, from high-profile celebrities to those experiencing homelessness, have all been affected by the fires.
The horrific scenes from uncontrollable wildfires in LA are a stark reminder of the price to pay due to little attention paid to climate change that has caused this unimaginable destruction, clearly fuelled by anthropogenic activity. The LA wildfires are said to be the costliest in US history, with some analysts projecting economic losses of over $200 billion dollars. The cost of such gargantuan losses can be measured in monetary terms as well as in terms of societal chaos and displacement of population. The LA fires and the destruction are a clear message to the global community to pay heed to science and climate change in a serious manner.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
