SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Beggars too are humans!
Trapped in a never-ending frenzy, with no other alternative to go, the beggars create inconvenience on the roads/at shops or on the beaches across Goa. However, they too need their daily bread and butter, but unfortunately due to lack of education and poverty challenges, they are forced to lead such a vulnerable lifestyle.
Unfortunately, their presence at different venues might be provoking considerable distaste in one's heart, but we lack to discern their miserable plight.
The beggars too are humans and need to have a decent living with due respect for themselves. Sadly, there might be multiple reasons due to which their lifestyle might have got degraded to such a state.
To make a headway, the State government ought to come up with some rehab centres/institutions/ashrams wherein the beggars are provided shelter, and basic needs. Besides this, the concerned rehab centres/institutions/ashrams can act like torch bearers by discerning their skills/talents and getting them well equipped to earn a decent living for themselves.
Moreover, a civilised lifestyle can be inculcated in them, wherein they abide by the norms of the society. Eventually, this can set a commendable example for others, and explore the possibility of curbing this menace.
Joseph Savio Desouza, Candolim
Contain begging menace
This has reference to the report ‘Drive against beggars………’ (Herald, March 26, 2024). This issue of begging is indeed, a very big issue and needs to be tackled with care. Begging has become a big nuisance in all big cities like Mumbai, beggars everywhere at traffic signals, streets corners, railway ticket counters, bus stops, anywhere and everywhere exhorting people for money.
The authorities in Goa are rightly concerned about this issue of begging. Yes, we need a comprehensive action plan to address this issue. Simply clearing them from one place is not going to help. As such, we need to get to the root of the issue. One would find that many of them come into cities from villages in search of employment, some means of sustenance. Since they have no place to stay, they settle down on the so-called footpaths. Many of them fall prey to the begging mafia.
We need to stop this migration from the interiors, only then can we be in a position to contain this menace of begging.
Melville X D'Souza, Mumbai
Stop liquor smuggling during election time
Collem police during a routine patrol in the forest near Mollem check-post reportedly seized 12.4 litres of abandoned liquor. It is learnt that the liquor stock was meant for transportation to Karnataka. Smuggling of liquor to neighbouring States from across the Goa border is a multi-crore activity and takes place throughout the year.
However, this illegal activity increases manifold during election time in those States. Seizures of alcohol by Excise officials of neighbouring States since the Model Code of Conduct has come into force have reportedly come under the scanner of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Last week two cases came to the notice of the officials wherein 55 litres of liquor was seized and two trucks detained by Anmod division of Karnataka Excise.
Incidentally, distribution of alcohol during election time to woo the electorate is one of the most commonly witnessed forms of electoral malpractices. Smuggling across the Goa borders takes place because Karnataka serves the most expensive alcohol in the country, while Goa serves the cheapest. As per a report, while the tax levied on liquor in Goa is 49% of the MRP, in Karnataka it is 83%.
The problem seems to be much deeper as there are reportedly illegal and duplicate liquor manufacturing units operating in Goa. Every vehicle entering the neighbouring State from Goa needs to be checked at the border in order to keep the liquor smuggling activity under check.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Goemkars must not cry for water during summer
Given the fact that Goa receives more than sufficient rain every year, Goemkars should not cry for water every summer. But this doesn't happen. Come summer and we Goans cry for water and housewives are inconvenienced with water taps running dry.
Imagine the strain on the working housewife who has to keep her family happy, school children going to school have to be on time and elders struggling with health problems to keep themselves fit and active. But the life inconveniences of affected people don't bother the minister, who manages the ministry inefficiently.
These days we wake up to find there's no water in the storage tanks. The supply comes but the pressure is low. Only sometime back the needful was done to improve the water supply but one understands it was only a show to benefit those in the game. For how long this water shortage will continue no one knows. While the politicians in power will enjoy a comfortable summer, the common people will strive in the sweltering heat till the monsoon arrives and bring the much-needed relief and smile.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Protect sparrows
March 20, every year, marks World Sparrow Day. The day is intended to create awareness about the conservation and protection of sparrows, whose numbers are dwindling globally. While house sparrows are not endangered yet, their decline in urban areas is a grave cause for concern, and points to the loss of biodiversity.
These chirpy little birds have been the quintessential feathered companions for humans for centuries. However, modern human activities like excessive use of pesticides, pollution, diminishing green spaces and lack of nesting sites have all taken a toll on their population.
As humans, it is our responsibility to make sure that this little bird, which has been immortalised in song and verse in many cultures, holds its own in our ecosystem. Protecting sparrows means protecting the delicate balance of nature itself.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
