MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024
Cruelty toward infants in Goa is on the rise
This is with ref to the article titled ‘Borda Shocker: Mother dumps baby in a garbage pile’.
It is very sad and unfortunate that many babies meet this fate and sometimes worse at the behest of their own desperate mothers who have never heard of a place called OPM CRECHE in Nachinola which is run by Sisters supported by Caritas.
There is a cradle placed outside their door and instead of abandoning babies in trash cans or to danger at bus stops, fields and hillsides, one can safely and with no questions asked place their baby in this ‘cradle’ discreetly. The sisters who take these babies into their care legally are rendering a yeoman service to humanity welcoming these poor unwanted babies with love till they are given for legal adoption.
Sadly cruelty towards children, the most vulnerable are on the rise nowadays. There are so many childless couples who long to have a child. Recently one desperate lady was in the news when she paid an amount to a poor family to adopt their baby but it unfortunately backfired on her!
Tradition and devotion are good but what is more important is that we need to realise that children are a gift of God and we have to be more vocal on these social issues plaguing society today which nobody likes to speak about and thus promote and support our institutions that are sacrificing so much to save and nurture the unwanted!
Allwyn N D’Souza, Saligao
Ensure elevators in govt buildings are functional
It is learnt that visitors to the excise office in Mapusa have been having a gruelling experience as the two lifts are not functional for the past two years. People have been forced to climb a hundred steps to reach the excise office located on the fifth floor of the building. Be that as it may, many a times it is observed that in buildings that house government offices, the elevators are either missing or are non-functional due to non-maintenance or power failure.
Elevators provide a reliable way for the elderly people and those with mobility challenges, who use wheelchairs or walkers, to access every part of a building. It could be a matter of life and death for a person with a heart condition who has to climb several steps to reach the designated floor.
Accessibility is a fundamental right, not a privilege. For people with disabilities, this is especially true when it comes to navigating through buildings. In emergencies like fires or natural disasters, elevators ensure a swift and secure evacuation. It is equally essential for the elevators to have provisions for stand-by power supply in case of power failure.
There have been instances wherein the lift has stopped mid-way between two floors due to power failure. This can cause great inconvenience for occupants of the elevator. Elevators in government buildings need to be functional during working hours.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Increasing cybercrime is a matter of concern
Despite the advancement in technology, the blatant cyber-crimes are on the increase. It is an unacceptable situation that the cyber criminals are having a field day while the law enforcement authorities watch helplessly. This is a growing global problem that needs concerted efforts to end the cybercrime nightmare that ranges from credit card fraud to identity theft, and it can be devastating for both individuals and companies alike as it inflicts financial and emotional distress to many.
While the very vigilant crackdown on cybercrimes must be relentless, the miscreants must be swiftly and mercilessly brought to book. The cyber glitches that aid and assist the commitment of cybercrimes must be technologically plugged. Prevention must always be better than cure.
It is sad to see innocent people being robbed of their hard-earned money and data by the ruthless cybercriminals. Another case of concern is the rampant hacking of emails and social media accounts like Facebook. Over the years, I have had my Facebook account fiddled with so many times. Despite reporting it to the authorities the malaise merrily continues.
We must all be aware of cybercrime and take every possible precaution by thinking twice before we act and to always question anything that seems too good to be true!
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
SC exposure unmasks dubious face of BJP
While the entire nation is in shock over the scam perpetrated in the name of the Electoral Bonds allegedly by the ruling dispensation, it is more shocking that it has been termed the biggest ever scam committed in the world by none other than the well renowned economist Dr Parahala Prabhakar, an alumnus of the London School of Economics and more importantly, the husband of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman himself! With the exposure of its alleged involvement in the Electoral Bonds scam, the Bharatiya Janata Party has lost the moral right to blow anymore, it's usual trumpeting that it is a corruption- free party!
People of the entire nation have woken from their slumber now and have started questioning the saffron clan of its commissions, omissions and corruption thanks to the verdict of the Supreme Court which unearthed the EB scam and has removed the mask of dubious innocence worn by the BJP and exposed the real face of the saffron party. Hope the people will show their anger when they are in the polling booth to cast their votes in the ensuing general elections.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
Dress code for teachers in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government has introduced a dress code for school teachers disallowing them to sport t-shirts, jeans and shirts with design. Men should wear trousers and shirts that are tucked in, the government has declared. The government resolution added that the colour of shirts should be light and the trousers, dark, and not the other way.
Female teachers can wear saree or dresses like salwar, chudidar, kurta and dupatta. The exact colour of the dresses has been left to the discretion of the institutions. Hearteningly, teachers can now use the prefix " tr" similar to "dr" and "adv" of doctors and advocates respectively.
There always has been a debate with regards to "appropriate dress" for some specific professionals including teachers. It is argued that a dress should look good, decent and sober. No professional is expected to dress shabbily, and more so the teachers who are held in high esteem.
The common man looks at them with respect and hope. As has been reported in various articles and journals, a professional is more confident and proactive in neat and formal dress. Especially, teachers are expected to induce a comfortable classroom environment. And, an acceptable dress goes a long way in achieving that objective.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
