01 Dec 2022  |   05:42am IST

Letters to the editor ( 01 December 2022)

Stop discrimination of those with HIV/AIDS

Today is World AIDS Day. Each year, on December 1, the world commemorates World AIDS Day with a clarion call for people around the world to unite and show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it’s always been, thereby reminding people and governments that HIV has not gone away.

There is still a critical need for increased funding for the AIDS response, to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives, to end stigma and discrimination and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme. This year the theme is “Equalise”. This year’s theme joins a growing list of challenges that World AIDS Day has alerted people globally. Discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS is the prejudice, fear, rejection, and stigmatisation of people with HIV/AIDS.

This discrimination hinders access to HIV/AIDS screening and care around the world. People living with HIV face discrimination in many sectors, including healthcare, education and employment. WHO has called on global leaders and citizens to recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS and equalize access to essential HIV services, particularly for children and those at risk of getting infected.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco


India and presidency of G-20

Today India assumes the presidency of the G-20, a significant day in the annals of history, when despite difficult times it seems that India has almost achieved it as a matter of merit, being one of the largest and best performing large economy in the world.

Hundred monuments in India will be illuminated today to celebrate the occasion. It must be stated that this is a feather in the cap of the hard working Indians who have been able to wade through difficult situations, first due to the break out of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been deftly parried with some very well concerted efforts of the health workers and the Indian companies that manufactured vaccines as well as through the geopolitical upheaval that has rendered most of the wealthy nations on the throes of a recession, while India has emerged as the shinning jewel in the crown of the G-20 with impressive performance. 

Mention here has to be made of the 100 best Indian companies who have stood the test of time and outperformed its global peers. It would be right to mention here that the top 100 Indian companies have performed better than other countries that have larger multinationals, but their Indian counterparts have maintained a very high degree of financial balance sheets, that is a credit to every corporate honcho.

Elvidio Miranda, Panjim


Police verification of tenant to be a must

Recently the Vasco police launching a tenant verification drive for verifying the legality of those staying in rented rooms, houses and apartments under its jurisdiction, is a good move.

In view of the large number of tourists visiting the state and migrants staying in rented accommodation, to curb overstaying by foreign nationals and the increasing of crimes. The law makes it compulsory for landlords to fulfill police verification of their tenants. It is often seen that the landlord ignore the importance of tenant verification and rent out their property without performing legal due diligence.

If the tenant is involved in any criminal act, landlord can be held responsible for this negligence. It is very easy to track the absconding culprit and those who connive a crime in the rented rooms/flat/house. Sec. 144 of CrPC, commonly used to impose prohibitory orders, enable police to issue orders to house owners, asking them to provide information of their tenants.

Under Section 188 of the IPC which concerns the violation of order rightfully declared by a public servant, a convict may be punished with simple imprisonment and a monetary penalty or both. This needs to be followed by every police under their jurisdictions. Any person living without verification could pose a threat to law and order so it is necessary to get them registered. A sustained drive is the need of the hour and all police stations should immediately start working on it. 

KG Vilop, Chorao


Pak's new army chief

In Pakistan, as is known, the army calls all the shots and the Prime Minister is literally a figurehead. If the Prime Minister and the army chief are comrades-in-arms, then it's smooth sailing for the government. However, over the years this has not been the case. Pakistan history is replete with examples of both being at loggerheads with each other. Imran Khan would vouch for the fact that the army made his life quite miserable and orchestrated this downfall.

The outgoing army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had a firm grip over his ranks. But his equations with former PM Imran Khan was quite ordinary. Now, Lt Gen Asim Munir is all set to replace General Bajwa. Asim Munir's relations with the present PM is unknown, but he is not known to be cosy with Imran as well. So, the beleaguered, but stodgy, Imran would continue to have a strong tool to browbeat the government in the form of Asim Munir. 

Imran, evidently, has a long-drawn-out strategy. But the Pakistan public is looking at Lt Gen Munir with hope against hope. A warm army--government relation is good for the crumbling economy of the country. By all accounts, the new army chief would try to assert his supremacy over the government. That said, his international outlook, especially with relation to India, should be interesting. 

The Lt Gen was the Pakistan Inter--Services Intelligence (ISI) chief when the terrible Pulwama tragedy took place. For a Pakistan army chief, planning terror on Indian soil is borne of necessity though Gen Bajwa embraced peace of sorts with India during the latter half of his tenure. India, however, as is its wont nowadays, may prefer to wait and watch over the new Pakistan chief of army.

Ganapathi Bhat, Akola


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