SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Providing jobs on
sympathetic grounds
Several families lose their loved ones while on duty in government, semi-government, autonomous bodies and private service and very often the loved ones who were deceased were the main bread earners of the family, who depended on their hard earned salaries. It is not rare that quite a few of those who died had been ailing for long periods of time and who had to borrow money or take big loans in order to treat the ailment of their dear departed, which had brought financial burden of the surviving family members in order to repay the borrowed money.
It may even be the case in many instances that the family dependents on the main bread earner had to live an existence of hand to mouth situation. It is in this context that the Supreme Court of India has recently passed an order making it compulsory that jobs on compassionate grounds to a surviving member of family of the deceased be allotted within a span of six months from the date of loss of the family member on duty. It is known that the government of India is creating ten lakh jobs which are to be filled in and thus the government in an exemplary manner should show the way and immediately give priority to those in particular who have been waiting for as reported many years to be allocated a suitable job on compassionate grounds.
It will be a vindication of the government's resolve to give preference to filling up jobs being created to the next of kin of deceased employees on duty. The Supreme Court verdict will also be honoured in letter and spirit thus setting right the creation of employment which will be a tribute to the memory of the deceased on duty if a suitable job is provided within six months of the passing away of an employee be it in a government job, semi-government, autonomous bodies as well as private service if those in charge of the government machinery and others do not delay and comply on priority basis with the Supreme Court verdict.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Thank you doctors!
We celebrate national doctors day on July 1 this year's theme is 'National Doctors on the frontline', well the theme speaks volumes, as we have witnessed that in spite of a great surge in the number of cases with regards to Covid-19, every doctor went above and beyond to protect and cure the sick, risking their own lives and well being.
They ensured to deliver their best in every possible way, not forgetting the nurses and everyone who is a part of this community. Words cannot express how grateful we are, thanks a tonne for everything!
Elroy Lopes, Chinchinim
Ban on plastic,
tough to enforce
That plastic is harmful for the environment is widely acknowledged but the nationwide ban on single use plastic would be difficult to enforce. Millions of tonnes of plastic are dumped into landfills or into the oceans where they disintegrate into tiny microplastic that find their way into marine life or terrestrial animals; from there they eventually enter the human food chain. It is pertinent to note that India generates 9200 tonnes of plastic waste daily, most of it from metropolises.
Twenty single-use plastic items have been banned as a first step but it is a case of too little too late, and is unlikely to succeed in a meaningful way. The problem is that alternatives to everyday plastic items are far more expensive, for instance paper straws cost five times as much as plastic ones.
With such lop-sided economics, plastic prohibition will hurt small vendors and manufacturers disproportionately. A better approach would be to work with the plastic industry to foster innovation and boost production of compostable plastics which may initially be an expensive proposition but would tremendously benefit the environment in the long run.
An entirely new waste management system needs to be designed and implemented to fight ‘Plastic Unfantastic.’ Along with this, the citizenry should be sensitised to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic, in fact it should be urged to move away from the consumerist culture of 'use and throw' which produces a humungous amount of plastic and other kinds of waste.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Continue to take precautions
The recent increase in the Covid-19 positivity rate shows that the Coronavirus is still here. Over the last couple of months, the government has become a bit lenient towards the issue. It seems that the complete withdrawal of Covid-related restrictions has had a negative impact on our fight against the virus. There are still a large number of people who have not got themselves vaccinated. So dear readers, get yourself vaccinated today.
Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai
Party yet to begin, the fun has just started
This has reference to the Edit ‘Fulfill my dream’ (Herald July 1, 2022). That was a good, appropriate editorial on the political situation in Maharashtra. The curtain on the political drama in Maharashtra has come to an end. Or, has it? Fulfill my dreams you say, whose dreams? The erstwhile opposition party's dream of toppling the MVA government has been fulfilled.
Shiv Sena's dream of having a Shiv Sainik becoming the next chief minister has also been fulfilled. The BJP High Command, however, has played its cards well and has managed to shatter dreams of several others. The former CM Devendra Fadnavis' dream of returning as chief minister could not materialise. Instead, we have seen his demotion to a Dy Chief minister's post.
The MVA dream of completing their full tenure was shattered. Above all, the dream of people of Maharashtra of a stable govt also seem shattered. The party High Command has managed to kill several birds with one stone. Anyway, the party is yet to begin. The fun has just begun.
Melville X D'Souza, Mumbai
