SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Parental vigilance must on their children
Our Chief Minister's comments about the role of parents in safeguarding their children stoked a controversy. Local media and the politicians took his comments out of context, which the Chief Minister had made out of concern. Can the responsibility of safety of our children be pushed unanimously on the police and State's machinery? Deploying policemen for the safety of each and every citizen is theoretically feasible, but not pragmatic. The police force in the State is already a stressed one. The current tendency is over-reliance on the law to end the rape which is actually a social problem. NCRD data suggests that in more than 90% of rapes, the perpetrators were known by the victim. Thus it is amply clear that it is impossible to keep a watch on every group of people under the garb of a possible rape.
This surveillance will lead to the breach of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution that guarantees freedom of movement. One can never know when a male masculinity will be provoked, and then be pushed to overpower the other gender. "Prevention is better than cure" holds true in such cases, where the parents must be vigilant on the movement of their minor children, and their activity on social media.
Raghav Gadgil, Khandola
The Monsoon session, an eyewash
That insane Bhumiputra legislation is the biggest insult that this government could have inflicted on the identity of Goa and Goans. The power ruling party has obviously lost its mental balance and is stooping to unimaginable levels while dragging the remains of Goa to the gutters.
As any legislation that is enacted has far reaching effects on the State and its people, there must be a detailed and thorough debate on the pros and cons of every law that is contemplated.
We elect legislators to debate issues concerning the people and to enact good laws. The Assembly is the democratic forum where elected representatives of the people must hold debates on matters that affect the people.
It should afford an opportunity for members to discuss the intricacies of government policy, propose new laws and topical issues of the day. Curtailing to mere three days the duration of the just concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly was a highhanded wrong move that did not augur well in the framework of democracy.
It is imperative that there should be a free and fair meaningful debate without bulldozing legislations through. Stifling debate by a lack-lustre, ill-informed Assembly only leads to the current malaise and downward spiral. If elected lawmakers can be so uncaring and abdicate their democratic duties how can they expect other institutions of Government and the people to respect the poorly enacted laws that they legislate?
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Bhumiputra Bill, for Goans?
This Draconian Bill is a direct insult to the original Goan Bhumiputra (sons of the soil). Day by day the ruling dispensation is out to rape and destroy Goa. Mauvin Godinho, the current panchayat Minister, was nurtured, groomed and prospered in the then Congress Government, starting as a youth Congress leader. He was showing high hopes of being an intelligent leader in politics, in a growing and developing Goa. Soon he dumped the Congress to grab the BJP pie.
Goans have not forgotten his various serious sins of omission and commission when he was the power minister. We are shocked to say the least that Mauvin who is supposed to be a man of integrity and high calibre is stating that this Bill is for Goans. He should know that Goans are not so foolish to get carried away with such detestable statements which have far reaching ramifications.
Mauvin please do not sacrifice/sell Goa for the sake of your Karnataka voters residing at Dabolim constituency. Son of the soil and statesman to the toil will become meaningless. Again the ten plus two Bhaddea Boil (Jumping Frogs) who deserted their respective parties to join the BJP Bandwagon, last election, not forgetting the famous altar boys of Goan politics are silent, showing their tacit collusion and support for this evil bill which will soon spell doom for Goa and Goans.
The CM should by now gauge the pulse of the Goan people, with the recent unhealthy happenings and criminal activities occurring regularly in Goa and not to get swayed by migrants’ votes’ weightage from Sawantwadi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, etc, to name a few residing in Goa. Act likewise to save Goa and the Goan Bhumiputra and repeal/strike down this destructive bill now once and for all.
Remember Goans can make a Government and at the same time break off a government, this time all the kings horses read resources and all the kings men will not be able to put their Humpty dumpty (Government) together again.
Mathew J D’Costa, Curchorem
Who needs ‘sadbuddhi’ the most
The recent incident on Benaulim beach and the subsequent statement by our CM in the Assembly seems to have disturbed our better halves immensely. The planned protests and "Sadbuddhi" yatra to impart some wisdom to our CM have expectedly met with stiff resistance. Having taken the necessary action against the culprits and as responsible parent the CM stated that the parents also should take responsibility of their teenage daughters' whereabouts. Lo and behold, all hell broke loose.
One wonders why this drama when this advice given on a day to day basis by our parents to their sons and daughters irrespective of their ages, and it is well adhered to with great respect. So why this unnecessary hullabaloo?
One wonders if any of these protesting ladies have made any attempt to visit the victims’ homes to comfort them and to impart the (Sadbuddhi) to them. If so well and good, if not it is never too late.
Such a gesture will definitely give their protests a much better social or political mileage (whichever was intended).
Boaventura Vaz, Cavelossim
Bhumiputra versus gaunkars
As explained by an advocate, bhumiputra means: son of the soil, it is equally applicable to the daughter as well. In the same breath 'Gaunkari' means: village community where the land of the village belongs to the villagers. These are gaunkars of the village community which later came to be known as "comunidades.” Every village in Goa has its comunidade and the members of the comunidade are called Gaunkars who rightfully own their land by ancestry right. This village community functioned peacefully managing the village welfare with the Regidor deciding disputes, if any, among the gaunkars. The succeeding govts in the past, prior to liberation, didn't interfere with the comunidades they being a unique institution well managed and functioning. The Portuguese govt held the comunidade in high respect and did not interfere for 450 years during their rule here in Goa. But all this is now only history being pushed into oblivion by the present day government bringing in the: Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021 erasing our Goenkar identity and making us landless with no right over our ancestors' holding. How can this happen overnight, sighed an elderly gaunkar in frustration.
Our representatives have kicked on us with ingratitude for giving our votes to them to govern Goa in our interest, added another. Obviously, kam’ zalem, voiz melo is the present mentality of our politicians in power. Someone rightly pouted: fudarak amche ghanti, amche montri.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
