FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Provide support to the disabled
As we celebrate World Disabled Day on December 3 all over the world, I would like to pen and express few lines from my heart.
As we all know most of our Goan brothers and sisters have migrated to the UK in need of jobs and cause of better facilities provided by the UK Government for children and families as they could not find one in Goa. Those born before 1961 could apply Portuguese passport and move to countries accordingly which I didn’t. I loved my Goa. What hurts me now is few of my near and dear once speak to me of facilities in the UK for people with disability like free house, good financial support and care to family of disabled, including car. Government provides care takers for disabled persons in the house.
When I hear all this, tears roll from my eyes thinking why my near and dear didn’t tell me all this while they were doing their passport when they knew all this as my life would have been good with care and advance medication in the UK.
As I pass my days I think sometimes will I and other persons with disabilities in Goa ever get those facilities like UK provides.
Today being the World Disabled Day, I want to ask and request my CM Dr Pramod Sawant if it is possible to provide physio-therapy to persons in need like me.
Jerry L De Souza, Divar
Senegal, Morocco keep African hopes alive
Senegal nudged out the more fancied Ecuador in Group A to set up an interesting contest with England in the last 16 match. The African side will have the opportunity to get the better of England, who have remained unbeaten in Group B with two wins and a draw. Although most would fancy an England win, Senegal could spring a surprise and this match is set to go down to the wire. Senegal with two wins have given a good account of themselves so far.
Morocco topped Group F with two wins and a draw and became the second African country to make it to the knock out stage, for first time in 36 years. Morocco in the build up to the World Cup have beaten world's number two ranked Belgium 2-0 to make them a force to contend with.
Although Tunisia did not qualify, they had the distinction of beating tournament favourites France 1-0 to be worthy of qualifying for the World Cup.
Cameroon can become the third African country to qualify and thus prove that African teams are no pushovers although they have to get past Brazil to qualify, making Africa contribute 19% representation in the knock-out stages.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Sikh Langar
What a celebration of service and love! The Sikh community elders and leaders provided hot meals to the devotees who came to the Bom Jesus Basilica from far and wide. What a selfless example of love to people regardless of their religious affiliation!
A great example to all.
Fatima Jaques, by email
Artificial intelligence for road safety
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said that the government will implement the amended Motor Vehicle Act after installing signals on traffic islands where the government will use artificial intelligence (AI) to capture all traffic violations and issue challans.
The ability to create a machine that can simulate human intelligence is no small feat. The combination of smart video, artificial intelligence, and advanced hardware can monitor traffic and automate enforcement. These systems are becoming a vital tool for municipal governments to automate traffic control, detect violations, and even dispense tickets in major cities.
Motorcycle helmet violations are a huge safety risk and a serious problem. Even those riders wearing hats or other head coverings made to look like helmets are detected by these cameras. The AI cameras also catch violations such as using a phone while driving, traveling without wearing a helmet or seat belt, and three people traveling on a bike.
When a vehicle's speed is detected to be excessive, a camera takes photos of the vehicle and license plate, time, date, location, speed. However, what also needs to be checked is the validity of documents including insurance. High Cost of the AI cameras is a major drawback. It causes loss of jobs and unemployment.
Artificial Intelligence to provide road safety becomes necessary because road-users do not use the God-given natural intelligence, or common sense, and obey traffic rules.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Dull World Cup so far
There is no greater show on this planet of any individual sporting item than that of the soccer World Cup that is underway now in Qatar where almost half the tournament is already over with the completion of first phase where the host was given an automatic entry officially without undergoing the gruelling qualifying rounds, lasting over a year.
This time Qatar being the host enjoys the privilege of automatic entry and ultimately makes a joke of itself because these soccer poor countries of this automatic competing with highly competitive teams where they are turned into novices and thus they spoil the grandeur of the whole tournament.
In fact it is not Qatar alone but the entire Gulf region that treats their workers like slaves. Gulf is the only region where all the countries treat their foreign workers with disdain and disrespect.
Will any player break the record of 13 goals scored by Frenchman Just Fontaine in 1958 when the total number of participants were just 16 compared to the current 32?
Though the first phase is completed but still there is not much excitement, no single player is so far indicating his super talent and no extra ordinary goals are scored so far because no extra ordinary player is there making us to rely only on Messi and Ronaldo to play magical game if they can.
There is nobody in the European teams like Platini, Bobby Moore, Backenbeur neither Pele, Maradona in the South American teams there is nobody in this tournament to emulate the oldies. So far everything is going dull unless second phase brings some excitement.
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Empty promises
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on October 21, publicly made a very tall solemn promise that the PWD, RTO and the Traffic Police would within 15 days prepare a plan to curtail road accidents. It is now over a month and yet no sign of how the authorities plan to deal with the rising number of accidents.
Was that assurance by the Chief Minister just like the rest, one never to be honoured? The Chief Minister would be well advised that instead of making meaningless promises every day, to please restrict himself to one assurance a month that he can comply with.
Goa desperately needs proper traffic management as the now regular traffic jams in the city and towns across the State is a matter of concern and nerve wrecking. Will the situation improve only when the Governor, Chief Minister and his Ministers find themselves trapped in a traffic jam?
The Goa Police needs to get its act together and ensure free flow of traffic. So that the Goa Police can focus on traffic management, they could even consider outsourcing to the Andhra Police the vexed issue of cleansing Goa of the flourishing narcotic trade. Is it not an irony that our police are feigning ignorance of the drug trade.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
