SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Fill up posts of DySPs
To ensure proper and efficient functioning of the very vital Police force and for the maintenance of proper law and order in the State, the Government should on a priority fill up those long vacant posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySPs).
The Goa Police despite having a sanctioned strength of DySPs, very surprisingly currently a huge number of these posts are lying vacant on account of which officers are holding multiple assignments and are unable to do justice to their job. In violation of their Human Rights the Police officers cannot be overburdened as it would have an adverse effect on their health and efficiency while also their wellbeing besides the welfare of their families neglected.
Politicians in power while eyeing huge monetary gains may possibly want to bring in some DySPs by direct recruitment, but in the interest of good policing, only Police Inspectors should be promoted as DySPs, this rank being their rightful next promotion.
Good policing is a multifaceted issue while experience besides expertise comes only after years of active service in various roles and situations. Direct recruits would have to undergo years of training and it would take them another many years to learn the law, rules, regulations and procedures. For many of them by the time they mature in the service it would be time to retire.
By promoting Police Inspectors as DySPs it would also have a very negligible financial implication on our State exchequer which is already in dire straits. More importantly bringing in direct recruits would have a very adverse effect on the morale of the current Police Inspectors who after years of service look forward to their next promotion as a DySP.
There is also an urgent need to weed out from the Goa Police at all levels anyone who has the faintest link with the Crime mafia. With zero- tolerance to corruption and indiscipline being the focus, our Chief Secretary and the DGP must take appropriate measures to ensure that the Rule of Law, fair play and recognition of our police force without any undue influence from outside, prevails at all times.
As a step towards the much needed better community policing there is a need to reactivate those monthly interaction the Police Inspector of every police Station used to have with local residents. It is only a well equipped and well rewarded police force with a high morale that will ensure the safety and security of the State and its people.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Rising fuel prices; increasing costs
The national oil marketing companies hiking the price of LPG cooking gas cylinders by Rs 25 each from March 1 has hit the average person hard. The hike is the second revision in five days and the fourth since February 4.
Besides domestic LPG, the price of a 19-kg cylinder meant for commercial establishments was also increased. Rising fuel prices can send the cost of essentials and transport soaring through the roof.
NJ Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Felling trees, ruin environment forever
The enormity of the futility of felling trees in your own area can only be felt when you are the victim of felling of trees yourselves. The people of Panjim city would be reminded, what would happen if all the trees in Altinho, Campal and Miramar were to be felled? The consequences would be that the ambient air quality of the air in Panjim would deteriorate beyond measure as a result of trees not being there to conduct the process of photosynthesis which would replenish the air in the city with oxygen.
Also besides the shade afforded by the trees, in the morning, there would not be the chirping, warbling and twittering of the birds and the familiar call of the restless squirrels as they dart from tree to tree. Would Panjimites want to live in a barren city devoid of trees? Similar is the case in the villages where people make their rustic abode. What would be your lives without the trees, the birds, the squirrels, the butterflies and the fresh air?
The reason why I am writing this is for people to imagine themselves in an environment devoid of trees and then realize and support in an overwhelming manner the opposition of felling of over 70,000 trees to make way for the three infra projects in Mollem which will definitely cause untold damage to the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park which is much wider green area of bio-diversity which will begin to disappear if the people of Goa do not oppose with full force the destruction of Western Ghats area which is also a United Nations protected area. Only when you become victims, do you realize what it is like to be at the receiving end.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Rise in number of road accidents
It is learnt that the year 2021 started with 300 road accidents in January as per the monthly statistics compiled by Directorate of Transport. The statistics recorded that 24 persons were killed in this month of which sixteen were reported in South Goa and eight in North Goa. The number of fatal road accidents is quite high for a small state like Goa.
It must be said that there has been an increase in the number of road accidents after the lockdown due to the pandemic was lifted and the months following it. Thirteen people lost their lives in different road accidents in September 2020. A total of 156 road accidents took place in this month, sixty of which were in North Goa and 96 in South Goa. From the statistics it is obvious that there has been an increase in the number of road accidents when people began moving in their vehicles after the fear of getting infected by the coronavirus began to subside.
People began to go on long trips and tourists from other states began to come to Goa after the restrictions at the borders were lifted. Those who were working from home began to go to the office. All this led to an increase of traffic on the roads.
The traffic cell of the Goa Police needs to be stricter on those violating the traffic rules. The diversions due to the various works in progress along the highway has also made it difficult for the road-users to navigate.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Vaccine drive
Now that those with co-morbidities have commenced getting vaccinated: who next? The portal CoWin 2.0 has numerous bugs and will not be used by the majority.
Goa, being small and having numerous Health Centres must continue its own methods. The next in line must be the daily bus commuters. Lack of social distancing in buses, unhygienic interiors and habits like spitting and non-mask wearing ‘heroes’ makes this category key.
Either the bus operators or other designated Govt. employees must commence handing over appointment cards with details like commuters name, residence, origin/destination, mobile numbers etc. These details can then be stored digitally and sorted by residence and Health Centre. This will ensure the many migrants, many who cannot get a doctor’s certificate for co-morbidity, get the dose. To reduce the strain on the Govt. health workers, the onus must be placed on the Industry employing them, to provide the shots at private hospitals.
These cards can then be extended to their home people who must be next on the list. GCCI and ASSOCHAM seem rather shy and backward to take up responsibility of getting their workers vaccinated at private hospitals when bus commuters start their turn. They must own responsibility. Vaccinating the entire population is no child’s play.
R Fernandes, Margao
