FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Where is Congress in Goa?
The next two years will just finish within no time and the election will be declared for the formation of the next government. Inspite of the heavy blow Congress received in the last election even by winning more seats, the Congress still does not look like learnt its lesson and in all probability it may never learn especially as long as all the fit for nothing oldies are having their say an upper hand. From past experience, people like me have lost our trust in Congress and to rebuild it Congress Party under its current sincere president must declare its CM candidate much before the election, preferably Congress must indicate its CM’s name in its Manifesto itself so that at the last minute there should not be any fighting for the post of CM.
Secondly, Congress must start prowling on its candidates for the next election now only by discarding all the earlier useless defeated candidates. There is no chance left for all the defeated candidates because voters have lost their confidence in them because voters found those candidates at least majority ones as proud, cunning, selfish, revengeful and corrupt. Because of these defects in them regular Congress voters voted against them to teach a lesson to the adamant Party stalwarts who opted for defeated candidates. Hence, it is imperative now for Congress to hunt for new candidates who are youthful and sincere to Congress Party.
While selecting its candidates, Congress must take the locals into confidence and with their approval only the selection should be done while Congress Middle and High Commands should be kept at a distance because it is the locals who elect the candidates and not the Congress Panjim Command nor Congress Delhi Command.
A.Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Mass promotion?
It is true that due to pandemic schools had to be closed, exams cancelled, etc. But is it fair or just to promote students in every class? These students were promoted without detention from Class I to VIII and they were supposed to be examined in Class IX due to RTE Act.
All the States had found that it brought the standard of learning and/or teaching to low levels as students did not know anything in most cases. Therefore two years ago guidelines were issued to every State to have one or two exams in between Class I to VIII. However our State even failed to constitute Advisory Board for the same and no decision was taken to implement the same. And now due to pandemic the students are all promoted to Std. X without any real test/exam. This may be a populist decision but is it good for our children? These students have not answered any exams from the time they joined school and they will only answer their public exam in Std. X. I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse leading towards a disaster.
No doubt there will be a huge number of students appearing for SSC exams in March, 2021 which will be a bonanza for the Board. Are we helping our children learn or just creating another class of “matric” appeared but failed? As many will not be able to pass the public exams even after appearing couple of times unless another scheme is devised to help them overcome this drawback. The students of Std. XI are in a different boat as they had passed Std IX and Std X. They are not just coming as passengers like the other counterparts. This benefit given to them is justifiable as it is a matter of just one year.
I am not expecting any change in decision but I felt it was my duty to express my views having worked in education for 5 decades to raise the standard in this state.
Celso Dias,
Ambora
The wonder of photosynthesis
So you thought that in the rains, photosynthesis does not take place. You are wrong, because as the rains begin and July and August being at their most abundant the number of leaves of the trees increases exponentially and photosynthesis too increases proportionately through the filtered rays of light of the sun amidst the clouds.
As the number of leaves increases, chlorophyll increases and catalyses photosynthesis to a greater extent replenishing the air with a heavy dose of oxygen which sustains healthier living and especially in these days of Covid-19, the newly created oxygen in the air fills your lungs with fresh oxygen that makes you less susceptible to Covid-19.
The divine weatherman thus not only lowers the temperature during the rainy season and showers fresh water in the form of rainfall but also makes you more immune to disease.
Elvidio Miranda,
Panjim
Coronavirus is airborne?
In a letter addressed to the WHO 239 scientists from 32 nations have warned that coronovirus is airborne. This is contrary to the current belief that the virus is not airborne and hence wearing a mask is relatively safe.
An expert doctor explained on a TV channel that when we cough or sneeze, the aerosols containing the virus and other matter, are relatively larger and heavier and hence fall to the ground. However, when we talk or shout, the aerosols are smaller and lighter and are suspended in the air for a longer time. Hence it is always advisable to wear a mask when out-doors even in a relatively safe environment.
Robert Castellino,
Mumbai
Allow taxi operators to sell goods
It is understood that the government has called upon the concerned authorities to close down the roadside vendors as the markets are now open. The Goa Police has also been directed to act strictly against the violators, who are mostly non-Goans selling fruits, fish, vegetables, etc by the roadside. This is a step in the right direction as it reduces the business of those operating in the market place and who pay the requisite tax. It is pertinent to note that taxi and cab operators in the State could be finding it difficult to make both ends meet as a result of the slump in tourism related activities due to the pandemic. Some could even have bank loans on their vehicles that need to be cleared. Many of the taxi owners may have resorted to growing paddy and vegetables in their ancestral land. However not all taxi owners own a piece of land. Hence they have resorted to selling goods like vegetables, fruits, coconuts, masks, etc. outside the market-place and other locations by displaying them in the open dickey of their taxis since they do not own either a shop or a hand-cart.
The Government needs to show leniency towards these taxi owners, who are mostly Goans, and allow them to sell goods by displaying them in the open dickey of their cars.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
Right step by CBSE
The decision by the Central Board of Secondary Education to reduce syllabi for Classes 9 to 12 by 30 per cent is a step in the right direction. The outbreak of Covid-19 has disrupted regular classroom teaching and put students and teachers at sixes and sevens.
Union Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, however, remarked that they would retain the core concepts. The move must put the student community at ease.
N J Ravi Chander,
Bengaluru
