FRIDAY, MAY 03, 2024
Safe back home
It is not uncommon to watch migrant workers walking down the streets of our towns and villages, returning to their make-shift shelters after a hard day’s work, with a smile on their faces and hope in their hearts of returning another day for labour and wages. What turned out to be a total different story of the migrants, following the sudden and unannounced lockdown in the country, in the wake of the corona virus pandemic, was for all to witness as these same brethren who sweated their guts out in rain or shine to build our roads, our homes and our cities were, at a critical time, virtually left high and dry to fend for themselves.
The gruelling ordeal of men, women and children walking for miles together in the sweltering heat of summer, desperate to reach their sweet homes made heart-rending and tragic scenes. While a few good Samaritans reached out to alleviate their misery, the rest of humanity in utter shock and disbelief, watched painfully our own countrymen and women in dire straits and woefully witnessed itself sink at its lowest ebb.
After much hue and cry, the Central and state government agencies have been taking staggered steps to reach these brethren to their home states, yet, the lockdown strictures imposed in many parts of the country to arrest the spread of the dreaded virus, have made the journey of these hapless and penniless pilgrims a never-ending saga of misery and frustration.
Now that the Supreme court has intervened with directives to provide relief and succour to our country’s major work force, it is to be seen if justice is meted out in all fairness and dignity is restored to those who left their homes to support their families back home and who now, await their turns to return safely back to their families, with hope in their hearts and prayer on their lips.
Tomas Lobo, Pilerne
Fight against the locust attack
India is suffering one of the worst locust attacks in its history. Climate change-induced unseasonal rain or frequent cyclones have been considered to be the main reasons for the infestations. It is understood that the Goa State agriculture agencies have kept a close watch on the movement of locusts which have been sighted in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Swarms which have travelled 120 kilometers in the past is reported to be at least 10 km long and 2 km wide. The number of locusts could be in tens of millions. Fortunately in Goa the Rabi season is over and the paddy has been harvested. Hence the locust cannot harm the crop. Controlling locust swarms is no easy task. The larger the swarms, the more difficult the task becomes. Prevention, then, is likely the best medicine, but this requires keeping a very close look on the movement of the swarm.
In this respect data on weather, ecological conditions and locust numbers, making forecasts of the timing and location of breeding assumes significance. By spraying insecticides from land or aerial vehicles, whole swarms can be targeted in relatively short periods of time. However, this has obviously led to some environmental concerns. Locusts are cannibals and the best way for the insects to get proteins is to eat each other. Spraying the powerful ‘Malathion 96’ insecticide has helped in killing almost a full swarm of locusts at a pasture land.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Locusts: Unprepared
Local dailies reported that the Goa Agricultural Dept. is ‘all set to tackle a probable locust attack’! They reported the swarm is 10 km long and 2 km wide. Their plan: when the locusts rest at night, they will spray pesticides on them! They do not say how they propose to spray 20 sq. km on trees etc. They will require drones for this. Do they have them? Have they requisitioned any?
How can the fire brigade cover 20 sq. km? In Nagpur, where they have orchards, the fire brigade were able to cover 17 km: still part of the swarm survived. Goa landscape is much more difficult to approach and drones are the only solution. Failure at this juncture would see the locusts lay their eggs. Do we have the expertise to trace the egg beds? Goa has not tackled locust swarms: we need to get in experts.
Goa, as usual, is left to the mercy of the Gods!
R Fernandes, Margao
Levels of nothing
The recent upheaval over the SSC exams should be a pointer to the low level attained by our educational bodies. Have we ever, also heard of our university solving even a single problem of our State?
The lockdown has proved that a majority of us are of hardly any use. In fact, we are more of a nuisance factor. Our driving causes pollution. Our buildings, bridges, railways, utilize space where non vital work or travel occurs.
Supposedly classical music is replaced by a dance monkey! Our children know at speeds so fast that doing becomes impractical. It would be better to dream if dreams weren't shattered. And all places celebrating God will reopen to rituals and rituals and rituals. Its time to be bold again.
Carmo Costa – Viegas, Assolna
AI, big outcome of coronavirus
One of the big outcomes of the Coronavirus pandemic has been the rise of digitisation in different sectors and spheres of life. The lockdown that was imposed in March, to curb the spread of virus has resulted in a boom in the use of technology. An ardent spike in the usage of social media to infallible reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the lockdown period transformed all of us into formidable users of technology.
In the past few months, governments, businesses and other industries have witnessed the power of online platforms as it helped companies to sell and consumers to shop, pay bills, converse, entertain, and collaborate without much physical contact. Along with this, food delivery apps like Zomato, Swiggy, etc. ended up being the life savers of bachelors across India.
Online shopping apps like Amazon offered the delivery of essential items, ensuring that people use this feature and stay at home. Moreover, the access to medical checkups and therapy sessions provided online, helped many dealing with physical or mental illnesses. Besides all of this, the most pulchritudinous role that technology played during the lockdown was that it brought people together, not only to fight a pandemic but to closely introspect the things that are generically taken for granted. It opened new dimensions, built newer perspectives and made us realize the importance of relationships, platonic or otherwise. Technology also aided the economy in its survival by not letting India go into a complete shutdown.
COVID-19 has brought out how government’s can reinvent themselves digitally. Lot more can be done and needs to be done in government and government services for the digital revolution to take place. The near future seems bright as the advent of AI has been saving several industries and corporate houses.
If used judiciously, AI's impeccable strength has the potential to harness newer paradigms for future. The work being done by incredible researchers in India in the field of technology, will only take India to greater heights. This unprecedented crisis should speed up India’s digital adoption as now a large number of people shop online and local businesses are adopting digital transformation. This is truly an incredibly important time for digital innovation as the opportunity to get discovered today is greater than it has ever been before.
A digitally connected India can help in improving social and economic condition of people through development of non-agricultural economic activities apart from providing access to education, health and financial services. It is also important for governments to enhance and concentrate on data security and create more cyber warriors by collaborating with the private sector. Digital India is a Progressive India!
Ravi Teja Kathuripalli, Kondapur
