SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Open church doors
Goa came under lockdown on March 22, 2020. It has remained so till date with a few relaxations. On a survey conducted by the government, Goa was placed under Green Zone. It gave us much relief that we, Goans are safe. But the coming of trains into Goa brought in Covid-19 cases which has now risen to 50. What went wrong? Of course, the blame comes on the haphazard functioning of our government. Had our borders be sealed and protected, we wouldn't have to be worried but live in well functioning of a system in order. But money and power politics game has spoiled the show of good governance in the State.
The lockdown has deprived us of free living: No social life, curtailed movement, lockdowned in homes and worse, the church doors remain closed for devotees. Our community celebrations has affected our life so much that many question when the government has announced relaxation and life has begun anew, why should we remain aloof from worship.
The Home Minister of Goa said: cases have come through train passengers and some industrial workers but there has not been any community transmission. It implies that life in our villages is virus free, and when markets are open and men are seen at the liquor shops why should churches not be opened for worship, questioned one village devotee. Very true!
The Covid-19 is micro organism invisible to the naked eyes, it can strike us at anytime without we being aware. We have to live with it till a vaccine is found. But life must go on. Let the church doors be opened.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Lockdown and
Purumentachem Fest
The annual fishing ban will be in force in the state from June 1. There will obviously be scarcity of fish which is a staple diet of Goans. People of the State have been undergoing hardships due to the lockdown as there has been a steady fall in the income. Coupled with this the poor man’s meat is slowly getting out of bounds as prices of beef and chicken have seen a nearly 200 per cent hike post the lockdown. Mutton could be beyond the reach of the common man.
People will be struggling to get the essential food stuff during the rainy season. It is pertinent to note that Goans stock dry fish and other food items for the rains. Much of these dry fish and other food items is bought during the Purumentachem fest at Old Market in Margao. But with the lockdown and the scare of COVID-19 infection, there is uncertainty of the fair being allowed by the government.
Some political leaders have come forward in support of the traditional fair saying that the government can permit the fair by enforcing safety guidelines such as social distancing, proper sanitation, etc. It is pertinent to note that the markets across the State have been allowed to operate. Hence the government could also allow the Purumentachem fest to be held so that people can stock on the essential food items.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Electricity bills
inconsistencies
Because of the imposition of lockdown in the State, our electricity bill has come for the last about one month till February, 2020 three months late, which has been however billed for 30-odd days. However, our next bill will be billed for a period of 90-odd days. Highly inflated bills could be charged if the consumption of units is done for a period of 90-odd days, as the energy charges for consumption goes higher with every 100 units consumed being Rs, 100, 210, 265, 345 and 400 for domestic units which is upwardly charged.
So if you have been billed for 90-odd days for 430 units the energy charges would be Rs. 1080 but however if billed at 30-odd days, three times it would be only Rs 552 which is slightly more than half of the energy charges since the separate 3-month energy charges fall in the lower brackets.
It is thus evident that the bills are charged on the basis of three separate months energy charges calculation as this is the standard billing procedure. These are the discrepancies only based on method of calculation. Across all forms of charging both domestic and commercial, rationalization is the need of the hour to prevent overcharging.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Bus politics of shame
Priyanka Gandhi had played a master stroke when she announced that the Congress Party was ready with 1000 buses on the Rajasthan-UP border to ferry thousands of migrants to their home destinations in different States, both from humanitarian point of view, moved by the sorry plight and sufferings of lakhs of migrants trying their best to reach home at all costs, and also politically because the moment was right and seized the opportunity to make lasting impression on minds of people who are in most hopeless conditions ignored and forgotten even by their own state government.
Interestingly the UP government first fell for it by granting permission but subsequently it realized that this act by the Congress may have potential repercussion on its credibility, acceptability and performance in serving the lowest stratas of society. So at once it took all possible measures to neutralize the publicity and advantage gained by Congress in refusing permission to the migrants to board into these buses.
Certainly the common people found this action by UP government weird and shocking and the reasons behind this move incredible, that the number of buses were less than a thousand and some three wheelers ad cars were included. One wonders why the suffering labourers walking home on the roads who are trying to catch any straw to survive and possibly reach their chosen destinations were made victims of this political conflagration. Would the Congress Party scoring a few brownies dented the image and prestige of the so called 'towering' figure of it's Chief Minister?
The reality being that this travel opportunity for thousands of migrants would have mitigated their misery and sufferings and be united with their families. It's a shame that this was prevented from happening. Dirty politics can be sometimes irrational and very cruel.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
Wake up call on
migrant labour
The exodus of migrant labour on foot to their destinations trudging hundreds of kilometres is a National disgrace. That state governments are playing politics over the miseries of their citizens and ignoring their right to return back to their homes. It must now dawn on politicians that development must be spread all over Indian states to retain the work force. There are islands of growth at Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and other capital cities. This is lop-sided development concentrating in some industrial hot spots.
The migrants are not highly educated or skilled workers. The poor are forced to seek living in sub human conditions and who are exploited without offering any standard living conditions like shelter, food, clean drinking water and no security of work. They are hired and fired at the sweet will of employers. The efforts to retain their workers in future must be undertaken on war-footing. If politicians do not open their eyes to realities of plight of walking migrants, then shame on them.
Make in India slogan has failed miserably as industrialists have made China their manufacturing hub to gain more profits against National interests. Can the slogan be changed to make in States. Too long that the States have been deprived by successive Governments in not spreading industrial development that would disperse workers and not stretch services beyond limits of elasticity by concentrating industries in certain states only. Every State must draw up plans to engage migrants in productive work so that they will not look beyond their states.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
Corona has hit
families very hard
The Coronavirus crisis has put a huge strain on most families, but the impact of this crisis has hit low-income families very hard. Before the pandemic, many of these families were already struggling to pay for their house rent, food and other basic needs.
Now with the growing number of business organisations laying off many low-wage employees, these families find themselves with zero income and a lot of uncertainty about when relief from the crisis will arrive. There are millions of people around the world in dire need of some of life’s most basic necessities such as food, water, clothing and shelter.
As citizens of humanity, it is our moral responsibility to come to their assistance and aid.
Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai
