letters to the editor

Borim bridge

This is in connection with putting up barricades on the bridge to avoid suicide cases by jumping off the bridge. 

Firstly, how can one be sure that those wanting to end their life will not use this bridge to achieve their goal. If not this bridge, then one can use some other bridge or any other forms to end their lives. Why should the state prevent these suicides by using the tax-payers money. Use this money for building better roads, better street lightings, garbage collection in villages and other similar projects in the development of villages. Do not waste public funds to save lives who do not know to live their lives.

Anselm Baretto, Assagao

Hygienically 

prepared sweets

Continuing it’s crackdown on hygienic food items in view of the ongoing Diwali festival, officials of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) raided a house in Ponda, seized and destroyed sweets worth Rs 55,000 as it was prepared in an unhygienic manner and also sealed the premises (Herald October 20). 

It is understood that since the past two weeks raids were conducted at several places in the state and sweets worth Rs 8 lakhs prepared without permission in unauthorised premises and in unhygienic condition were seized and destroyed. This could be just the tip of the iceberg. It would be desirable to carry out such raids throughout the year and not only during the festive seasons. However it could be almost impossible for the authorities to keep a check on sweets being prepared without permission and in an unhygienic condition throughout the state. 

To tackle the situation we could have sweet shops which are FDA approved. A board could be put up at these sweet shops reading something like (Government Approved Sweet Shop) so that the customers are assured of the quality of the sweets they consume. When we have Government approved wholesale liquor shops which issue liquor permits, why not have government approved sweet shops which sell sweets prepared under strict hygienic conditions?

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Home state 

of culprits 

Daily we read in the newspapers, both local and national, about some crimes or the other. It may be as minor as a pick-pocketing or a major robbery or more serious crimes. Most of the times the Indian state to which the culprits or accused belong is mentioned. This is unnecessary as nothing is achieved by printing this redundant information. Does it really matter as to wherefrom the culprits hail? 

A crime is a crime and the punishment is neither increased nor decreased by the court based on the state from which the culprit belongs to. The public need not be told about the state of the culprits as this would tend to create a negative image of the people belonging to that Indian state.

Sridhar D. Iyer, Caranzalem 

Centenary 

celebrations

The centenary celebrations of Ribandar’s outstanding and illustrious son the late Dr Sanvlo Keni will be held on October 23 at Kala Academy in Campal. 

The very versatile and multi-talented Dr Keni’s contribution to the socio-cultural field was extremely enormous. He was a very gentle and kind family doctor to the people of Ribandar and the surrounding villages. 

Dr Keni was also a great theatre artiste who remarkably performed in several dramas on stage. A proud son and pride for Ribandar the exceedingly gregarious Dr Sanvlo Keni always was. 

Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

Politicians ignored

drug menace

‘A stitch in time saves nine’ is a common saying that all of us are almost familiar of. But unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case with our politicians. They will wait or wake up to act only once it is confirmed that the situation has gone from bad to worse or hopeless condition. And that seems to be exactly the case with their way of dealing with the drugs trade in Goa. They knew, in fact all of us knew the trade was flourishing from early sixties but all they tried is either to ignore or deny that any such activities is taking place in their beautiful Goa. Sadly but truly it is always after few deaths of innocents that they try to wake up from their slumber to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Prevention is and always will be better the cure and now, to clean this menace will take years if not decades, that also without guaranteed success, and with lot depending on the resolves and motivations of succeeding governments. 

However now to clean this menace, which has spread to every nook and corner especially of the coastal towns, it will take lot more than few raids to get rid of it.

Valent Mascarenhas, Calangute

Blot on Indian

culture

Inflammatory rhetorical venomous remarks made by the controversial BJP MLA (Aamdar) from Merrut (UP) Mullah Sangeet Som Omar that Taj Mahal (built in the 17th century -1632-53- by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who reigned 1628-1658, in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Begum) is a blot on Indian culture for the reason it being a Muslim monument, has attracted an avoidable/unnecessary/uncalled for, ' faux pas' controversy. 

In fact, all Indians, irrespective of their different religion, cast, creed, faith, the Taj Mahal (meaning = Crown Palace) situated at Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) is pride for one & all. It is need not to remind/recall and emphasis here that ' an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of river Yamuna ', is one of the seven wonders in the world and has also been included by the UNESCO in 1983 as World's Heritage site. 

Further, it may be mentioned here that many other monumental prominent buildings/masterpieces (such as Lal Mahal, Delhi etc.) which are of architectural par excellence skill, exist in India which were also built by Muslim rulers and Britishers. 

Annually more than 8 to10 lakh visitors in the form of tourism groups from all over the world visit the Taj Mahal it being a symbol of love.

Vijay D. Patil, Pune

Dark Diwali

Although Ayodhya was lit by 1.75 lakh of diyas or lamps, it was a dark Diwali for the family of an 11-year-old Indian girl who starved to death on September 28 at her village in Jharkhand as her family was struck off the eligible list as their Aadhaar cards were not linked to their ration cards.

It is also a dark Diwali for many Delhities who are scared to venture outside their houses due to the rise in pollution due to the winter smog and bursting of firecrackers. 

In the midst of all this gloom, it was nice of PM Modi to spend time with soldiers at the border whom he is calling as ‘his own family’. However, it would be even nicer of him if he had spent some time with his own family.

Matias Lobo, Oman