Stop govt’s security services to individuals
The Indian government provides security to persons and their families who are at high risk to threats and attacks. There is a whole lot of protected people such as the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Judges of Supreme and High Courts, Chiefs of the Defence forces, Governors, Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers, certain VIPs, VVIPs, celebrities, sportspersons, etc.
There are 6 types of security protection: Special Protection Group (SPG), Z+ (highest level), Z, Y+, Y and X. Under each category are deployed tens of personnel from the State police, SPG, National Security Guards (NSG), NSG Commandos, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police. As per guidelines of the Home Ministry the number and type of personnel for each protected person is fixed but in practice the actual numbers will be more.
Obviously, the annual budget to protect these people runs into crores of rupees. Citizens have no objection about the protection provided to many of the VVIPs (whom we elect or are government appointees) but the issue is about the security provided to film stars, writers, poets, cricketers, etc, at the cost of the exchequer. It was and even now, a fad to rake up a controversy or make a provocative statement which could potentially put the person under threat and sidle with the government of the day.
Being pleased, the government magnanimously doles out X, Y, Y+ or Z security which these personalities consider as a status symbol. This is a waste of government’s money and creates shortage of human resources in the security organisations. Sometimes a token amount is officially paid to the police force by the protected person but this results in only a handful of cops being available in certain police stations to cater to thousands of citizens.
The government needs to put its foot down and withdraw security of persons who are of less important and low-risk. If the so-called VIPs really feel that they need protection let them to hire their own security services and pay from them their pockets.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Election duty for employees of State
It is practice to deploy government servants both State, central and PSU to election duties for assembly elections. This year too many staff were deployed for duties. However, the election duties are often enforced on staff and hence there is no much enthusiasm and zest in doing the same. It is also a fact that Govt staff and election duty officers should not be biased and support any party. Candidates are supposed to be neutral in fair and free conduct of elections. But it is observed that many are posted far away from the residence or the place of stay.
It is surprising that though they are inside the polling booth throughout the day they are focusing only on duty assigned to them but still posted away from the residence. The Election Commission of India should give a thought to this as many have to report one day prior to election day as they have to be present before 6 am or 2 hrs prior to actual polling time begins. It is noted that many bank employees and other non State government staff are deployed far away from the residence or staff quarters for polling day and make it inconvenience to reach the polling station in time.
The election commission should in coordination with local mamlatdar office or Panchayat should see the distance of polling booth and residence of staff and accordingly post them for duty not based on official address of staff or employee as employee may travel around 50 to 60 kms everyday to attend his or her duty or place of work. Hence the distance should be less than 10 kms from residence to polling booth for those on duty on election day.
This will bring some relief for the staff or will be convenient to attend the same as there is also lot of work after the polling ends for the day.
Raju Ramamurthy Vasco
Why should parents sign consent letter?
As schools reopened for all classes on Monday, a group of parents of a Vasco school were reportedly left livid after the institute sought their signatures on consent forms that place full responsibility for the child’s health while attending school in the physical mode, on the parents. Parents of primary school students from Mapusa have raised objections to signing of a consent letter and risking their children's life by sending them to school. It must be said that the consent letter can have wide ramifications.
The letter reportedly states that if any untoward incidents occur during school hours, including the child getting infected to Covid-19 infection it will be the sole responsibility of the parent and not the school.
It must be said that the expression “untoward incidents” in the consent letter can include any physical harm or accident that could occur to the student while in school and the Covid-19 infection appears to be secondary.
This could be a way to absolve the school administration of any unfortunate incident that the student may experience while in school and not just getting infected by the virus.
It must be said that during school hours the safety of the students in all respects and not just with regards to the Covid-19 infection is the sole responsibility of the school administration. The parents of the students are not physically present in the school premises during school hours in order to look after their well being. Hence the consent letter can have wider consequences and can be permanent in nature and not just during the pandemic.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Dealing with resident criminals
Over the past three months, Goa police have opened over 80 new history sheets against active criminals who now number 222, almost equally divided between the North and South districts. The sheets are opened based on the new Goa police rules notified by the State government, during the recent elections many of these 'esteemed' individuals were rounded up to prevent law and order issues; many criminals have also been externed from the State borders invoking the National Security Act.
Once the history sheet is opened it becomes easier for the law enforcement authorities to maintain surveillance on the criminals as all details of the accused, their past criminal acts, their family and their modus operandi are available to the police.
Now this begs the question, why are so many lawbreakers making Goa their playground? It is clear that the government has done precious little to rein in criminals during its last two terms, what is more worrisome is that many of these history sheeters are 'imports' from other States who are mostly into gangland style contract killings.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Fact and truth cannot be denied
The MEA is taking the wrong guidelines and operating under flawed assumptions. This is being said in the context of the objections to the Singapore PM's statement that close to 50% of legislators in the Indian Parliament have criminal cases against them.
Fact and truth cannot be denied. Thus objecting to such comments from the larger world community sounds churlish.
Where on one side we say that we need to engage with the world, do we not need to understand and maybe anticipate that they will comment on our society.
If we do not want the world to pass comments on us, we need to set high standards of conduct and behaviour.
Srinivas Kamat,
Alto St Cruz