Diwar island needs
the bridge
In a recent article titled "Triple blow Threatens the Island of Divar" (Herald, 22 September), one Mr Thomas Amacio Rodrigues a resident of Diwar Island has expressed his opposition to the proposed bridge connecting Vanxim Islet to Divar Island, which was announced by our honourable Chief Minister Mr Pramod Sawant during the Bonderam festival. As a resident of Vanxim Island, I feel compelled to counter Mr Rodrigues’ views and to highlight the long standing demands of Vanxim Residents. For years we have struggled with the sole ferry boat service connecting our island to Divar. Frequent breakdowns leave us with no choice but to risk our lives crossing the river with canoes, posing danger to the people’s lives, particularly the school going children. This is not just an inconvenience but also a threat to our safety and wellbeing. The bridge is a decade-long aspiration of Vanxim residents and not just a whim. We have endured the hardships of limited connectivity, which has driven some of our residents to migrate in search of better amenities. Mr Rodrigues seems oblivious to this struggle. Moreover, the government spends a substantial amount annually to maintain the ferry services. A bridge will not only elevate these financial burdens, but also provide a reliable, safe and efficient connection to the mainland.
Simon Fernandes, Vanxim
Need for functional CCTVs
This has reference to the report ‘SC pulls up Bengal government for tardiness in installing CCTVs……. (Herald October 1, 2024.) One cannot undermine the importance of CCTVs, whether it is in hospitals or housing societies, or in public places or wherever. That is one evidence which could be of help in case there are any untoward incidents. It is important therefore, that the Bengal government must install CCTVs in all government run hospitals. However, what is most important is that the CCTVs must be in working condition 24/7, of course, this should be monitored. It is common knowledge that at the time of incidents, the CCTVs are not functioning. So, what purpose do these CCTVs serve? Safety in our country seems to be lax. It's time we all wake up to this reality and effective steps are taken to rectify the situation.
Melville X. D'Souza, Mumbai
An exercise in futility?
The Old Goa police reportedly resumed search operations on Monday for the Gujarati businessman, who mysteriously disappeared after a rental car plunged into the St Estevam River on the night of August 31. The deep-sea search operations involved the Old Goa police, Indian Coast Guard and Fire Service Emergency Services. Besides these, drones were pressed into service, which gave the aerial view of the area which included both water and land. However all this has yielded no results and seems like an exercise in futility. The question that arises is whether the body in a drowning case can be traced after one month? There has been heavy rains and the rivers have swelled, there are strong undercurrents and most importantly the Cumbarjua canal is infested with crocodiles. If at all the body has survived all the vagaries, in what state would the body be? The family of the 22-year-old man, who has been camping in the State for a month, is seeking answers about his whereabouts. Interestingly his family members refused to believe that he could have drowned, claiming that he was a good swimmer. It is learnt that the family of the missing man is originally from Nepal but settled in Gujarat. Is it a case of kidnapping? Is the person still alive and absconding for some reason? Is there more than meets the eye? The girl who was accompanying the missing person and who came out of the submerged car, could have all the answers to the mysterious disappearance of the youth.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
PM lauds Kerala’s
‘RRR’ champion
In his recent ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode, the Prime Minister mentioned the praiseworthy work has been done by a chair repairing person named Subramanian from Kozhikode, Kerala. The mentioning of Subramanian’s name comes at a time when the nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and the tenth anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission.
74-year-old Subramanian has repaired more than 23,000 chairs and made them usable again, rather than dumping them and creating a burden on the environment. As the PM has mentioned, he is a champion of the 'RRR' - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and a worthy model to emulate. Subramanian, who began his work as a cane chair weaver in a cane furniture shop, later chose to work independently. Subramanian weaves the broken chairs at civil station, PWD, LIC office, police stations and other government offices in Kozhikode. Subramanian’s recycling initiative, emphasising the ‘Waste to Wealth’ mantra, is truly an inspiration for everyone.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Super-computing
arms of AI
In the long run, Artificial Intelligence could have endless possibilities. As AI seeks to incorporate mathematical precision or perfection, through integration which would make texts and even images mathematically correct on the basis of orthodox logic and conventional wisdom, it could also compute various degrees of unorthodox logic with varying minute percentages that could become almost all-encompassing with the degree of perfection that could be a reflection of the encyclopaedic meanings of each and every word that would thus make writing and even imaging and mathematical calculations absolutely perfect. AI systems of the future could be such that varying degrees of mathematically calculated texts and even images could become the next super computer generated magnum opuses that would have unlimited capabilities that would not require much formal education to generate but could get anyone, anytime customs made texts and images as well as mathematical calculations that could be then used in physics, chemistry, bio-chemistry, economics to name a few which could even make inventions all done by computer AI systems. Suffice to say that now computer programming will become an elevated form of research for almost everyone on this earth. With the passage of time then, mobiles could become your super gadget. AI would even be capable of calculating fractional individual nutritional needs of every one on earth. Could nano technology-based space craft be able to with time map the wide expanse of the universe? The possibilities are astronomical.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Mahatma Gandhi - epitome of liberal values
By sacrificing all norms of material comforts, luxury, professional career; the bare-bodied Mahatma Gandhi had selflessly devoted his whole life for the mission of Indian independence from the grasp of colonial power. Yet he was liberal and broad-minded enough to make a clear distinction between crude British imperialism and the rich British culture harbouring no hatred for the latter. So Gandhi didn't find any problem in embracing the British/Scottish/Christian hymn “Abide with me”. It is indeed a matter of utmost disgrace to notice closure of minds in the country of Mahatma Gandhi – an epitome of liberal values and humanitarian thoughts, with an all-embracing mindset. However, when none other than the Gandhians find themselves cornered and marginalised in the very State and den of Mahatma Gandhi itself (Sabarmati Ashram, Gujarat), rest assured about the fate of his values, ethics and humanitarian thoughts in the rest of the country!
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata