This is no
time for war
The PM has told the Russian President Putin and the world that India stands for peace and this is no time for war! After the dastardly Pahalgam massacre, India can no more tolerate the 1000 cuts and two nation theory openly being pursued by Pakistan and now we have rightly vowed to punish the terrorists, their handlers and sponsors wherever they may be! However China is strongly supporting Pakistan and so are some other nations covertly for various reasons. Pakistan is a failed state and a war at this stage will hurt us more than Pakistan. So far India has been taking rapid steps diplomatically, economically, psychologically, methodically for isolating Pakistan on the world stage.
What is wrong is the subservient boastful media, people demanding quick retribution and foolish military escalation on our irresponsible nuclear capable neighbour! The government too has to bid its time and show India has more brains than brawn at this stage, to not permit its politicians to make arrogant and provocative statements when being provoked. When all parties are standing together as one officially, the ruling party must realise that we are a democracy and if someone makes a wrong statement, no need for FIRs and court cases but either ignore or give a counter rebuttal statement? The Courts and Police have better things to do! This is no time for hate speeches and fanatics to be tolerated. The party in power has an enormous responsibility to prove to the world that we practice what we preach!
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Need to reinstate free
water supply scheme
It is shocking to note that the government has reportedly discontinued the state’s free water supply scheme. The free-water scheme previously provided 16,000 litres of free water per household per month. It was a lifeline for thousands of low-income families across Goa who are already reeling under the hike in power tariff. Around 40-50% or nearly 3.5 lakh consumers in the state will reportedly be affected with the discontinuation of the scheme, which was introduced in September 2021.
An exemption from payment of water charges, and meter rent, a benefit that came with the scheme, has also reportedly been dropped for individual domestic consumers. The move comes at a time when the scorching summer heat has left most parts of the state without potable water. Unlike the rich, those belonging to lower income do not use water supplied by PWD either to wash their cars or to water the plants in their gardens and the sprawling lawns. At the most the government could have reduced the quantity of water that is supplied free of cost from 16,000 liters, to say, 10,000 liters instead of discontinuing the scheme altogether. The government of the day needs to introduce schemes to help those belonging to the low-income group instead of scrapping those schemes which are already in existence. People in the low-income group are finding it difficult to make both ends meet because of the rising price of essential commodities. They were happy with the free water supply scheme. It seems prudent for the government to have a rethink on the issue and reinstate the free water supply scheme.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Suicide prevention
programmes needed
Recent death of a student in BITS Pilani, highlights the need for suicide prevention programmes in educational institutions. In some States in India, has found that suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are alarmingly high among college students across the country. The fear of failure also makes the mind lose self-confidence and leads to psychological imbalances and suicides amongst the susceptible youth.
Student suicides can be averted, but merely setting up training and sensitisation sessions for teachers, increasing the role of counseling services and setting up expert committees to review suicide cases in schools won’t do the trick. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression need to be addressed without stigma in schools and colleges, and parents should be encouraged to inculcate and foster feelings of sensitivity toward their children.
Educational institutions should start creating activities that act as counselling sessions - morning assembly, teaching classes etc. Systemic counselling is required to lower this student suicide rate. A mass movement is the correct approach to see radical change.
K G Vilop, Chorao