Need system to
check traffic lights
Recently a system to check traffic jams called TRACK (Traffic Response and Congestion Control Centre) was inaugurated by the Chief Minister. This real-time system would monitor the traffic by using Google’s road maps and the police would know of the places with traffic congestion. Similar to TRACK, there needs to be system to check if the tens traffic lights installed across Goa and at a huge cost are working or not. These moody lights are mute spectators to the daily circus that happens on the roads. Many motorists do not even bother to halt when the signal is red and there always seems to be a shortage of traffic cops or they are busy fining people not wearing helmets. There are either no CCTV cameras mounted at the traffic junctions or these are not working. Therefore, there needs to be a centrally located monitor to check the status of the traffic lights. Such as system in conjunction with TRACK would be beneficial to decongest the traffic in high-density areas and during the peak hours.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Act against buses
playing loud music
People living along the coastal belt have time and again complained about the loud music being played in restaurants and clubs after 10 pm. This has brought the people on the streets in protest against the noise pollution. Be that as it may, loud music is also being played in most city buses in the state which is of nuisance value. Pleas from commuters to stop the music or play it at low volume falls on deaf ears.
Bus rides are a shared public space, and playing music can be disruptive and inconsiderate to the passengers. Scientific studies have established that short bursts of loud noise cause hearing loss. People are tired after a day's work and want to travel peacefully while some of them take a short nap. Some even meditate while travelling by public transport. Bus commuters are in various states of mind.
They could be sad as they pay a visit to a sick person or on the way to attend a funeral. School children answering exams do not wish to be disturbed by loud music. Bus drivers could also be distracted by the loud music leading to accidents. The driver may not be able to hear other vehicles on the road blowing the horn. The travelling public are apparently looking for effective action by the Transport Department to rein in most of the private buses that play songs at high decibels.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Statue collapse is a potent weapon for MVA
The recent collapse of the prestigious statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has sparked significant controversy and political debate in Maharashtra. The incident has become a focal point for criticism against both state and central governments, with accusations of corruption and mismanagement being levelled by opposition leaders. PM Narendra Modi, who had unveiled the statue, had to apologise for it and the entire state government was on the backfoot, offering excuses and explanations in embarrassment and in shame.
The incident would not have gained much importance had there been no assembly election in the coming weeks. It appears the alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar are not enjoying good rapport since the setback in the last Lok Sabha election. On the other hand, the Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is better placed to face the assembly elections so far. The MVA held statewide protests over the collapse of the Shivaji statue and will use it as a weapon to attack the government for its shoddy infrastructural work and thereby encouraging corruption .
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Aged need robust
healthcare system
There is an upward trend in the population of men and women above the age of 60, including India. The aged need robust healthcare system at all levels: preventive health to primary health to tertiary care, and health pension schemes, because financially dependent and health deprived elderly are prone to be mishandled by their own relatives.
Recently, the Centre expanded the scope of the Ayushman Bharat scheme to encompass all those above the age of 70. This could not have come at a more appropriate time because today's health plans for the elderly range from meagre to none with a substantial out of the pocket expenses.
Logistics drain out the elderly in their quest to seek health care in larger hospitals, especially for serious ailments. The Centre has also decided to drastically up the budget for Ayushman Bharat to encompass geriatric care.
It is also time hospitals in India set-up specialised geriatric (Gera means old age in Greek) departments to focus on the elderly. At present, there are 16 medical colleges in 9 states in India that offer 61 post graduate MD seats in Geriatrics for aspirants, unheard of not long back.
It is very heartening that MD Geriatrics degree holders in the country are on the rise because these men and women can exclusively manage the elders, psychologically and somatically. That being said, much more should be done both by the Centre and the private players to make the aged population of India feel secure and safe.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Deploy round-the-clock security at ferry ramps
I have noticed that our ferry ramps in Goa are unmanned with no gates and dangerously open to some fatal accidents. I request the Captain of Ports and the River Navigation Department to install gates and CCTV, and deploy security personnel to man the site round-the-clock.
The ramps at Betim and Panjim must have a queue system to strictly monitor vehicles and pedestrians getting in and out of the ferry boats. There’s a mad rush to get in and out of ferry boats especially during peak hours. I request the authorities concerned to consider my views expressed here before a fatal accident takes place.
Benny Pereira, Guirim
Finding birth, death
records a nightmare
How useful has Goa Online website been when one is searching for birth, death or marriage certificates? The government should see that the software needs to be updated and made more people friendly and easier to trace one's certificates by at least given in a few inputs while filling the application form. Although the Department of Civil Registration has claimed that all the available records have been uploaded into the system from 1914 to 2010 but finding one's certificate has become a nightmare.
What's the use of having digital records? Even the latest records of the year 1993 are not found, "No records are found" I inquired with the staff they say just enter the first three alphabets of your name the system will be able to search but this is not happening . I request the officials to check and improve on the system and make it easier for the consumers to search their records and save time in getting their hardcopies from the office. I hope the Registrar and the concerned Minister will take up the issue at the earliest.
Gregory E Dsouza, Siolim
Govt schools are in
pathetic condition
The government instead of paying attention towards the education sector is instead closing down 35 more primary schools in the state. Instead of downing shutters, the government should promote education and ensure that no child is deprived of education owing to want of money.
The teachers and staff job security is working counter productively for govt schools and this reflects a trend towards privatisation of education at the grassroot level. The government is abdicating its responsibility by arguing that low-enrolment schools should be closed.
The love for English medium and increase in private schools has affected the enrolment of students in government schools over a period of time. There is a need to protect government schools. The schools should be strengthened by providing the facilities like smart classrooms. Since free education is fundamental right of our children under law of the land, government is obliged to provide all the means of education.
K G Vilop, Chorao