Politicians not serious
about road safety
After three lives were lost in the Banastarim accident, the Goa police immediatly launched a drive against drunken driving. This however was stopped with the passage of time.
The State is witnessing a surge in accidents with a fatal one being reported almost everyday.
Potholed roads, reckless and drunken driving are the major causes of road fatalities.
Drunk tourists create a nuisance on the roads, but the cops instead of putting them in place have been chasing and penalising helmetless riders.
The roads in Goa are riddled with potholes and the government has failed to keep up to its word of repairing them before Ganesh Chaturthi.
Families have plunged into grief after they have lost their loved ones in road accidents. In some cases, sole bread winners have been the victims for no fault of theirs. The government however remains insensitive to human suffering and has not shown any inclination towards restoring order on Goan roads.
Every time a fatal accident occurs, the government gets in top gear, and works overnight and makes lot of promises and then goes to sleep. This is modus operandi of every government, every Home minister and every Transport minister. No wonder that safety was not mentioned in the election manifestos of political parties.
Until there is a mass awakening and protests from public, the government will remain a mute spectator to what is happening and we will continue to suffer in silence.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Congenial working
environment needed
The tragic death of a 26-year-old employee of a multinational consulting firm, the letter by her mother claiming overwhelming workload as cause to her death and the rage and ripples it has caused in the working sector has resulted in the Labour Ministry itself taking steps to probe into matters related to workload issues.
A thorough investigation in the work culture of many MNC's, IT sector and private companies can definitely expose the darker side of excessive workload faced by the employees who for many a reason stay dumb. In almost all the sectors - be it IT, business firms, banking and even private educational institutions - employees unfortunately will have only woes to pour out. Fear of losing jobs, blackmailing and other threats from managements make employees hesitate to reveal their grievances.
Heavy workload and diktats undoubtedly damage the employees physically, emotionally, and mentally. This results in workplace aversion and attrition. What most of the companies and institutions forget is that ignoring human values, rights and well being of the employees only end up in downfall and ruination.
Most often we hear companies speaking of values , human rights, compassion and consideration but does nothing in practical. The tragedy sheds light on a work culture that seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings who dedicate themselves for the progress of the company.
The Union Labour Ministry has announced an investigation and it has to urgently make a thorough study on work-related stress, employees welfare, workplace conditions and time schedule. It has to take necessary measures to revamp work place condition and create a congenial working environment.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Join hands to foil
BJP's dreams
The unilateral decision of the BJP government at the Centre to go ahead with their idea of one nation, one election process as a first step to usher in a Presidential form of government, read dictatorship should be opposed to the hilt by all democratic- minded citizens of the country.
The main reason adduced by the union government for the above shift is that it would reduce the cost of multiple elections. However, it holds no water as the over all expenses of the government to conduct elections is said to be less than Rs 3000 crore and this expenditure is in minuscule compared to the total outlay of our General budget which is in lakhs of crores of rupees.
Further if this mode of election has to be implemented, around 18 amendments to the Constitution will have to be made which is improbable, as the ruling saffron alliance lacks the required two third majority in both the houses of parliament.
The recommendation of the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to go ahead with the scheme has not come as a surprise to many and people would have been surprised if only it was the other way around!
Moreover, the major beneficiaries of this committee are not the people of the country but only the Chairman and members of the panel who must have received fat cheques for the services rendered by them to give shape to the brain child of the ruling dispensation in the form of a report which of course, will become redundant in the days to come, failing to serve its purpose for obvious reasons.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
One nation, one
election gimmick
BJP is making a huge deal out of accepting the Ram Nath Kovind led committee report on ‘one nation one election’ (ONOE) or simultaneous polls in the Centre and State. This is nothing but another distraction tactic to divert attention from grassroots problems rife in the nation. How can you expect an Election Commission which conducts a state poll in seven phases, postpones the Maharashtra polls citing festivals, lack of time and resources to successfully implement this harebrained scheme of ONOE.
This move is proposed with malicious intent and without consultations with the opposition. It is not only against the federal structure but violates constitutional norms. Unemployment is rampant amongst the youth, inflation is destabilising the economy, people are suffering from rising prices, atrocities against Dalits, Muslims and women have reached alarming levels but Modi pulls this rabbit from his hat to make the citizenry defocus from extant issues.
Regressive amendments have to be made in the Constitution to facilitate this gimmick. In the first place, for a new electoral system to be implemented, the Representation of People's Act has to be changed and in addition, five chapters of the Constitution need to be amended. Even for the NDA, it would be difficult to get the necessary 2/3 support of the House to make ONOE law. The outlandish recommendations made by the pliable Kovind committee itself would not stand judicial scrutiny under the 'basic structure' doctrine of the Constitution.
Consider also the fact that that ONOE offers no solution to the crisis that would arise if the ruling party in the Centre or a state assembly loses a vote of confidence. In such cases, a mid term election is the only solution. Allowing a minority party that has failed a confidence test to remain in power would be a betrayal of the democratic system. All this charade is being carried out to totally centralise power in the hands of the BJP. The states would thus be reduced to being lame duck entities.Our resident Vishwaguru wants to remain the Supreme leader for all time to come, a la the Chinese system but I am sure his nefarious scheme would not be brought to fruition.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim