Letter to the editor 22-10-2024

Published on

Rising cost of tomatoes, onions bring tears

I am deeply concerned about the rising cost of tomatoes and onions in the country, which have now exceeded to over Rs 100 a kilo, surpassing the petrol price.

Tomatoes are a key source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant associated with numerous health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. They also provide essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.

Meanwhile, the soaring cost of onions is causing a real distress to the common man, often leaving them in tears. Potatoes, tomatoes, and onions are fundamental to Indian food, and any significant price rise for these food items can severely affect the household budget of the common man.

Onions are needed by us daily not only for cooking, but also for making salads, poha, bhajiyas and egg burji. It is also needed for garnishing raita. This inflation has made the life of the common man very difficult. The worst hit are the fixed income groups, like the salaried people, labour class and the pensioners. For them, even the commodities of basic necessities like rice, wheat, sugar, pulses and vegetables are getting out of reach. Every increase in price disturbs their budget.

The government must control inflation and must do something to bring down the price of tomatoes, onions and other household ingredients as a relief to the common man. The tomato and onion shortage can be attributed to the erratic weather patterns that have adversely affected the growth and production of both tomatoes and onions. Instead of blaming the government for the price increase, the people should step up to protect the environment.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai

Deforestation will lead to human-wildlife conflict

Movement of bison in residential areas has reportedly led to concern for villagers of Casavarnem in Pernem. Recently a herd of bison was seen moving in the residential area of the village. According to the villagers, earlier the wild animals used to enter their plantations. However, they have now shown their presence in the residential areas.

There have been incidents wherein two-wheeler riders have been injured after hitting a bison moving on the road. It is learnt that not only bison, but also wild boars and leopards are moving in the human dwellings.

Villagers are now scared to even move out of their homes as they could encounter a wild animal. Just the other day, a cow was killed by a leopard in Pernem. Local villagers have called for action from the authorities concerned, including trapping the wild cat responsible for the attack.

The villagers have alleged that the construction of the Mopa airport and other projects coming up in the area are forcing the wild animals to move out of their habitats. This should come as a wake-up call not to allow construction activities by carrying out deforestation and hill-cutting.

It must be noted that as a result of the construction activities, wildlife habitat is getting hit. Animals have the right to coexist. In Goa even private forests have been converted to settlement zones. This will only increase the human-wildlife conflicts.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

IPS and IAS officers above the law?

It is well noticed in India that most Indian politicians seem to be above the law. In Goa itself we have several ministers who have serious criminal cases registered against them!

However, what is now increasingly coming to light is that IPS officers and IAS officers also seem to be above the law! Just in the recent months, we have seen IPS officer Jaspal Singh and Chief Secretary Goel sort of left off the hook by transferring them out of the State. Now facts are emerging on their highly controversial malpractices, which ideally should have been investigated and the accused officers should have been prosecuted as per the law.

Arwin Mesquita, Colva

Goa passport office - outstanding service

I had intended to email this letter around mid-August. The comments of Sushila Sawant Mendes (O Heraldo, 20 October, Edit page) on work ethics associated with the name Tata, have propelled me into conveying my experience of the “most efficient government department in the State”, viz. the passport department in Goa.

Having relocated myself from New York to Goa, and my parents from Mumbai, I decided to try the online service for changing the address to our Goa address in our passports.

I was incredulous at the simplicity, effortlessness and rapidity of the system, enabling one to complete and submit the form and obtain a date for a visit in person to the Panjim office, initially for myself and subsequently for my parent.

Public offices, especially most banks and panchayats in Goa have a lot to learn from the professionalism, courteousness, effectiveness, responsiveness, problem-solving skills and overall management displayed by way of a well-managed token system, client-centricity, and no hiding (even at the highest level) behind closed doors and generic email addresses and phones that are rarely or never answered.

Take all required documents listed in the instructions online. There is a lift for those who need to avoid the stairs. The wait in relevant queues wasn’t too long, with adequate seating if required. There's even a nice lady providing reasonably priced photocopy and scanning services right there, so no need to run helter-skelter or lose your place in the queue.

The next step was police verification. Remember to ask the caller’s name from the police station, as whoever rang me was not available when I showed up on the stipulated date and time. Although those I met at the relevant cell in the police station were nice to me, they regretted their inability to work on my case, thus necessitating a second visit, additional round-trip taxi expense, and loss of precious time.

I applied lessons learned when the police rang for address verification of my parent's passport, so that other visit was quick and smooth. We got our passports immediately after.

So go ahead and get started with the online process of either obtaining a new passport or having changes made as required. And when it all goes smoothly, thank the Tata family (Tata Consultancy Service) for the legacy they left behind.

Anita Pinto, Baga

Herald Goa
www.heraldgoa.in