April 17, the polling day announced for Goa for the Lok Sabha elections coincides with Maundy Thursday, when a large number of Catholics will attend the religious services. This would put Catholics to great inconvenience, especially those government servants who will be assigned election duty. The election duty starts almost a couple of hours before polling time and in many cases the staff has to spend the night prior to the election date at designated places close to a polling station.
Also, post polling hours, the staff engaged has to hand over the EVMs and other documents and this takes a lot of time in some polling stations, and one never can predict an untoward incident at the booths. All the Church activities on Maundy Thursday begin in the evenings and go on till midnight with a pre-Good Friday holy hour.
The insensitivity of the Election Commission officials in charge of this state is reflected in selecting this date for polling in Goa. One hopes the Archdiocese of Goa and our Archbishop, who only recently has been seen praising the Goa CM, take up this matter so that the poll date is rescheduled for Goa in order to make sure Catholics are not affected.
Cedric da Costa, Margao
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Abandoned
After the arrest of the owner of Moonlight Circus in connection with the alleged rape and human trafficking, the artistes and animals are reportedly left to fend for themselves. It is understood that the four elephants, horses, birds, a camel and other animals are not being fed properly due to lack of resources. The animals, specially the elephants need huge quantities of grass, feed and water. Animal lovers in the state must come to the rescue of these animals; else they could die of starvation. The government could keep these animals at the Bondla Zoo till such time that the condition of the 50-odd staff of the circus improves and they are able to feed these animals.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Media bashing
How absurd is CM Manohar Parrikar’s statement against journalists? What does he mean by saying reporters and news readers are mere graduates; paid only Rs 25,000 and cannot be great thinkers and intellectuals?
The media has its fair share of wayward lambs, just as not all politicians are hypocrites. If chaiwalas can aspire to be prime ministers, why can’t graduates aspire to be journalists?
Irineu Gonsalves, Verna
Paying the price
The 12 odd categories of taxi fare structures proposed by taxi operators to the Goa government, as reported (Herald, March 4, 2014), appear deceptive and complicated. The common Goan cannot be treated as a tourist and made to cough up exorbitant rates and bear the brunt of a public transport system which is designed keeping in mind the holidaying and fun seeking tourists. Life in Goa and its transportation needs are not about tourism alone. Should locals also be subjected to tourist rates to host their personal friends and relatives visiting them in Goa? The common man needs to go about his work and is justified in expecting affordable and decent transport options. Those using public transport cannot be taken for granted by imposing such one-sided demands from muscle flexing vote-banks. The customer cannot be expected to shell out extra for the government’s failure in regulating the number of transport vehicle permits due to which taxi/rickshaw/bus operators make claims of not getting sufficient trips to make their business profitable. The government must invite public suggestions and objections before approving any taxi or bus rates in Goa.
Soter D’Souza, Socorro
‘Political’ pilgrimages?
The government’s recent notification of a scheme that allows Goan residents to go on a pilgrimage to Vailankanni, Shirdi, Tirupati and Ajmer will boost the pilgrimage industry considerably besides pay rich dividends to the government in an election year. As per the scheme, persons residing in Goa for at least 5 years will be eligible for an 80 per cent waiver in the fare for a Kadamba bus service or train. But I strongly believe that this concession should be extended only to those who cannot afford it. It should not be given to those whose family income exceeds Rs 2 lakh per year. People applying must be made to submit an affidavit for the same.
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
