Cleanliness must begin in govt offices
We are just getting this so wrong. This type of cleanliness will not sustain. The government must realise that most garbage/litter is generated by tourists and not locals. Locals know how to keep their wards clean.
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The government must begin with itself in so far as keeping its offices clean and inculcating the habit within its staff to clean their own work stations. The government must then put into place mechanised sweeping of all public roads. Once this is in place, begin in right earnest the need to punish people who throw rubbish and create nuisance. The penalties must be substantial so that it will deter people from throwing garbage.
On the beaches where there are shacks, the onus must be put on the shack owners. If any empty bottles are seen on the beach, all the shack owners must be pulled up so that they all remain vigilant. Cameras must also be set up at troubled spots. Need to also have a motorcycle squad in place by each panchayat to check the nuisance and accordingly penalise the culprits. Shops too must be warned how they need to take care of their waste.
Richard Dias, Alto Porvorim
Are mid-day meals putting children at risk?
Amidst all the chaos that prevails in Goa, there is the disgusting news that children have found worms in the mid-day meals served to them.
No doubt, such types of drastic acts can create a negative impact upon the innocent minds. A mid-day meal was introduced to provide nutritious food for children in schools across India. Sadly, this incident in Ponda taluka, wherein worms were found in meals in two government schools, is an eye opener for everyone.
Goa has acquired fame/honour as a major tourist destination on the global map, but such an incident in which the local populace is at risk, can definitely bring a bad name to it.
A thorough probe ought to be done into this matter and strict action should be taken as per the law. However, it’s a welcome move by the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to serve notice to the department concerned. Eventually, it’s high time now that ‘susegad Goenkar’ wake up for the betterment of their children.
Joseph Savio Desouza, Rajasthan
Communal hatred through social media
The Valpoi police had arrested one youngster on charges of offending the religious sentiments of a particular religious community in the state by posting derogatory remarks on social media. Unfortunately, as usual, he was soon released on bail later.
I think that the Goa Police should have taken things very seriously at least this time and teach this youngster a hard lesson, which would act as an exemplary lesson for others too in Goa.
It has indeed become a fashion for many such communal infected morons to casually make some derogatory remarks against other people’s faith on a daily basis on social media by using their fake IDs. Seems like they are getting emboldened by the ruling dispensation ‘Bhivpachi garaz nam’ catchline.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Bridge the gap between love & hate
This has reference to the article ‘Bridging the gap between two languages’ (O Heraldo, September 30, 2023).
It’s nice to know that there is something called World Translation Day, September 20 being earmarked as World Translation Day, highlighting the important role of translators in introducing new worlds of literature. In a world with so many different languages, translators certainly play a very important role in the world of literature and in our lives.
Today, we have access to many Holy books for instance, which have been translated into so many different languages. Indeed, bridging the gap between languages is a noble job.
However, today, we are more in need of us bridging the gap between the language of Love and the language of Hate. Look around, in the neighbourhood, within the society, even in our families, and the world at large. The language of hate is predominant and has put the world in turmoil. The world is desperately in need of love; the world is in need of translators to bridge that gap between the language of Hate and the language of Love. Any takers?
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai.
