The Dona Paula jetty imbroglio
A protest by vendors at the renovated Dona Paula jetty against a gate installed by the Tourism Department in order to charge an ‘entry fee’ led to political drama on Friday afternoon. It is learnt that 76 vendors were asked to vacate the jetty area on the pretext of repairing it and they have now been left in the lurch. There is a fear that non-Goans will be given preference over Goans while allotting the space for carrying out business at the jetty.
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It is learnt that tourists are charged an entry fee of Rs 25 for kids and Rs 50 for adults. The jetty has been open for visitors over the years. The decision to charge fees needs to be revoked.
A fee of Rs 25 for children seems very high when as a general rule children are not charged any fees. The local vendors who were displaced need to be relocated at the same place. Several leaders of the opposition party descended at the site and confronted the local MLA. The issue should not be politicized. The opposition party has alleged that the government is planning to lease out the Dona Paula jetty for wedding and other private events. This is unwarranted and the jetty should be left open at all times as a place for sightseeing and relaxation. Will the government next charge fees for entering the beach-front?
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Enforce guidelines for manshekars
‘Is sluice gates corruption killing farming? (O Heraldo Dec 2, 2023) was indeed a very good editorial on the plight of farmers in khazan areas. Yes. The problem can be nipped in the bud if the Comunidade puts in stipulations and strict guidelines for the manshekars to adhere to. And since the payments are made in instalments, one can cancel him off if shown to be truant in obeying the set guidelines. If the Comunidade itself does their own job of maintaining a healthy balance, then all these parties will thrive. There was a reason for setting up of the Comunidades. And actual roles it was designed for. Primarily for the village and the growth of it’s communities. They must be held to a higher calling.
Iona Fernandes, Candolim
Time to decongest prisons in the country
The Prisons Act, 1894 focused more on retribution and less on reform. So, the home ministry’s finalisation of the “Model Prisons Act, 2023”, is just and reasonable. The provisions of the new Act place emphasis on reform and rehabilitation. India has the third highest undertrial population in Asia. Most of the country’s jails are packed with inmates with little provision for ensuring their health and hygiene. Plight of women and children is excruciating. Delay in trials has overburdened prisons and courts. In the USA, 20% of the prisoners are undertrials compared to a whopping 60% in India.
Stress on technology is the right way to go. The new Act should decongest prisons; the rest will fall in line. Segregation of prisoners based on the gravity of the crime, like first-time offence, is an excellent idea. So are the proposals to introduce parole, furlough and remission to undertrials because emotional stability can go a long way. Since legal knowledge and assistance are hard to come by, concessions and incentives to prisoners are most welcome. Special courts and increasing the lawyers to prisoners ratio to hasten legal aid can also be considered.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
TN Governor has defied the Constitution!
Though it is clearly spelt out in the first proviso of Article 200 of the Constitution that, if the Assembly re-passes the bills once returned by the Governor with or without amendments, the Governor has no choice left but to grant his assent to the Bills in the re-enacted form, and this has been well defined by the Supreme Court in its verdicts, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has preferred to refer the re-enacted bills to the President. With his audacious act, Governor Ravi has exhibited not only his defiance of the verdicts of the Apex Court but also his scant respect for our sacred Constitution, upon which he has taken his oath of office. Now that the Supreme Court has spelt out in unequivocal terms, and without any ambiguity that the Governor cannot refer the re-enacted bills and advised him to engage with the Chief Minister, discuss with him and resolve the issues, Governor Ravi has no other alternative but to obey the Supreme Court orders. One only hopes that wisdom will dawn on the most learned Governor at least now, to respect the verdict of the Supreme Court without giving room for the top Court to initiate severe action against him.
Meanwhile, the President who by now must be aware of the verdict of the Apex Court, should return back the bills forwarded to her in blatant violation of Article 200 of the Constitution with instructions to give his assent to all the bills. In case Governor Ravi fails to obey her orders, she should not hesitate to withdraw her pleasure appointing Ravi as Governor, and make the errant Governor vacate the Raj Bhavan forthwith.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
They are differently abled, not disabled
International Day of Disabled Persons is celebrated on the 3rd of December worldwide. This day is all about promoting the rights and abilities of disabled people. I believe “they are not disabled; they are just differently abled”. International Disability Day is not concerned exclusively with either mental or physical disabilities but rather encompasses all known disabilities, from Autism to Down Syndrome to Multiple Sclerosis.
In addition, not all disabilities are visible; they appear in different shapes and forms. For example, people with a mental health disorder, chronic pain and fatigue, none of which are visible at first glance. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 15% of the world’s population is considered to have some form of disability.
Our responsibility is to know their rights because when we secure the rights of persons with disabilities, we move our world closer to upholding humanity’s core values and principles. We should raise awareness about the benefits of integrating persons with disabilities into every aspect of social life, from economics to politics. We should facilitate them in every aspect, but unfortunately, we are unaware of their problems to facilitate them; most often, in moments of crisis.
People in vulnerable situations such as persons with disabilities are the most excluded and left behind. In line with the central premise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind”, it is crucial for governments, public and private sectors to collaboratively find innovative solutions for and with persons with disabilities to make the world a more accessible and equitable place because they are born to shine, and persons with disabilities should not be excluded from the general education system based on disability.
The theme of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is: “United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities”.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
