EVMs vulnerable to hacking
With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, what comes to the voter’s mind is whether the votes cast by them goes to the right candidate given the vulnerability of the EVM-VVPAT machine to manipulation. Citizens are compelled to believe that the machine is flawless and cannot be tempered with as it is embedded with a cloak of secrecy. This system was developed and tested by the state-owned Electronics Corporation of India (ECI) and Bharat Electronics Ltd., (BEL) in the 1990s and introduced in the election process since then in a phased manner. However the western nations after noticing the flaws in the functioning of the EVMs have reverted back to the ballot paper, but ironically our government has fine tuned the software and continue to use them for perpetuity as they have been game changers in winning back to back elections. On an RTI query questioning the efficacy of the EVMs, the Election Commissioner has gone on record to state that disclosure of classified information would affect the strategic interests which sounds hollow given that cyber experts have exposed the vulnerability of the software which is prone to manipulation in videos gone viral on social media.
To add another discomfiture in the election process, the Rajya Sabha has passed a bill to appoint Election Commissioners headed by the Prime Minister sans the opposition which again compromises on the autonomy of the once hallowed institution. It is no wonder that the BJP has been on a winning spree at the hustings and boasts of winning over 400 seats in the upcoming general elections beating its last record of 300 seats. Needless to mention here that the IT cell in the PMO’s office is on an overdrive and known for its machinations as is evident of PM being projected as a Vishwaguru in the committee of nations. All TV channels are given full coverage of the party’s achievements ahead of elections.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
Time is ripe for dual citizenship
The very long standing demand for dual nationality by the Indian diaspora across the world remains unresolved. The recent statement by our External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that the issue is under consideration of the Central government is encouraging. The demand for dual nationality has been unanimous and having not been opposed by any quarter, the government should try and bring this issue to a logical conclusion as it would be in everyone’s best interests to put this issue to bed once and for all.
It would be prudent for the Central Government to allow Indians dual nationality as they can have a foreign nationality and still maintain very close links with their motherland. Surely this could be an emotional as well as financial win-win situation for the nation. A positive decision by the government on this issue would come as a great relief to many who, through birth, or for historical and professional reasons, needed to acquire and hold dual citizenship.
Meeting the aspirations of a multitude of Indians now spread across the world would prove extremely beneficial to the diaspora and the motherland, economically and with freedom of movement.
It is worth remembering that about half of the countries of the world, including major powers, allow dual citizenship, meaning that a person can be a citizen of more than one country without any issues at all.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Replanted trees need to be cared for
It is learnt that several carpenters have appealed to the state government not to hike the security deposit towards replantation for cutting trees and to retain it at Rs 200.
The state government had notified an amendment to Rule 6A of the Goa Preservation of Trees Rules, 1983 increasing the deposit amount to Rs 1,000. However now it is learnt that the state government will withdraw the notification. It is only after a new tree is planted in lieu of the cut one, the deposit would be refunded. We get wood from trees by which we make furniture, doors, windows, tables and many other things which are very essential for our daily needs.
However, people are cutting more trees than they need. Planting a new tree in lieu of the cut one may not be sufficient. The tree needs to be cared for.
They need to be watered regularly. Light is probably the most important requirement of plants, and one needs to know the amount and type of light required for the plant to grow properly. The newly planted trees need to be protected from grazing animals by using tree guards. Proper pest control is essential during the growth of the tree. Someone rightly said “A man doesn’t plant a tree for himself he plants it for posterity”. The security deposit for tree cutting needs to be refunded only after the new tree has grown substantially.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Painful start to new year in Japan
It was a painful new year for Japan as earthquakes centred off the northwest coast of Honshu in the Noto Peninsula rattled the country one after another in quick succession.
Being situated in a very high risk seismic region, ensconcing on the convergence of four tectonic plates, Japan’s nuclear energy landscape cannot miss the eye. The great Japan earthquake of March 11, 2011 and the subsequent tsunamis leading to crushing of hopes and aspiration need no reiteration. But people of the country have consistently displayed the wherewithal to withstand pain and shock that have surrounded them at alarming frequency.
Residents are highly conversant with the dos and the don’ts following an earthquake. During tremors, people rely on the country’s highly efficient public broadcasters than paying heed to rumours. The contribution of the leaders of the country and its public service experts cannot be side-tracked.
Japan has a robust building code now with the older wooden structures giving way to steel and concrete ones. Earthquake warning systems have considerably been improved upon. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, this time around, lost no time in pumping up the spirit of the common man. All these should serve as an example to other earthquake prone nations.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Hats off to the Women In Blue
Congratulations to our Women Cricket team for their thumping victory over the World Champion team, Australia in the first T-20 series match. No doubt, the OZ team has much better players than our team. However, their arrogance, to be ruthless towards our team, made them bite the dust. Hats off to our bowlers, especially Titas Sadhu, who made the Aussie girls to dance to her tunes and bundle them out for just 141. Then it was the turn of our openers, who thrashed the OZ bowlers, all
over the DY Patil Stadium to win the match by 9 wickets.
Well done Women in Blue, keep up this tempo during the remaining matches to win the series to prove that you are not a pushover team.
Kavitha Srikanth, Chennai
