2024 polls could change world’s political equation
This has reference to the article ‘Another Annus Horribilis’ by Vivek Menezes (O Heraldo, January 7). Thank you Vivek Menezes for spelling it out.
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Two of the so called Democracies that we call home (Goa is our winter home) are on the precipice of a change that could mean the death of some freedoms that we value and survive on.
The narrowing of vision and possible tunnel vision that disregards the needs and freedoms on either side of the tunnel poses a risk.
Repercussions from a dangerous choice can be long lasting.
Both countries have the potential to be beacons of real Democracy and hope for the future.
Broader and more inclusive, an openness and faith in its populace, challenging discourse and ideas are the hallmark of a healthy democracy.
The polls in 2024 could change the political world as we know it.
Rani Sarin, Reis Magos
Special facilities for persons with special needs
Goa is hosting the second edition of the International Purple Fest from January 8 to 13. The whole idea of the Purple Fest is to get people sensitised towards persons with disabilities. It is learnt that parents of special students were compelled to protest demanding the reopening of the vocational training and rehabilitation centre at Sanjay School which has been shut for almost four months.
Recently a person with disabilities died after he suffered a fall from a government building at Porvorim. The Right of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 casts responsibility upon the appropriate governments to take effective measures to ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy their rights equally with others.
The Act provides for both the preventive and promotional aspects of rehabilitation. Public places should have special facilities such as ramps, rails and special toilets, and other necessary changes to suit the special needs of PwD. Disabilities include visual impairment, hearing impairment, deafness, speech and language disability, impairment of physical movement among others. Aid for those with visual and hearing impairment can be done by having Braille or raised lettering wherever possible, have signboards that are large enough to read, announcements if any needs to be done over a public address system. Buildings need to mandatorily have elevators which should be in working condition at all times and with backup power supply. ‘Purple Fest’ needs to be an everyday affair.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Return of Sharma, Kohli will delight fans
The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Afghanistan T20Is, a year after playing their last T20 game, will delight their fans and admirers. Their presence will inject extra energy into the team. Rohit will lead the team in the format for the first time since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal.
Speculation surrounded the inclusion of the two senior players in future T20s, but the announcement suggests they may be in the running for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
The sad story of Junta House
The Indian public toilet system has been subject to a lot of criticism. Even the cinema has played its part in highlighting its sorry state of affairs and the people’s plight. The Junta House building, housing various governance offices facing issues prompting concerns among officials and visitors. The miserable state of the iconic Junta House can be attributed to lack of maintenance on the part of the PWD to whom the estate belongs. People with disabilities visiting the Junta House at Panjim, Goa find a complete lack of toilets that they could use at ground floor. Even the common toilet is also under filthy conditions. The situation, however, is far from being ‘swachh’ or accessible. The employees and visitors has to enter through back gate to the offices at Junta house inhaling the unpleasant odour. Its walking path are under deplorable conditions. The lack of proper toilet facilities has been a cause of concern who visit these offices on a regular basis. There is no direct access to the building for a wheelchair-bound person as small concrete barriers create hurdles. This is not only an embarrassment, but also a health hazard for the citizens. It is unaccepted that such basic amenities remain neglected in such places. It is high time that government takes action to address this issue urgently.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Safety of pilots is of paramount importance
It was reported in the papers that the Indian Air Force is extending the life of the SU30MKI fighter by another 20 years by mainframe maintenance etc after having been operational already for 20 years. This is yet another short sighted idea to replace the MIG19/21’s known as the Flying Coffins because of the frequent crashes and loss of lives of pilots with the SU30MKI’s. We should desist from such irresponsible actions that impact the safety of our pilots.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
