Teachers should stay away from controversies
Ironically in September when ‘Teacher’s Day’ is celebrated, a few teachers in the state have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. In yet another offence and controversy involving teachers in the state, a high school teacher from Ponda has reportedly been booked by Ponda police on charges of assaulting a class eight student who had to be admitted to the hospital. This is the fifth controversy involving teachers in the state. It may be recalled that there were two cases involving sexual harassment by physical education teachers.
In another incident students were reportedly asked to remove Rakhi tied to their hands leading to a controversy. Another case involved a principal of higher secondary school in Dabolim who was suspended for taking the students on a trip to a mosque. Teachers demonstrate appropriate behaviour to their students by their actions. Hence they must have a healthy attitude and should possess rich values.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Is there any justice in Goa?
The present government is not the only government to be blamed for the injustice faced by Goans in today’s life. Infact all politicians to whichever party they may belong, are to be blamed. To begin with Siddharth Bandodkar, son of our first chief minister was found dead in their own house. Was he killed, shot at, murdered or was it suicide? Till date no justice has been done. What happened to the Cipriano’s Fernandes case.
The Raveena case is still unsolved. The Pratima Gaokar case, whose body was found in the well has still not been solved. CBI is still struggling with Siddhi Naik’s case and now the Banastarim accident case. Spend Rs 2 crores and you are free. Is this justice? What is the status of CBI inquiry? Goans make noise and agitate for few days and then they forget everything and this advantage is taken by our own politicians. They know very well how to get your attention diverted. We will have to fight till our aim is fulfilled and till justice is done. Come on Goans, we have slept enough, it’s time to wake up and show our capability to get justice done.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Literary festivals are enriching
It is encouraging to see that literary festivals are increasingly held elsewhere in the world, which help build communities of readers. These festivals also provide a platform to new authors by drawing instinctive attention from readers and the media, besides enabling popular authors to market their titles. Turned into a major industry, these festivals create new readership, boost book sales, and upgrade publishers’ brands. Perhaps, another major attraction of literary festivals is that it mirrors the nation’s inherent culture and its mores.
As for India, the country celebrates book lovers, authors and writers every year through literary festivals organized across the country’s length and breadth. It is a matter of pride for Indians to attend and be a part of these lit-fests, which indicates the growing tribe of intellectuals in the country. The Jaipur Literary Festival, which is described as the ‘cultural catalyst’ and the ‘greatest literary show on earth’, draws people around the globe, augmenting Rajasthan’s tourism economy. Literary festivals enable us to unite the past with our contemporary lives, the real with the imagined and the spoken with the written.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Physically verify disability safeguards in govt buildings
The government should examine whether disability safeguards have been included in public buildings, to know how far they have been effectively implemented and the ease of access provided for the differently-abled. It is seen that there are many public offices and buildings, which are not disabled-friendly including the Dept of Social Welfare and Women and Child Development building, banks, etc. People with disabilities are vulnerable because of the many barriers they face.
The sluggishness with which the Goa government is acting with respect to carrying out audits of the disabled friendliness of buildings, parks, schools, transport systems and other public places is a cause of concern. There should be a barrier-free built environment for disabled and elderly persons as per harmonised guidelines and standard for Universal Accessibility in lndia 2021. The guidelines detail out finer aspects including placement and height of handrails in lifts, tactile flooring, gradient of ramps, toilets, Braille displays/ markings, tactile strips, evacuation mechanism, and audio messages in lifts. The Central flagship programme, launched in 2015 had envisaged creating a barrier-free environment for the differently-abled to live with dignity.
K G Vilop, Chorao
I wish Fr Rob comes to Goa once again
The year 2020 may have been one of the toughest years we had to go through due to Covid pandemic…but we got to know a priest spreading the hope and love of Christ through his online masses and podcasts. He is none other than Fr Rob Galea the founder of Frgministry — an international gospel singer and best-selling author. A person so humble and kind that you just can’t get enough of his presence. It was a true blessing to see him in Goa and watch him perform live. This left a huge impact on your hearts.
It wasn’t just a regular praise and worship. He made everyone be able to be themselves known that we are all messed up but our God loves us very much. The Pilar community did a really good job with everything and I really do wish Fr Rob Galea comes again to Goa and has a larger event. Those who don’t know much about Fr Rob Galea can watch his online Mass on YouTube and also listen to his amazing gospel music on Spotify.
Reena Maria, Divar
