Provide basic needs to the poorest of poor
The New Year 2024 started with a tragedy, with a young man dying after he plunged into an open trench near People’s High School, Panaji. During the Christmas and New Year festivities the Sunburn Electronic Dance Music festival was held, causing so much noise, affecting the locals, as well as traffic jams.
As opposition leader, the late Manohar Parrikar had carried out an agitation to drive out the Casinos. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Goa’s unemployment rate is second highest in the country at 9.7%. The report is based on a survey conducted during the period from July 2022 to June 2023. Electronic City project was announced at Tuem–Pernem to provide employment to those who have completed at least Std XII. The land was levelled, but no company has arrived there yet.
It’s the duty of the government to nurture talent. Our roads need to be made safe for riders as well as pedestrians. Good governance deserves that the living of the common man is made free from unnecessary hurdles. Basic necessities like water, electricity, healthcare, education be made readily available to the poorest of the poor. Religion should not be a point for contention, rather a tool to heal wounded souls.
I remember here the poetic words of Rabindranath Tagore: “Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit, Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action, Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”
Newton Mendonca, by email
Facelift to Parra road will increase tourist footfall
It is learnt that as part of beautification of the famous Parra coconut tree road, also known as ‘Madani Road’, artefacts are being installed which include a big coconut named ‘Coconut of Parra’ by a well-known Goan artist. Lined with palm trees, and overlooking fields on both sides it must be said that the Parra road which is off of the main highway, is one of the most picturesque roads in Goa.
The road which is of ‘Dear Zindagi’ fame is spotted in several films and TV series like ‘Four More Shots Please’. However, constant ignorance of laws by the tourists make the locals angry, especially when there is no police action. Tourists were caught on camera performing stunts on the road. Since it is a single lane road without any parking space and a divider, there is traffic congestion.
It is learnt that the panchayat claims that while shooting a video, such people create a lot of garbage and traffic chaos in the area. If the tourism department plans to promote the spot as a tourist destination, then it would be in the fitness of things to take the locals into confidence and address all the issues that would arise, especially with respect to garbage, traffic congestion and parking space. Giving the place a facelift by installing artefacts will increase tourist footfall.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
TI report is a warning to all stakeholders
India has been ranked 93 in the corruption perceptions index (CPI) in public sector for 2023 with an overall score of 39. In 2022, it ranked 85 with an overall score of 40.
The Transparency International (TI) ranks 180 countries from 0 to 100 ( highly corrupt to very clean). TI’s report is commonly acknowledged because it collects data through inputs from experts and business persons. Bribery, public funds diversion, use of official position for private gain, governmental ability to control public sector corruption, public sector red tapism that breeds corruption, laws governing disclosure of conflicts of interest by public servants, protection to whistle blowers through laws of the land are the major aspects covered by the TI while ranking countries for CPI.
New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia have maintained their top rankings while North Korea, Myanmar and Afghanistan languish at the bottom. However, for obvious reasons, the score of a country assumes more significance than its ranking. As per the TI, democratic status of countries that are at the bottom is on the downhill. There are meagre institutional checks and balances to control corruption. Its report is a warning to all stakeholders who are in a position to control corruption to get their acts together. However, even nations at the top of the index, have revealed signs of going slow against corruption. That is why the global average CPI has remained the same in the last ten years.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Anything is possible in cricket
Last Sunday Test cricket witnessed two dramatic finishes orchestrated by the visiting teams. While debutant England left-arm spinner Tom Hartley spun a web around the famed Indian batting line-up to defeat the host at Hyderabad, it was West Indies who actually stole the show at Brisbane, trouncing the mighty Australia by 8-runs and taking the cricket world by storm.
The Caribbeans, fuelled by unwavering determination and self-belief, defied the odds and breached the fortress of Gabba much like India did in January 2021. The triumph at Brisbane engineered by the new Caribbean pace-bowling sensation Shamar Joseph, marks the end of a 27-year wait for a West Indian Test victory on Australian soil. Beyond the records, the West Indies victory was a celebration of the spirit of the game. It showcased the power of belief, teamwork and overcoming invincible odds. It also serves as a reminder that in cricket anything is possible, and even the underdogs can rise and conquer the giants.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
BJP trying to obtain mileage from Feb 6 rally
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant while speaking to reporters on Tuesday said that a crowd of around 50,000 people are expected to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally and which is scheduled on February 6 at the KTC bus stand, Margao, at 1.30 pm.
Well, it looks like the BJP leaders are getting all set to bring in thousands of people even from the neighbouring states in jam-packed buses by distributing free lunch at the above venue to take maximum political mileage out of this particular public rally at Margao keeping an eye on the fast approaching polls for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state.
I personally feel that the PM should first try to interact with aam-Goans on the ground living in the interior villages. Even after 10 years of BJP rule in the state, we Goans are not experiencing ache-din but are practically suffering from unemployment, price rise problem and are facing a major threat to our own existence cum identity in Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
