Now, even parked cars involved in fatalities
It seems that in Goa even parked cars get involved in accidents which can end in fatalities. In a tragic accident, two cousins lost their lives at Arambol on Saturday evening. The boys were in their teens.
They were returning home on a two-wheeler when suddenly the door of a parked rent-a-car opened and hit the two wheeler. Both the boys fell off the two-wheeler and were hit by a truck coming in the opposite direction. It needs to be verified whether the occupant of the rent-a-car was in a drunken state. Be that as it may, it is absolutely necessary to be careful while opening the door of the car which is parked by the roadside, especially on the driver’s side.
The driver has the advantage of looking into the rear or side mirror to see whether there is a vehicle coming from the back. The person sitting on the back seat does not have this advantage and has to turn back and see if the road is clear. Or the person seated on the back seat can be advised by the driver as to when to open the car door by looking into the rear mirror. Extreme caution needs to be taken while opening the door of the car parked by the roadside.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
BJP may bring ordinance to overule SC judgment
The landmark judgment pronounced by the Supreme Court of India for scrapping the electoral bonds scheme which was implemented by the BJP government in the year 2018, calling it unconstitutional, is a slap in the face for the political parties.
While the SC has asked for transparency in revealing the donor details, the government seems to be reluctant. Electoral bonds in its current form of opacity, is nothing but a laundry to wash black money. Here the donor enjoys tax exemption for their donation and the political party enjoys tax exemption on its receipt. The verdict came ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected to take place in April or May this year. Political funding is the fountainhead of corruption in India. Black money is a problem in other democracies, too. In fact, it has become an even bigger and dangerous factor in Indian elections and politics. Despite strengthening various institutions, India has not been able to evolve a transparent political funding system. The BJP government may bring in an ordinance to overrule the SC judgment and bring back the scheme in some form.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Govt must tackle decline in birth rate of girls in Maha
The birth rate statistics of 22 districts of Maharashtra for the year 2019 and 2022 were recently read. There is a decrease in the birth rate of girls in all these 22 districts. The fact that the birth rate should decrease while the government is providing various facilities for girls in terms of education, health, etc is actually worrying.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao slogan just a slogan or not? The situation has been created to feel that. The highest decrease is observed in Jalna district. There was a birth rate of 1022 girls in 2019, now in 2022 the number has dropped to 854. It is really surprising that the birth rate of girls should decrease when there is constant public awareness to prevent female foeticide, ban on sex diagnosis, fear of law, even today many families are seen welcoming the birth of a girl child.
At the same time, on the other hand, it is being insisted that the race needs a lamp. If the same trend in the birth rate of girls continues, there is a possibility that the number of girls for marriage will decrease in the future, thus a big problem is likely to arise. Even today many young people are waiting for marriage. In that, the low number of girls is a problem. The government is planning various measures. Overall this is a serious social issue. The government needs to take some measures
Shantaram Wagh, Pune
Drop in coconut yield is worrisome
This has reference to the report ‘What lies in store? Decline in yield has S Goa coconut growers worried’ (O Heraldo February 19, 2024).
Yet another disturbing piece of news, this time, of decreasing coconut yield. As per the news report, coconut yield has decreased as compared to previous years and this is sufficient cause for worry. The reasons cited for this situation are mainly, climate change, rising temperatures and humidity.
Over the past several months, we have been discussing about climate change however, somehow we do not seem to take this issue seriously. We continue to contribute towards destruction of the ecosystem and the environment all across the country by our mindless acts, ill-planned infrastructure projects and our general ‘don’t care’ attitude.
Nature has been providing warning signals over the last several years but man has been ignoring all of them. One fears, a day may come when we would have no food on our table, not because we don’t have the money but because the earth may not be in a position to produce any food in future. Some food for Thought,!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Impose President’s rule on Manipur
A Central Government agency has recommended President’s rule in Bengal because of the incidents in Sandeshkali which the State CM has claimed that action has been taken and a number of people arrested.
In contrast in Manipur, there is public unrest with police armouries being looted by miscreants and people getting killed day in and day out. And these incidents of serious law and order have been going on for months now with the State CM watching them as a spectator and doing nothing about them.
Here the Centre or any of it’s agencies do not think it right to call for President’s rule. This is a clear case of being partial to BJP ruled/aligned States which get off with extreme cases of crimes against people particularly women and a general collapse of public law and order. Have President’s rule imposed on Manipur before you raise the issue of Bengal.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
