Ban unhygienically made Gobi Manchurian
It is learnt that the Mapusa Municipality has taken action against the food stalls at Bodgeshwar Zatrotsav which were put up by the vendors without required licenses from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), despite multiple warnings. These stalls were selling food stuffs such as Gobi Manchurian, which was prepared under unhygienic conditions. The preparation of the food items involved the use of food colour, unclean water and prepared by not using hand-gloves. The municipality has reportedly closed all Gobi Manchurian stalls.
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Gobi Manchurian is available in food stalls at most of the fairs, as also at roadside fast-food stalls. Is a check being kept by the health authorities and the civic bodies on stalls serving this food item? Gobi Manchurian is a popular Indo Chinese appetizer made with cauliflower, corn flour, soya sauce, vinegar, chili sauce, ginger and garlic. However it may not be the healthiest option due to its high-calorie content and high amounts of sodium and sugar. Deep-frying, in particular, may make the dish less healthy. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is a food additive is commonly used to enhance the flavour of food items which leads to severe headache, stomach upset, giddiness, etc.
It would be in the fitness of things to impose a blanket ban on sale of the food items at various fairs and roadside fast-food stalls if prepared under unhygienic conditions.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
India must work to make the nation more equal
While the media reports that the INDIA alliance has fallen by the wayside with Nitish Kumar’s departure, the alliance can still try to arrive at a decision to form a consensus-based narrative and a government. The issues of joblessness, quality of life, lack of world class and affordable health and education aren’t going to go away even if the NDA wins a third term, as is being predicted.
The partners of the INDIA alliance can still get their act together, contain their egos and put together a common minimum programme. It worked in the past and can again. We need a government that is truly for the people, and not just infrastructure projects, fancy trains that few can afford and that don’t a country make. Inequality has only worsened. It’s time to make India more equal.
Brian D’Souza, Margao
PM should also hold a meeting in Colva
Why is the KTC Bus stand at Margao being give a facelift ONLY because a VIP, that is, because the Prime Minister is coming? Should basic infrastructure not be a standard to tax paying citizens? The bus terminus was in horrible condition for decades and now a VIP visit changes everything in record time!
I request PM Modi to please also visit Colva and have a grand meeting at the Colva Creek; as only then will the Government will go into super fast efficient mode and clear the sewage/garbage-filled creek. And maybe also act against the violators responsible for the same.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
For Bopanna, age is just a number
Congratulations to Rohan Bopanna and his doubles partner, who won his first Grand slam title at the Australian Open.
Bopanna has been trying for this glory for years. Try, try and try has been his mantra and he has made history by winning the trophy at the age of 43, while proving that age is just a number.
Well played Bhopanna, you richly deserve this! Keep going!
N Mahadevan, Chennai
Methodical review needed to stop rhino killings
In March 2023, the carcass of a rhinoceros was found, with its horn missing, in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, that houses nearly seventy percent of India’s rhino population. Later, in December, another rhino was spotted dead due to suspected spear penetration; surprisingly its horn was intact. These incidents took place after an uneventful 2022 when no rhino was harmed.
Now, poachers have struck again by killing an adult female rhino and decamping with its horn. The carcass of the animal was found on January 22. Poaching is the biggest threat to the one-horned rhinos. Local poachers, hand-in-glove with international smugglers, pose a big threat to the rhinos, in the Kaziranga, numbering 2,613.
The Assam government had setup a special task force to achieve zero poaching of rhinos in 2022. The task force, set up by the Assam government, and consisting of dedicated commandos, did a commendable job by ensuring nil poaching of the endangered animals in 2022. So, it can safely be assumed that there was a massive breach in security or a few unscrupulous elements in the park were hand-in-glove with the poachers that resulted in the latest rhino killing.
The entire security apparatus including the CCTV cameras require an extensive examination and overhaul. At the same time, a methodical review of logistics, personnel and training would not be out of place.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Life is much more than just exams, marks and ranks
In a shocking incident, a JEE aspirant from Kota, Rajasthan, committed suicide just few days before an exam. The year 2023 has already witnessed many student aspirants committing suicide in Kota due to exam pressure and the latest tragedy yet again pinpoints to how entrance exams are causing severe mental agony, panic and pressure among young students.
Suicide cases in Kota and elsewhere in the country bring to the fore the mental tension students experience and also exposes certain flaws in the examination system and the societal beliefs prevalent which focusses only on marks, passes, ranks and success.
It is high time that the ministry of education at the Centre and education directorates in the States take the matter seriously and take suitable measures so as our young students do not take such harsh decisions just in the name of exams and the way in which it is conducted.
Parents and teachers have to prepare children to face problems with courage and will power, and to face challenges in a bold manner. They have to be taught to accept failure and learn lessons from it.
Suicides are not at all a solution. Let our youngsters understand that life is much more than just exams, marks and ranks. Parents and teachers can play a vital role in shaping and guiding the youngsters. Let them also understand that other than the conventional professional careers – engineering and medicine – there are hundreds of courses which have very good scope for the younger generation and which aptly suits their interest and capability. Career counselling should also play a vital role in school education.
M Pradyu, Kannur
