Shigmo parade & Panjim’s sinking roads
Goa’s biggest folk festival Shigmotsav is slated to begin on March 8 and will continue to be held in different parts of the State over a fortnight. The Shigmo parade is scheduled to be held in Panjim on March 11. Thousands of people gather along the route to witness the numerous floats that pass through the route. It is pertinent to note that recently in different incidents two heavy vehicles partially sank as roads caved in due to the ongoing sewerage line works under the Smart City Mission in Panjim. So far five such incidents have taken place at the site of the Smart City works since February 6. This is indeed a cause for worry as it poses a threat to the lives of the citizens. There is a sinking feeling among citizens that they may be the victim of the next incident of caving in of the road as they move about in their vehicles. Poor planning and shoddy work has led to such occurrences. If (God forbid) such a tragedy repeats when the Shigmo parade is moving along the route the consequences would be disastrous. With roads dug up due to the ongoing Smart City works the onus of ensuring smooth sailing of the parade cannot be left only to the local Shigmotsav committee. The government needs to step in and share the details of the digging of the roads and underground sewerage works with the organisers of the parade to avoid any untoward incident.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Operating aircraft during bad weather
Quite often we read that due to bad weather conditions, take-off and landing of aircrafts are affected in some or the other airports in India. Last week eight incoming flights (domestic and international) were diverted from Dabolim to elsewhere because of fog. Such incidents are frequent during winter in Delhi and other airports in northern India. It is puzzling as to how this happens since the same aircraft and/or pilots might have been used to operate in foreign countries were besides denser fog there would be snowfall and blizzards too. Since the aircraft might have fog lights and other hi-fi devices to help in manoeuvring during inclement weather, then how that is only in Indian airports there seem to be problems? Delayed, cancelled or diverted flights inconvenience the passengers in various ways and place pressure on other airports to handle a sudden crowd surge.
Further, the airlines too economically suffer though they make it up to some extent by increasing the fares now and then. Hope the airlines; Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, pilots’ guilds, etc. come out with solutions to address the above issue.
Sridhar D’ Iyer, Caranzalem
Challenges before our representatives
We need to elect quality representatives who will function strictly within the Constitutional framework and uphold the Rule of Law at all times. It is imperative that they stringently operate within the parameters of law. In all their acts and deeds they are expected to discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour whatsoever. This is what is expected of them.
Safeguarding our environment should be their priority. There should be no attempt to shield, protect or encourage any unlawful act including illegal hill cutting or land-filling. Those we elect should never come to the rescue of anyone breaching any law. If the rule of law is strictly adhered to by all, Goa could evolve back as a better place.
Our roads and streets must become safer as the increase in crimes is a matter of concern. Despite the law being supposedly in place, noise and air pollution is going on blatantly with political patronage to the detriment of more particularly the senior citizens and students. There should be a concerted effort to eradicate the drug menace and the flourishing flesh trade which has sullied Goa’s image. Although the law prohibits hoardings along the national and state highways, the authorities seem to be conveniently looking the other way. There has also been no compliance of the Supreme Court directive that religious structures mushrooming along the roads be removed. The unending spate of accidents has branded our once famed tourist destination now as a death trap.
Let us hope our elected representatives in unison will relentlessly strive to regain Goa’s glory. They all owe it to Goa.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Sisodia’s arrest could widen political rift
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the liquor policy case, must have seen the writing on the wall. The investigating agency grilled Sisodia for over eight hours and said the AAP leader was not cooperative. As expected, the AAP blamed the BJP and described the arrest as the height of dictatorship and a ‘black day for democracy’. The development could further widen the political rift between the AAP and the BJP-led central government.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
‘Period leave’ for women can help cos
The Supreme Court has recently rejected a plea, seeking State governments to implement nationwide menstrual leave for employed women, and observed that this being a policy matter, the Centre has to take a call on the same. ‘Period leave’ for employed women has been a topic of debate in India for some time now, especially after the Indian restaurant aggregator Zomato’s decision to give up to 10 days of the same per year, which, however, stirred controversy on gender equality. Menstruation is no longer a taboo in our country, but people often judge you when you talk about it openly. Since ages, women have been a victim of misconceptions surrounding menstruation which has been an impediment in their growth at the workplace. They face discrimination and are contrived to suffer menstrual pain in silence at the beehives. The severity of period-related pain and cramps (dysmenorrhea) experienced by women add to their mental strain. While this leave policy is not widespread world over, it is gaining traction in some foreign countries like, Spain, Japan, Taiwan, etc., where legislations are already in vogue which entitle employees to paid menstrual leave. Providing ‘period leaves’ for women can help companies promote gender equality and support the well-being of their women employees.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Scourge of discrimination
No country or region of the world is free from acute and chronic prejudicial tendencies against its citizens based on race and sex. Obtuse institutionalisation and rabid state funding of discrimination make it a far bigger menace. Quite a few layers have to be broken to separate sanity from hate. The propensity of several nations to govern through bias and hate is disdainful. No one is born with hate; he or she is ‘taught’ or ‘programmed’ to hate others. Therefore, he or she can be taught to love as well. Zero discrimination may appear too far-fetched in modern day world. However, the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), broadly shaped the “zero discrimination day” on the first day of March every year.
It recognises the fact that the decisive step towards minimising discrimination is to unify the minds of diverse races and culture. “Save lives: decriminalise”, the theme this year, highlights how decriminalisation of key populations and those living with HIV and AIDS can hasten the end of the dangerous disease. HIV and AIDS are rampant in nations that are ignorant and insensitive to the needs of women. Needless to say, many of them are children and women, and the “zero discrimination day” aims at connecting the missing link between AIDS and awareness.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
