Every cloud has a silver lining
The Covid pandemic for all the havoc it caused and tragedies which ensued forced our tiny State to upgrade its health infrastructure. The sarkar which was procrastinating over the South Goa district hospital for close to 9 years weeks was forced to speedily commission it, thanks to the contagion.
Also 9 PSA oxygen plants were set up over the past 14 months reducing hospitals’ dependency on purchasing oxygen cylinders. Last year the oxygen crunch was felt due to the monopoly of a single supplier who had negotiated a ten year contract on the most lucrative terms prompting other firms to shut shop and shift their plants to neighbouring states. Due to the pandemic critical care facilities were upgraded and a lot of high end life saving equipment like ventilators, multi monitors, syringe pumps and ECMO machines were procured quickly without going through the usual bureaucratic and labyrinthine tendering process. Also RT – PCR labs were set up in several tier 2 towns like Mapusa, Ponda and Chicalim besides Margao, enhancing early detection of Covid besides various other diseases like leptospirosis, dengue, TB, cervical cancer, etc. A genome sequencing lab was put up in Mapusa in record time thus nullifying dependence on other States and reducing the waiting period for test results.
This pandemic brought about a paradigm shift in the relations and co-ordination between the Directorate of Health services and Goa Medical College which were previously working in silos independent of each other. The importance of health infrastructure and how little the world was spending on it was brought into sharp focus courtesy the pandemic. Also the general populace realised that health is the only true wealth we have, everything else is secondary; loads of lessons in hygiene, early detection of disease, prevention and control have been learnt during the course of the past 2 years which shall stand us in good stead in the future…or so we hope.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Perils of wrong construction
The collapse of an under-construction portico at St Martha’s Hospital in Bengaluru exposed the perils of sub-standard construction. The accident occurred because of an overload and the wrong placement of supporting pillars.
One labour perished in the accident, while three others were treated at the hospital. The victims, stuck for several minutes under the debris, were from Raichur and worked as daily wagers under a contractor. The authorities must hold culpable all those responsible for the accident.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Something rotten in the State?
The political mischief being resorted to by the Goa Government to postpone the Panchayat elections comes as no surprise. Holding elections on time is the essence of democracy. The manner that this government is functioning is reprehensible. The independence and autonomy of the State Election Commission is flagrantly being breached in absolute misuse of power and authority.
After having promised good governance and transparency, it is now clear that there is no respect for the Rule of law. The silence of Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai over issues that concern the public is deafening, as he is duty bound to reprimand the government on wrong decisions taken.
Constitutional order and values must always prevail as Constitutional morality thrives when misuse of executive power is restrained. Guided by the principle of limited government we need to protect and safeguard our Constitution by ensuring that the executive does not do whatever it wants, bypassing constitutional morality.
William Shakespeare had said ‘there is something rotten in the State of Denmark’. It is time to get to the bottom of the rot in Goa.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Can your own steal all the inheritance?
Referring to “Herald Scrutiny” dated May 28, 2022 on how land and identity is getting stripped, deed by deed. Sale deeds of lands are tampered or forged of people who already dead or are sold to outsiders. Even deeds of various properties are sold using one single deed. This is not a fiction, but true.
This reminded me of true recent episode in a village in Salcete. How a member of the same blood seemed to be loyal son has orchestrated inheritance trusted by the innocent mother. The facts goes like this: A huge amount of cash deposits and personal gold was handed over to this youngest son as security cover to look after a 50 plus old handicapped daughter as the mother was passing through poor health, who later died in 2012. This son, who works in the Gulf for ages, moment the mother died, transferred all the money and gold on the handicapped sister’s name who can hardly read or sign and kept himself as the sole nominee on a quiet, though there were 4 other siblings.
The survival fixed deposits amount was enough to pay this sister’s expenses for at least 35 years, if admitted to an average aged home, which she was in 2013, but she died of Covid 19 in just 8 years last year. As this brother was the nominee of the huge cash, gold and the sister’s personal gold – now claims to own this huge booty by wagging the thumb to siblings, keeping the remaining siblings on a hook. What do we call such atrocious act by someone of the own blood? Does sound better or worse than the Herald Land and ID scrutiny? Beware, this can happen to you, it is not how one is brought up, but the greedy one encroaching what is not solely yours.
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Radical elements creating trouble
The recent grenade attack on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir and at the headquarters of the Punjab police intelligence wings shows that the radical elements are attempting to measure the strength of the new system. The concern over the presence of sleeper cells or the pro-militant elements spread across Punjab and other states cannot be ignored. They are waiting for an opportune moment to create trouble. The government has to show its preparedness by catching the attackers soon.
Every act of terrorism is carried out on Pakistan’s instructions. However, Pakistan is waging wars against India through terrorist activities and riots. India should adopt strategies of Israel and heavily penalise Pakistan. The illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have intensified in States like Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal. The government has also been unable to put in place an efficient mechanism for detection of foreign nationals in the states many of whom have allegedly acquired fake documents.
The police should keep a vigil on groups suspected to be active in the States.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Planting mangroves, a good initiative
It is learnt that plans are afoot to plant 1100 mangroves in the State. The mangrove conservation initiative was reportedly taken on Goa Statehood Day by St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim in association with Nisarga Nature’s Club, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club and Goencho Ekvott. This is a step in the right direction as it is vital to replace the depleting number of mangroves. Mangroves protect sea border areas during storms and minimise damage.
It is understood that mangroves are home for several species of plants. They provide essential habitat for thousands of species.
Mangroves help to trap debris, silt and stabilise the coastline. It is learnt that Goa houses 16 mangrove species and it has one of the best mangrove forests in the country. Chorao Island in Mandovi River is one of the best mangrove forests and houses most of the species found in Goa.
Mangroves further improve water quality by absorbing nutrients that might otherwise cause harmful algal blooms offshore. Both coral reefs and sea-grass beds rely on the water purifying ability of nearby mangrove forests to keep the water clear and healthy.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
