A picture is worth 1000 words
The image of face mask lying on the ground and carried by Herald, dated April 1, under the caption “Health Hazard” is an indication of callous attitude and behaviour of someone who could be a local or a tourist or a migrant, taking courage and miscalculated risk of discarding his/her mask in order to mingle with the crowds on the beach, many of them probably were also without masks.
It is also a telling indicator that now people have started throwing caution to the wind and are least worried about the action that local authorities might take against them. Probably fatigue has set in and both the government and people are adopting lax attitudes.
It’s now well known that India as well as Goa are now experiencing the second wave of deadly Covid-19 pandemic, which according to the health experts is much more infectious than the first and unfortunately the younger people are more prone of getting infected. However, this fact is not being registered in the minds of both people and politicians and they go about with their usual activities, as if all is well and the pandemics will not affect them.
This picture of the mask lying on the Miramar beach is worth 1000 words and speaks volumes about people’s carefree attitudes, behaviour and above all ignorance that is prevalent in Goa. May God save Goans, for they know not what they are doing.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
AFA to set up observatory
It is learnt that the Association of Friends of Astronomy (AFA) is all set to inaugurate its state-of-the-art observatory at the Junta House in Panjim in May. The observatory will be equipped with a plethora of facilities for little sky-gazers and amateur astronomers.
It is understood that this is the first amateur observatory in India since in most parts of the country there are professional observatories where only research is done. In future, schools in the State needs to conduct study tours for students to this observatory in Panjim. An amateur observatory makes it possible for the common man and students to have a peek into the night-sky. An observatory besides being a tourist attraction also helps children build an interest in astronomy. Beside other places of tourist attractions that Goa has to offer, an observatory can be an added attraction for those who have an interest in astronomy. Telescopes collect and magnify the light from distant objects. There are also refracting telescopes and reflecting telescopes available with high capability of magnifying a celestial body.
The Goa Science Centre at Miramar does have a planetarium within its campus which attracts a large number of students from various schools. A planetarium is a theatre devoted to popular education and entertainment in astronomy, especially space science and traditionally constructed with a hemispheric domed ceiling that is used as a screen onto which images of stars, planets and other celestial objects are projected.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Covid-19 catastrophe
What most of the Goans, except our learned CM and his loyal mantris, were afraid of has hit us on the head. The average new cases for the first 10 days of April stood at 65, today barely three weeks later we are at 265 new cases.
One of the ministers has openly declared that severe restrictions cannot be imposed since they will deter tourists. Now that we are heading to make Goa a red zone, will Goa still be attractive for tourists?
With the abysmal ratio of population to hospital beds, in Goa, we are heading for a catastrophe. The fatalities are being brushed off, citing comorbidities. Would these fatalities occur if Covid was under control? We keep hearing of patients who have recovered, but sadly there is no mention in the media of how people have been struggling for months together with the after effects of Covid. Nor is there coverage of the huge financial burden which many of the Covid patients have had to bear. This is one of the factors which leads people to believe that even if they are affected, they will be ok within a week or two. What will it take to push our Government to act for the welfare of Goans?
At times I wonder if the health safety policy is being driven by stake holders in tourism industry or by stake holders running hospitals.
Paul Pereira, Velim
‘Oversight’ corrected overnight
Well, well, well…the intentions of the Centre are as clear as daylight, first they issue a letter documenting post office small savings interest rates cut and then hastily withdraw it eleven hours later. According to the Hon’ble FM, it was an oversight (laughable that) on part of the bureaucrats that led to this mix-up, no one would buy this argument.
It was political expediency (elections are on in 5 states) that made you withdraw these draconian cuts. For millions of old age pensioners, retirees and the poor there is no social security and they depend upon small savings to meet their daily expenses, actually the fear of losing their votes was what made the government retract. But sure as death, these rate cuts shall be reinstated once the elections are over.
Never in the history of India have we seen a government so detrimental to the interests of their countrymen.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Rates cuts may be issued after polls
The Finance Ministry rescinding its controversial order slashing interest rates on small savings within hours of issuing it must make senior citizens heave a sigh of relief.
The pressure exerted by BJP functionaries of poll-bound States and a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stinker appears to have done the trick. Though the Finance Ministry cut a sorry figure, one cannot rule out the possibility of rate cuts being implemented on savings post the elections.
NJ Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
