Prayer for Pope Francis
during the Holy Week
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday after complaining of breathing problems. Following clinical checks and tests, the doctors identified that he had bronchitis and were administering antibiotic therapy to treat him. Bishops in churches across Italy are praying for Francis’ speedy recovery. Francis also suffers from diverticulitis, a common condition that can cause the inflammation or infection of the colon. In 2021, he had surgery to remove part of his colon. Francis, who became Pope 10 years ago, has knee problems and sciatica that have caused a severe limp and have, in recent months, often required him to use a wheelchair.
The Holy Father had part of one lung removed when he was a young man due to a respiratory infection, and he often speaks in a whisper. But he got through the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic without at least any public word of ever testing positive. Pope Francis was discharged on Saturday, the Vatican said in a statement, adding the Holy Father had planned to be in St Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday mass. Holy Week, as it is known, includes a busy schedule of rituals and ceremonies that can be physically exhausting, including a Good Friday night procession by Rome’s Colosseum. We need to keep the Holy Father in our prayers during the Holy Week so that he has the strength to overcome all the health issues he is going through.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Taliegao has turned
into concrete jungle
The controversial bill namely ‘The Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Bill’, 2023 seeking to restrict transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists, but which also provides for Collectors to make exceptions and permit transfer to individuals or industrial undertakings intending to take up agriculture was finally passed by a voice-vote in the Goa Assembly amid a ruckus raised by the opposition.
Well, the whole world knows what has happened in Taleigao constituency all these years. Most of the fields here have been converted into commercial properties by filling them with rubble/mud, sold them for all the builders lobby and has turned the once beautiful Taleigao into a concrete jungle.
God alone save our agricultural fields/communidade lands from habitual business minded property dealers in Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Controversial Agricultural Bill!
On the face of it, the Goa Government agricultural bill looks like it has the good intention of preserving Goan Agricultural Land to being sold to non Goans, but however certain things appears sinister to me 1) Why was such a critical bill passed in a hurry without a proper discussion where genuine concerns could have been discussed ? 2) What are the rules where collector can make exceptions to non agriculturalists getting land and having other things along with Agriculture? 3) What is stopping the Government putting out the bill in the open public to address all genuine concerns; after all the try past/currently credibility of the some politicians to truly protect Goa’s land, culture, identity is extremely low!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Goa Agricultural
land bill 2023
The Goa restriction on transfer of agricultural land bill, 2023 is a welcome step in the right direction. Goa’s agricultural land should and must be protected at all cost.
Land grabbing is quiet prominent in Goa and very soon the little remaining agricultural land could be the next target by land sharks if proper checks and balance are not followed.
The Goa government should do a detail survey by using latest technology such as drones and ISRO satellites high resolution precision images to verify cultivated and fallow agricultural land. All the tenants or cultivators of fallow agricultural land should be encouraged to go back to farming with financial, machinery and other supports. Failure to cultivate their fallow agricultural land shall attract hefty fine with a written first warning.
Subsequent failure to cultivate their fallow agricultural land shall be considered as not an interested party and decision should be made to take over such land by the government and vest it upon contract farming agencies.
All agricultural land in the State of Goa should have GPS coordinates (XY coordinates or latitudes and longitudes) with every zonal agricultural department and taluka mamlatdars. The seasonal drone images having GPS identifiers should be superimposed on such agricultural land to make sure reliable data is available in order to make an informed decision. All such records are admissible in the court of law and the agriculturist’s will have no option but to surrender their rights back to the state government. By such constructive and progressive actions, we shall see fallow agricultural land revive back to their old glories.
Paul Pereira, Utorda
Checks and balances
need of the hour
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 is in operation in three states—–Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. Some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, too, are covered by the Act. The act gives army the long handle to maintain peace in disturbed areas of parts of northeast India. Only when the local police are an abject failure at handling secessionists, the armed forces are supposed to step in under AFSPA.
Army is granted the right to shoot to kill and extensive power of arrest by temporarily detaining the accused.
AFSPA was primarily introduced to counter insurgency in highly sensitive border areas of the country.
Modern day insurgents are not afraid to die: it becomes necessary to shed kid gloves in efforts to crush them. AFSPA has had its measure of success; it also has its share of failures. The army officers who invoke AFSPA are immune to all laws of the land. But that does not allow them to be draconian. On the other hand, it is all the more imperative for the army officers to be extremely cautious while acting tough.
Often the army is accused of ‘human rights abuses’ while operating AFSPA. Demand for the revocation of AFSPA has always been in demand. Therefore, the Centre’s decision to revoke AFSPA from one district of Assam and a few police stations of Nagaland and Manipur is welcome.
A system with appropriate checks and balances is the need of the hour for preserving the unity and integrity of the nation as well as integrating the northeast into mainstream society.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Reduce all taxes
on medicines
This has reference to the report ‘Government exempts customs duty on drugs needed for treatment of rare diseases’ (Herald, 31 March 2023).
That is certainly some piece of good news – exemption of basic customs duty on drugs needed for treatment of rare diseases. The government should be appreciated for this move, but they should have gone the extra mile and given exemption from all import duties, not just basic customs duty.
Let’s look at the prices of medicines within the country itself. No one can deny that the cost of medicines has been rising in recent times. There are people who have to consume certain medicines on a daily basis, for survival. If the government has the interests of the people at heart, they should reduce all taxes on medicines. The pharmaceutical industry on their part, being one of the richest industries, ought to reduce their prices and ensure that they do not go out of reach of the common man.
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
