Enforce curbs on liquor sale to save lives
The Goa Police after taking a serious note of the sudden rising accidents and fatalities, have finally launched a special drive throughout the day (including at night) to severely penalised those over-speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol across the state of Goa.
The police have also decided to book parents under the Indian Penal Code if they come across underage children driving vehicles on the road in Goa. It sounds like a very good decision but will the guys really take this drive to its logical end or will they slowly discontinue the same after coming under fire from certain quarters in Goa?
Forget the youngsters drinking, today one will find even some government employees, cops from the traffic cell who are suppose to set good example for others coming fully drunk on duty and also driving their own personal vehicles recklessly in different parts of Goa. Now, when will the government really punish and take such type of people to task in Goa?
I think that the government of the day should catch the bull by its horns by temporarily unleashing the cops from the traffic cell to extort the hard-earned money of all the helpless two and four wheeler users in the name of implementing road discipline should first try to cut down (if possible should permanently shut down) the number of bars/liquor outlets drastically, enforce some strict restrictions on the sale of liquor on top priority basis, give harsh punishment to those indulging in drunken driving and then expect to force everyone to act sensibly whilst driving on roads and make our roads safer in the near future in different parts of Goa. Hope better sense prevail.…
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Improve post offices
I am a resident of Colva and had the opportunity to visit the post office to send a package by speed post. The post office is not been maintained properly.
There is shortage of staff. The post office has so many schemes but no one to discuss with or to help you open your account for any scheme. When there is so much of unemployment why can’t the government/postal authorities employ staff train them and make the post offices happening places where people would like to visit.
Merle Dsouza, Colva
Fishermen and farmers equally in distress
This has reference to the report ‘Is there no food for thought for Goan fishermen who go to sea to get us food?’ (Herald 2 August 2022). It’s a sad report on the plight of fishermen in Goa. You have posed a very pertinent, appropriate question, “is there no food for thought for Goan fishermen who go to sea to get us food?” Yes, it is the farmers and fishermen who ensure that we have food on our table. And yet, we find that they are being given the step-motherly treatment. Perhaps that holds true for farmers and fishermen in other parts of the country as well. The ambitious coastal road project in Mumbai, for instance. How the authorities are bulldozing their way through, without giving a thought to the fishermen whose very livelihood depends on the sea. It’s not just about fishermen. Even the farmers are in distress due to railway projects, which affect fields cultivated by farmers for years. It’s time the authorities and all of us understand the importance of farmers and fishermen, for without them, we will have nothing on our table.
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Government pushing business into recession
It’s been frustrating to keep business going as there is no support from government through banking sector, be it giving small denomination change, giving 50 rupee notes or by freely accepting torn and mutilated notes. The State Bank of India, Chaudi Canacona does not have changes of small denomination for a very long time and they also do not have Rs 50 denomination notes to give business establishments. When asked the reason for shortage of Rs 50 notes they say people are not depositing these notes. The municipality is openly demanding money for trade licence renewal. Small business establishment create employment and generates tax to the government but the government seems very busy in purchasing elected opposition representatives and the question that arises is, is it worth doing business in present environment and is it worth paying taxes.
Edwin Coutinho, Canacona
Provide voting from home facility for disabled
Respected State Election Commission of Goa, CM Dr Pramod Sawant, Panchayat Minister Mr Mauvin Godinho, Commisioner for Disabled in Goa, I being disabled with 75% disability, would like to bring to your notice that I used to vote every assembly election in our Sao Mathis Panchayat office in Divar but now my ward no 2 and my name has been shifted to Primary School for voting which is one kilometre from my home and located on an elevated land. Although there is a ramp, but I have to struggle to get down from car then go to the high steep ramp to go inside and come back to the car, which can be dangerous if my wheelchair loses balance. So my request to you all if I along with other persons with disabilities and senior citizens of Goa are given to vote from home as we did for Assembly elections recently in interest of persons with disabilities on humanitarian ground will be appreciated with blessings. I am looking forward to a solution on the basis of my letter within next 8 days.
Jerry Luis Dsouza, Divar
Promoting one’s culture in other states
It is learnt that ‘Goenkarancho Ekvot’, an association of Goans residing in New Delhi will be organizing ‘Goan Konkani Film Festival’ at the Indian International Center (IIC) New Delhi from August 4 to 6. The festival is reportedly being organized with the objective of promoting Konkani language in the national capital and that acclaimed Goan films will be screened. It is understood that the association will continue promoting the social and cultural aspect of Goa through various activities including ‘Goa Festival’ which is the annual flagship program of the association. This will be a huge boost for promoting the Konkani language. Goans and Konkani loving people settled in other states also need to organize such events in order to promote the social aspect of the state. This will also give an opportunity to people of other states to have a first-hand experience of Goan culture. Such Goan Konkani Film Festival needs to be organized in other countries which have a sizeable Goan population just like Konkani Tiatr shows are held in these countries. In a democratic set-up like India each state can promote their culture in other states. Hence Goa also allows other states in the country to promote their social and cultural aspect here by organizing various functions in their state language. This is the ethos of our great nation.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Golden moments for Mirabai Chanu
Star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu went on a record-smashing spree, claiming four of them in a power-packed performance, to claim India’s first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In a remarkable performance, Chanu smashed the Commonwealth and CWG record in snatch. She obliterated the Games record in clean and jerk as well as total lift.
The former world champion ended with a total lift of 201kg, which is far from her personal best. She equalled her national record lift of 88kg in the snatch section.
It was a significant success for the Olympic silver medallist, who has been working on her snatch technique. It was indeed a golden moment for Mirabai.
Jayanthi Ramani, Trichy
