Say cheers!
At last, liquor is now permitted to be sold in bars, taverns, restaurants across Goa. Surely, people of Goa and neighbouring Mumbai must have heaved a sigh of relief. Goa undoubtedly, is a tourist destination for local as well as foreign tourists. And what is a tourist spot without the spirits? Understandably, people are still hesitant to patronise these outlets for the fear of COVID-19. It is said, ‘the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Be that as it may, people in Goa, would certainly overcome this fear soon. They would eventually overcome their ‘weakness’ and conquer the ‘spirits!’ Cheer up guys!
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Ease mining dependents’ woes
This has reference to your edit ‘Making Sense of the mining muddle’ (Herald, August 30). Goans understand the extreme anguish and loss faced by mining dependents and whole-heartedly agree that mining should be resumed soon.
Does Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) have enough clout to impress this on the mining lobby and demand that they engage only in legal mining; agree to e-auction of ore and auction of fresh leases; get an undertaking that all penalties will be paid within the stipulated time? And can GMPF influence the government to form a mining corporation.
While waiting for the court order GMPF should finalise a list of dependants who need to be fairly compensated by funds from the District Mineral Fund and expected revenue from payment of penalties.
It should urge its members to boycott the companies that created this avoidable problem so as not to get their fingers burnt again.
Most importantly, its truck-owning members should be cautioned about road safety emphasising that human lives are precious.
Juliet DeSouza, Bastora
Body of an infant
This is with reference to the news report of an infant’s body being found at Vasco in a garbage dump (Herald August 29). It is extremely sad that such acts still continue even when mankind is suffering the effects of the ongoing deadly Pandemic .
In the past there were reports of such cases of newborn babies being abandoned even at Mapuda and Margao. On March 7 this year , a few days before the lockdown, a female foetus, partly eaten by stray dogs, was found partially wrapped in a cloth at a garbage dump just below the Basai flyover at the construction site! Then there was the famous Reuters report in March, that too on the day dedicated to the Unborn Child, where a man buried his newborn baby alive because it was a girl!
Some years back, a man going to work heard the faint screams of a newborn inside a cement bag which was left in the bushes besides a busstop at Mormugao. The person who had abandoned the baby had made sure that she could breathe by cutting neat holes into the bag!
It is high time something is done to save these innocent lives. OPM crèche at Nachnola, an initiative of Caritas Goa is one such organisation that has helped to save the lives of such unwanted babies. There is an empty cradle kept outside their door if someone wants to discreetly leave her child. The children are then brought up with all the love and care they deserve. Maybe the government can either set up or encourage and support more of such care centres in places like Vasco, Margao etc.
Something needs to be done to educate people against committing such evil acts against the most vulnerable and defenceless citizens of our world.
Allwyn N. de Sousa, Saligao
Exams in digital mode
The Allahabad University has decided to conduct its final year and final semester examinations this year in digital mode from the second week of September.
According to the University, the students will have to download the question paper from the official site of the varsity. The examination duration would be four hours, two hours of writing the paper, and two hours to scan the copy and upload it.
As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, this initiative truly deserves the praises and seems to be the right step towards Digital India which is setting a new trend for higher education institutions.
Amit Singh Kushwaha, Satna
Food for the soul again
There was good news that after 5 months or approximately 25 consecutive Sundays, missing the mass (eucharistic celebrations) at our churches for the faithful was a matter of concern. No doubt we had lots of food for our body but not for own soul. We had faith and hope that one day for sure we would see our churches open again.
Due credit goes out to St. Thomas Church, Aldona for finally opening its doors for the faithful as Parish Priest Fr. Tomas Lobo along with other concelebrants celebrated the first Sunday Mass after the lockdown.
Let other churches follow it soon, and let us pray together for Corona to pass away and allow us the freedom to move freely without masks and social distancing to meet people and greet people as before again.
Tadeu L.M.Gracias, by email
Exploitation of Konkani singers
In this pandemic time, a new trend has begun. Some of the groups have started organizing “Online Singing Competitions”. A participant has to spend money from his own pocket to compose, record, shoot, edit, etc. and send his/her song video to be uploaded on the organisers YouTube channel. This is ridiculous.
Why can’t the organisers tell the participants to upload their songs on their own individual YouTube channels and send the links to the organisers? This was done by the Alfred Rose Fan group, a few days back, when they organised the Online Konkani Singing Competition. Hats off to them!
If the organisers don’t pay for the expense of shooting, recording, editing, etc., then they don’t have any right to upload the participants’ songs on their own YouTube channels.
If the organisers are really concerned about Konkani language and Konkani singers, then they should ask the participants to upload their songs on their own individual YouTube channels and send the links for the competition.
Those who organise such Online Konkani singing competitions, please don’t exploit Konkani singers for your own benefits.
“Dusreank fottoita tankam Devak zabab dhinvcho podtta mhunnon ugdass dhovrat”.
John Vaz, Margao
Scrap IIT project at Shel-Melauli
During past few months the villagers at Shel-Melauli in Sattari have been repeatedly opposing the IIT project at this village. In fact they admit that no accurate details about the said project have been produced before them. Ultimately they fear that the bio-diversity of the village would be at stake in case the project comes up sooner or later.
Subsequently around 500 villagers recently gathered at the Guleli panchayat premises for requesting the panchayat members to hold a special gram sabha to discuss the issue in detail. They even threatened the panchayat body that they would lock the panchayat door in case the panchayat members fail to hear their grievances and cooperate accordingly.
Considering the rising resentment of the local population, the state government has no other alternative but to respect the sentiments of the villagers. Their views must receive due consideration. It would be in the better interest of the locals to shift the proposed IIT project to some other alternate location before their resentment takes an ugly turn. It is absolutely necessary that peace prevails at this jurisdiction at the moment.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
