Who are the real Health Care workers?
We are now at least in Goa witnessing a rank breach of protocol in the COVID-19 vaccination which is now underway. Despite the government directives that only Health Care workers are entitled to vaccination in this first round many influential family and friends of those running private hospitals have illegally managed to sneak in despite not being Health Care Workers. They have taken undue advantage as there is no proper mechanism in place to identify and weed out the non Health Care workers from the list of applicants. All this does not augur well for a system that had to be just and fair, free from any favouritism.
Government guidelines are meant to be strictly adhered to and the onus is on the officials to crack the whip on the violators without fear or favour.
It is lamentable that integrity is the loser even at a time of national crisis, as cronyism and queue jumping because of status can take precedence over what is sensible and beneficial for the common good. Integrity is the essence of everything successful.
Aires Rodrigues,
Ribandar
Mining saga
When mining was in full swing in Goa there were people’s agitations too to oppose dust pollution on human beings and also environment. All tar roads were covered with red dust, even people’s residential dwellings affecting people’s health .Shah Commission came into existence and illegal mining was exposed. Till date Goans are eagerly waiting to know the names of all those mine owners who were extracting mine illegally. It’s time to punish these illegal mine owners and recover from them the loss caused to the State and environment too.
Nowadays everybody is singing in the same tune to start or resume mining but which mining? Mining, irrespective of legal or illegal? Goans want mining to resume but only the legal ones and punishment and recovery from the illegal mine owners. Because of these illegal mine owners mining came to a halt and Goans had to suffer.
Or will it be the same mess again? Forcing people to come back on the roads. Goans do not want to face the same hardships once again. Supreme Court orders are still awaited. Hope better sense prevails.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Boycott Carnaval celebrations
It is very strange that despite the horrific stubbornness of the Central Govt in harassing the farmers in Delhi and making them suffer for months in the biting cold and the unfortunate happenings in Goa, where people in Melauli had to agitate for weeks, residents of Pernem are facing land grab for the road to Mopa airport and people in Salcete are protesting against the double tracking of the railway line, the Goa Government proposes to celebrate Carnaval in Goa, at the end of next week.
The Government has not only acted against the people, though in Melauli it had to eat humble pie, but it has filed FIRs against agitators, without justification. To say the least, this Government has behaved with high-handedness and in a way in which only fascists would.
Under such circumstances, it is ridiculous even to think that Goans should participate in any joyful celebrations, when people are actually facing lathi charge, unjustified arrests, Police cases and other ignominies. This attempt of the Goa Government to project Goa as a place where everything is fine and people continue to be jubilant and in celebration mood, must be demolished with the scorn and contempt it deserves. The agitations all over Goa only prove the dissatisfaction prevailing among the people and any attempts at projecting it otherwise is making a mockery of the causes Goans stand for.
I hope that the people of Goa will reject very strongly any efforts of the Government at celebrating Carnaval in the present atmosphere, which Goa is in, not only in solidarity with the farmers but also in support of all Goan causes, which people all over this State are fighting for.
Goans must refuse to participate in floats and other celebrations promoted by the Government but must also refuse to watch these celebrations, if Government goes ahead with them.
Jose Maria Miranda,
Margao
Aatmanirbharta, the real mantra
It’s really delightful to know that the word Aatmanirbharta has been chosen and declared as the Hindi word of the year 2020 by an advisory panel of Oxford languages. The word aatmanirbharta meaning self-reliance came into prominence after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) an important initiative in the wake of the novel Corona virus pandemic.
The word aatmanirbharta came as a wholesome solution to the Covid pandemic crisis giving the much needed hope, help, encouragement and motivation to the nation and its people showing them as a nation, as an economy, as a society and as individuals how to stand confident, self independent and overcome the perils caused by the pandemic.
The Oxford University Press India managing director has rightly said why this word became the most prominent Indian word of the year – ‘In an unprecedented year, Aatmanirbharta found resonance with a wide cross-section of people as it is seen to be an answer to the revival of a COVID-impacted economy’.
The word Aatmanirbharta gained prominence after PM Modi’s call for a self-reliant India and the word stands for the day-to-day achievements of the countless Indians who dealt with and survived the perils of a pandemic.
Aatmanirbharata stands also for the PMs vision of new India aimed to make India into a strong, self reliant, and a big global economy. The nation surged ahead during the crisis and the achievement that our nation made during the crisis in health care endeavours, manufacturing of health gears and its great contribution in the manufacturing of vaccines clearly show that aatmanirbharta worked as a mantra in the mind of each and every Indian.
M Pradyu,
Kannur
Revisiting the mask,is important
There is no doubt that the current pandemic required one central agency to control and monitor the same. The present status can only be attributed to the WHO, which has at its disposal a band of the best Scientists from all over the world who worked relentlessly. They took all aspects, even economics, into account. Their objective was to: break the transmission and they came up with: keep 1 m distance, wear masks, wash hands frequently, avoid crowded places, sneeze in elbow or tissues.
Note: all must be done simultaneously. When the transmission is broken you will have protected others and yourself. Wearing masks alone do not protect you: but when 2 people at 1 m distance, wear WHO recommended 3 layered cloth masks, the efficacy of the mask is 91%! The vaccines in India have an efficacy of 70%! Elderly and those with comorbidity, must use N95 masks.
Theory alone cannot comprehend all aspects as found in the field. Listen to the experts working in the field, they are not elected people. Protect others and you will be protected. Remember, chickens always come home to roost.
R Fernandes,
Margao
