Give health priority, not tourism
The next few weeks and months will reveal whether the government was right in opening the gates of Goa wide open for tourism. There is no doubt every industry has to survive, but was the government in the given current grave circumstances prudent in starting the boat cruises, casinos and now wanting to hold the Sunburn festival? We can only pray that a further disaster does not strike Goa.
While the hospitals already over stretched dealing with the deadly COVID-19 cases, the doctors are now further inundated with scores of road accidents on a daily basis caused by rash and drunken driving by some of the visiting tourists.
And while the government wants to desperately welcome tourists to revive the economy it has miserably failed to ensure that the proper infrastructure is in place. A vivid example is the noted CHOGM road starting from Porvorim leading to the North Goa Coastal belt. It is in a very pitiable and accident prone state with pot-holes all over. Even the stretch at Saligao in front of former Chief Minister and late Dr Wilfred de Sousa’s residence is with craters galore.
We know the state exchequer is cash starved. So there is need of rigorous austerity measures by scrapping vanity projects and getting the priorities right. At this point in time while the pandemic is raging the government needs to prioritise on good Health care for the poorest of the poor which should be the dedicated thrust of those in power. Saving precious lives and protecting the vulnerable has to now be the focal agenda.
It is only decisive leadership and the implementation of a clear health and safety plan that puts lives and road safety before profit, that will determine whether we are successful in containing this pandemic and helping the many affected medically, economically and on our roads. Prevention is always better than cure!
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Height of hypocrisy
Shameful that it took a notice of ‘suspension of services’ from doctors for the government to rescind it’s diktat that medicos have to vacate their hotel accommodation by month end. Vague verbal assurances were given by the authorities earlier that the doctors could continue with their accommodation while on Covid duty…..leave alone accommodation, many residents had not been even paid their salaries since June.
The apathy and indifference exhibited by the health ministry towards our medical professionals is extremely distasteful and repugnant.Till a while back we were felicitating these ‘ Corona warriors’ by lighting lamps, clanging vessels, doing aartis, showering petals and other such. Many doctors had been infected and reinfected in their line of duty but still continued fighting the good fight against the virus.
The selfless service and dedication shown by the Goan doctors was an example to many in India but sadly our own State government fails to recognise their sacrifices.The medicos have been fighting a dual pronged battle, one against Covid and the other to retain their rooms. It is hoped that the government satraps find a lasting solution to this on again off again vexatious issue so that our doctors go back to discharging their duties with the same zeal and determination.
Dear ministers, during this raging pandemic many of you owe your lives to prompt medical intervention, time to shed your sanctimony and pietism and actually do something for the doctors without whose sterling efforts you would have been six feet under.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Why do we need 40 MLAs?
This government is happy to have its citizens infected with Covid-19! What better way to keep the citizen behind locked doors and then go about its merry way of double tracking and projects in protected areas. Can’t understand why they are called protected area if the government can rape them at will. If all this government does is follow diktats from Delhi why do we need a State government that has a burden of 40 non-functioning MLAs; let’s opt for a change of status and let Goa revert to being a Union Territory.
Did the people fight for Statehood only for 40 individuals to loot and plunder? Before granting permissions for EDM have a full Assembly session. Can you imagine physical distancing in clubs and in crowds of 10,000 + people? Declaring SOPs are easier than implementing them. This government with 28 seats (never mind how that was achieved) is a stable/strong government. This muscular government is using its muscle against the citizens and not to fight for the State’s interest like the Mhadei River water.
They say you get the government you deserve but in this case you cannot blame the citizen. He got a government that he had not voted for but has to live with it for 5 years!
D C Dias, Taleigao
Ease of doing business
Industrialisation is the key to economic growth. It is, however, not the one and only key so much so that this is all we hear from the Govt. and the Industry represented by the GCCA, CII and TTAG time and again!
For whom are the benefits of this economic growth? Industry needs land, manpower and power to sustain. From whom does the land come? From the inhabitants. There has to be a mating of all resources. Education too must be linked to Industry that is set up here. Taking local land and using labour from other States is not planning. Therefore, under the guise of ‘ease of doing business’ one cannot justify merely providing land for industry.
TATA Electronics Ltd. is opening a precision metal pieces for electronics in Hosur, TN. They will train all the operators and plan for a total of 18,000 trainees. The present production is for the stainless cases for their Titan watches assembled in their Hossur unit. Why not in Goa?
What training is going on for manning Mopa Airport? Why cannot Industries be like the TATA-TIDCO venture in Hossur and train the local people?
So far we see prime land given up to dubious steel rolling Mills where the workers are made to sleep inside the factory. The recent death at such a unit in Cuncolim is a case in point. At Kundaim Indl. Estate too there were such deaths once again of people staying inside the factory. It appears that good manufacturing units refuse to come here as the first preference is for such dubious factories for obvious reasons.
Ease of doing business changes must include ease of locals getting employed with fair wages and working conditions. Industry stalwarts must exhibit maturity. The first step is to not oppose companies offering high wages.Since we want high end tourists we must also demand high wage paying companies.
R Fernandes, Margao
Goan heroes
The huge response overnight at Chandor at the railway tracks, to state the overwhelmingly opposition to the double tracking, coal transportation and also the planned destruction of thousands of trees, could possibly be the start of many genuine Goans waking up to save our State, from specific destructive politicians and select lobbies (mainly from outside Goa) who have these ruling Goan politicians in their favour!
Special thanks to the organisers of the movements spearheading this fight. They are working so hard with their almost daily awareness campaigns and meetings across the length and breadth of Goa. It is clear that this is huge amount of sacrifice, extra time, preparation and painstaking work by these Heroes & Heroines, who have also their other Personal responsibilities that they have to manage!
These people are a true inspiration to Goans and also to people outside of Goa/India.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
