Govt taking Goans for a ride
I would like to mention how our Government is taking us Goans for a ride.
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First of all, when a Covid-19 positive patient died our Government say that those deaths are due to co-morbid condition but the patients mostly from Vasco, Mormugao area and how did they get co-morbid diseases? Not for any other reason but because of coal.
Due to coal pollution their immunity is affected and coronavirus attacked them. Secondly government is destroying Mollem forests by saying that they are widening the road but they are building a new road and additional new railway track. One side government is telling us to plant more trees and on other hand the government is destroying not only trees but dense forests.
Our activists and environmentalists are rightly objecting the same.
Thirdly at many places in Goa destruction of forest and hills is going on in the name of development. There are number of such cases. This space won’t be sufficient to mention all. Goans are well aware of all these activities of the government and we know when to strike a rod when needed.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
A welcome portal
The Goa Government on Tuesday launched MyGov Goa Portal, thereby becoming the 13th state in the country to implement the MyGov portal. This portal empowers citizens to connect with the government and contribute towards good governance. Citizens will now be able to participate in different forums and give their views and inputs, suggestions on various government policies and schemes. The platform aims to build a partnership between the citizens and state government.
It must be said that there are several experts in various fields among the citizens who can contribute to the state by expressing their views and suggestions and thereby actively participate in governance and developments. It is understood that through the portal citizens can connect to the government through various modes of participation like discussions, polls, surveys, talks and blogs.
It is left to the citizens to make good use of the facility to make suggestions, especially with regards to protecting our environment and green cover. There has been a lot of deforestation and hill cutting going on in the state. Experts in the field could give suggestions to the government on how best to balance development and protecting the environment.
The government in turn needs to pay heed to the expert advice and bring about necessary change in policies so that people do not have to come out on the streets in protest.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Finally!
At last the GMC has been given control over Covid hospitals. They have formed teams to tackle different tasks.
They need to set objectives for themselves. One key objective is to ensure zero deaths whether co-morbid or not. The Govt. has finally approved the set up of 50 beds for such patients. Control must not be at the hospital alone. It must percolate to the homes as well.
Demanding more equipment and beds must not be shirked believing the Govt. is short of funds and Private hospitals cannot be asked to let out their beds. We have seen how the Govt. passed the budget and allowed thousands of trees to be cut during the pandemic. The current bottleneck is the meagre testing capability. They need to address this urgently.
In the US, kits for self-conducted tests on saliva have been developed. If such will help here as definitely it will, they must demand to get the same.
R Fernandes, Margao
People should repect govenor’s wishes
Governor Satya Pal Malik has endeared himself to the people of Goa like no other. Unlike most other Governors who usually play a ceremonial role, Governor Malik is proactive and progressive. It seems that he’s on the way out but apparently at his own behest as he wishes to spread his wings and extend to the marginalised and common man, the benefits of his vast experience and skills.
I think the people of Goa should respect his wishes. We may, however, commend to the centre his yeoman service to the state and suggest that he be given a gubernatorial assignment in a contiguous state to that he can also be retained as governor of Goa. He is quite capable of handling two states.
I think this will be a fitting tribute to our governor.
Robert Castellino, Calangute/ Mumbai
Assam, Bihar flooded woes
Bihar is the land of chanakkya and Emperor Ashoka. Assam is famous for the production of tea and silk . However, looking at the flood havoc therein, development of the people seems to be far achievement for them. Independent days deliver nothing to Assamis and Biharis.
Banks of the rivers devastating the lives of the people since many many years.So what mankind development did government do to improve the standard of living of flood effective people since last 72 years of independence? Why no attention was paid towards those down-trodden people?
Imagine the ancient place called Patliputra,in Bihar, where slogan of Akhand Bharat (unified India) was formulated by chanakkya with the strength of Emperor of Justice known Ashoka. The idea of unified India created by Acharya Chanakkya. That means Bihar has its own glory of history which whole India knowns.Bihar had it’s own wealth to develop.So, where is wealth gone? Why public are suffering till date? Bihar is the land of Gautama Buddha. But where is the legacy?
Every year, residents of low laying areas in Assam and Bihar and in other north Eastern States have been facing flood situations. Question is why proper housing facilities are provided to those people till today? Why they are living in hutments which are being ruined by river floods. Why they are not transferred from low laying areas to comfortable zone by providing residential shelters? Where are government housing schemes for flood effected people?
The complete solution of flood effected people of Assam and Bihar is the need of hour.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
Commemorative stamps on Ayodhya
The grand foundation stone laying ceremony of the much awaited temple at the birth place of Lord Rama at Ayodhya has been a memorable occasion for most people of this country. Postal Department has commemorated the occasion by issuing a beautiful series of postal stamps.
The occasion in fact required issue of a complete new series of definitive stamps and postal stationery. Any way since it could not be planned, now postal department should at least ensure that commemorative postal stamps issued on the occasion should be printed in extra large quantity in a manner that stamps in denominations of print may be available at all post offices in the country for next about one year or so. A complete definitive series of postal stamps and postal stationery can be planned for coming Deepawali on November 14.
All other philatical items issued on the occasion should also be available at all post offices on specific demand of desiring ones. Rather department should advertise through print, electronic and social media about release of philatical-items on August 5, and arrange home-delivery of these through post-men for senior citizens not able to go out of their homes because of on-going corona-crisis and restrictions on movement for aged ones.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi
