Stray dogs pose risk to citizens
An eight-year old girl was reportedly mauled by a pack of street dogs at Dongorim, Navelim. The girl was later treated at the Hospicio hospital. It is understood that as the girl was walking on the street outside her house, 7-8 street dogs attacked her. They pounced on her causing her to fall and bit her at several places, on the head, hands and legs. It is learnt that she sustained at least 20 bites. She was later rescued by the locals. If (God forbid) one of the stray dogs is a rabid dog, then the girl’s life could be in danger.
It must be said that when several stray dogs move about in a pack that is when they are most dangerous. They move about looking for something to eat from garbage bins. If they do not find any food, they attack people and little children are most vulnerable.
Stray dog menace has made citizens in the State unsafe. The concerned authorities need to take necessary steps to control the stray dog population. These dogs roaming on the streets should be picked up by the civic bodies and kept in the dog shelter. They also need to be sterilised in order to control the dog population.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
On the cusp of sporting history
In a welcome decision the athletics stadium at Bambolim will be named after Milkha Singh, the legendary ‘Flying Sikh’ who narrowly missed out on a bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Quick on the heels of the hockey facility at Peddle being christened as the Deeyn Chandy stadium, this announcement was a double bonanza for true lovers of sports.
There is also a proposal in the pipeline to name other sporting venues after our local Goan heroes like Leo Pinto, Walter D’Souza and Mary D’Souza. Considering the fact that our sportsmen brought in a rich haul of medals at both the Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympics recently, the time is ripe to boost sports infrastructure across the country so that the momentum of this new found glory is maintained.
Going forward, integrated ‘sports cities’ must be set up with cutting edge sports facilities, in-house and foreign coaching help, sports medicine specialists, mental health experts (very important in today’s highly competitive environment, consider the case of tennis sensation Naomi Osaka and star gymnast Simon Biles) and comfortable residential complexes.
These should be generously funded by the government and the private sector must step in as willing sponsors to offset budget constraints/cuts.
We are on the cusp of sporting history and co-ordinated efforts by all stakeholders concerned will ensure that India is the next big thing.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Vaccines wasted
It is really surprising as well as shocking that in a well developed nation like the US at least 15.1 million doses of Covid vaccines have been wasted since March. The reason behind such a huge waste are due to factors like damaged vials, errors in diluting the vaccines, freezer problems, public hesitancy in taking the vaccine etc. Shocking it is because many nations worldwide are finding it so difficult and are struggling to get these ‘precious elixirs’ and have their population vaccinated.
As far as India is concerned though there are reports of vaccines getting wasted it is good to hear that many States are using it fully without getting any of these wasted. public awareness. Hassle free distribution, good storing facilities and executing the doses in the most meticulous way can definitely prevent these medicines from being wasted. The government also has a vital role in seeing that the panacea, that the whole of mankind is at present is hoping upon to relieve themselves from a fatal pandemic, should not be simply wasted.
M Pradyu, Kannur
The Taliban returns
The Taliban control over Afghanistan is complete. Unlike the last time when the outfit asserted supremacy in the country, aided by gruesome atrocities all over the country, the present dispensation is talking of peace, though the main agenda is to bring change by force.
Taliban has resurfaced and it is going to take Afghanistan back what it was 100 years ago where women are treated like slaves to be inside the house and wearing burkhas and completely closing their body from head to feet. I personally don’t approve of those who say that India should talk to Taliban. No country should talk to gun-wielding nomads who are on the loose and behave like animals.
India’s reluctance to talk with non-selected gun-toting group underlines a fair policy, but diplomatically it offers China and Pakistan a moral victory.
The heart of the matter is that Taliban still expects Indian intervention, which needs to be done with extreme tact.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Naming stadiums, include Goans too
The objective of naming a public stadium must be to fire up the belly of local sportsmen. Did the stadium near the Goa University inspire any sportsperson by naming it after a politician? Why, it has not even inspired the local BJP MLAs who are floundering in all spheres. Is this not enough of faulty policies?
Goan youth are more motivated to partying and casinos: true or false? Even with all this dancing practice did we see any couple like Bad Salsa? No. Experts say Goans have everything and hence are not motivated like those emerging from the poor class.
Are past legends with no Goan connection going to change this? Do the names suggested even motivate people from those States in today’s scenario?
Goa became part of India 14 years after India’s Independence. Have other States thought of naming any public space after Goans? Where can we derive motivation?
The name of the Stadium must inspire current generations. Reading about the person must start a fire. Read about Alu Mendonca and feel the goosebumps. Has any stadium been named after a woman? Goa has so many women Olympians worthy of this.
Note how not a single politician in Goa, either from the ruling BJP or the Congress or new parties speak up. Editorials do, but not them. Patriots come from Goa too.
R Fernandes, Margao
Frontline workers face the worst
It is a matter of struggle during the Covid-19 time and people suffered in plenty during the pandemic. Not only teachers, but also journalists, who are tirelessly doing their job, from the crematorium to hospitals, must be treated as frontline workers and get the much needed recognition for their selfless job. The pandemic has hit veteran academics and our professors really hard. The National Capital Region and other metropolitan regions and other metropolitan cities are still in the throes of the second and third waves of the pandemic.
The government is also putting its best minds together to grapple with the unprecedented problem and emerge from its jaws with the minimum possible damage. The States and centre should direct the ministries to vaccinate citizens according to the risk level they are exposed to, whether in the field of education, defence or the media. The nightmare called Covid-19 rages on and it is a Herculean task to battle against the pandemic in a planned way.
With monsoon rains lashing the country the position is becoming precarious as we face a number of other ailments than Covid-19 as well. It is time to reorganise and work on the principles of health care and offering medical facilities and free medicare for the senior citizens.
C K Subramaniam,
Navi Mumbai
