Bring back Goans safely from Ukraine
The war between Russia and Ukraine is underway. Russia has invaded Ukraine laying claim over some of its territories. NATO and USA have laid some sanctions but are acting just as observers without taking any action militarily. Russia with full military might is bombarding Ukranian capital Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
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The Ukrainians appear to be unable to thwart the Russian onslaught. Estimated 18,000 Indians were in Ukraine before the start of the war of which some of them are students. A few of them are being evacuated by the central government by sending Air India aircrafts.
The efforts of the central government are commendable. Of course it is too little and too late. A lot of Indians in Ukraine are at the mercy of the heavy shelling by the Russians, some of whom are even hiding in the bunkers desperately trying to save their lives.
A few Goans mostly students are among those stranded in Ukraine.
I urge the Goa Commission for NRI Affairs to take up with the Central government/External Affairs Ministry the issue of safe repatriation of stranded Goan medical students in Ukraine.
Merwyn D’Souza, Cuncolim
Children now need to detach from mobiles
According to a study done before the Covid-19 pandemic it was found that nearly three-quarters of parents were concerned that their kids’ use of mobile devices may be harmful to them or to family relationships. During the pandemic schools were shut down for two years in Goa. Students had to follow classes online on their mobile phones from the safety of their homes. Obviously there was no other option for the parents but to see to it that each child in the family owned a personal Smartphone in order to follow the lessons in their particular class.
Poor families probably even had to apply for a loan in order to buy a mobile phone for their wards. Besides following the online classes, children could have been using the mobile to play games and follow other apps. This could have the students addicted to the mobile phone. Young children have impressionable minds. Even though schools in the physical mode have commenced in the state, students could even now be using the mobile for purposes other than following the online classes which have been discontinued.
It could be very difficult to deviate little childrens’ interest from the mobile phone now. Children are being manipulated by companies into excessive use of their particular app, game or website. Studies have shown that excessive use of the mobile could cause anxiety, depression, affect family life and even cause obesity. Parents need to do everything possible to see that their wards stay detached from the mobile during the school vacation which is to follow shortly.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Make merit the criteria for jobs
Any political interference and manipulation in the selection of government employees is unacceptable, it being very unlawful. In fact the selection, promotion and transfer of all government employees should be totally insulated from any political machinations whatsoever. It should be all strictly on merit and merit alone should be the sole guiding criteria.
Over the last decade, Goa has seen thousands brazenly recruited into government service with merit thrown to the winds. It has been dishing away jobs to those without merit. This is reflecting in the functioning of the government offices with very incompetent staff having managed to creep by paying cash for jobs or with the blessings of their political god fathers.
This politically orchestrated recruitment is illegal as the whole process must be absolutely transparent so that only the best and brightest end up in government service to serve the public.
Staff at every government office must always be of the highest calibre defending neutrality and impartiality by never being manipulated by the ruling party. This is vital for good governance if the public who are the real paymasters are to have any faith and trust in the civil service and feel that they are getting value for money and a good return for the high taxes being paid.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Spin magician, a crowd puller
He was a magician who lived life king size both on and off the field. The slow but steady approach to the bowling crease, the small hop, the mercurial arm action and the final release of the delivery were sights to behold. The bounce and drift in the ball would mesmerise a batsman; the spectators would jump in joy. An occasional googly and a flipper made the fans’ day. There were very few spin bowlers ever who could draw fans to the stadium by the sheer mention of their names, and Shane Warne’s name was right there on the top.
India’s Bhagwat Chandrasekhar was another. Warne was one of the greatest cricketers ever; Wisden ranked him among the top five. Undoubtedly, he was the best leg spinner to have graced the sport of cricket. Cherubic and lively, the man was blessed with astounding bowling skills. In a cricketing career spanning more than 15 years, Warne did everything at his command to excel. He was not only a bowler par excellence but was also a great entertainer. The smiling cricketer was a bowling icon who revived the dying art of leg spin. There was never a dull moment on the field when he was around. Almost every wicket of Warne was an amalgamation of sweat, toil and, of course, brain. A very intelligent and thinking cricketer, he delivered an unthinkable and unbelievable ball to dismiss England’s Mike Gatting in the 1993 Old Trafford test. The “ball of the century” cannot but invoke admiration in the fans’ about the magical artistry of the champion bowler.
Warne led the Rajasthan Royals to a championship win at the inaugural IPL. Only 52, and gone. But that is the way life is.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
A legend in wicket keeping
In the passing of Rodney Marsh, the cricket world has lost a wicket-keeping giant, and his demise leaves a huge void in the Australian cricket community. Marsh was an indelible part of Ian Chappel’s gun-slinging Australian side. His partnership with fast bowler Dennis Lillee became a part of the game’s folklore. “Caught Marsh, bowled Lillee” were famous radio commentary lines that constantly rang in the ears of cricket fans during 1970s and early 80’s, and became a common entry on international scorecards. The big-moustached Marsh, who played 96 Tests, then set a world record of 355 wicket-keeping dismissals, which, interestingly, was the same number that Lillee achieved with the ball.
Nicknamed as “Iron Gloves” for his error-strewn debut in Tests, Marsh went on to become a legend in wicket-keeping.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Let peace prevail in the world
Today, when one nation is murdering another, the world is watching and praying for peace but what people do not realise is that the major wars have been fought in the name of peace.
On one side leaders of the countries show that they are peace makers while on the other hand they sell weapons which are used in wars. It’s simple – a leader who is a peace maker cannot sell weapons, which means today’s leaders have dual minds which is dangerous to the mankind.
These conflicts and wars will continue until people make peace within themselves.
Mary Jayne Dias Pinheiro,
via email
