A proud achievement
Let us salute the Ministry of Defence and DRDO for taking the status of our nation high as it successfully test-fired the first Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), making our nation only the fourth country in the world after the US, China and Russia to develop and test the technology that will pave the way for missiles that will have the capacity to travel at six times the speed of sound.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has said that with this mission it has demonstrated capabilities for highly complex technology that will serve as the building block for Next-Gen Hypersonic vehicles in partnership with the industry. The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic speed flight.
The most significant part of this dream mission is that apart from being used as a vehicle for hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles, the HSTDV can also be used for civilian applications too, including the launch of small satellites at low cost. As we hold our head high and take pride in this great achievement let us give a big salute to our late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the ‘Missile Man’ of India who was the brain behind the creation of missile technology in India. He was the brain behind enabling India attain self-sufficiency in the field of Missile Technology.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Hypersonic technology
I see that India is now developing hypersonic technology for cruise missiles. Rather than spending countless millions on projects of mass destruction and death, if the money is re-directed towards better roads and rail services, health, running fresh water for everyone, proper sewage disposal and the elimination of dogs and cattle roaming the streets the benefit to the population and the economy would be incalculable.
Dranreb Aclos, UK
Tech thieves
In Goa, the Legal Metrology Department has its hands full dealing with fudged weighing scales in the markets. Besides this, they have had to deal with goods not bearing MRP, date of manufacture etc. Recently they seized non-standard masks and sanitizers meant for COVID-19 suppression of transmission. They now need to check the petrol pumps. In Andhra and Telangana some 30 persons, including petrol pump operators, were arrested this week for installing cheat Integrated Chips – ICs. These enabled the pumps to dispense 2 to 3 per cent less fuel than what was displayed. The cheat chips were sold for more than a lakh by a Mumbai-based duo as reported. It is up to the Goa Legal Metrology Department to ensure the same has had no takers here.
R Fernandes, Margao
Suffering due to wrong choices
A ghastly murder in Margao shook our conscience. Earlier we witnessed a gang shootout in Santa Cruz. We see the floating casinos in the Mandovi, as well as the protests in Guleli over the proposed IIT. The COVID stats keep us in fear. In all this we are constantly fed with falsehood that ‘bhivchi garaz na’ (no need to fear). Misgovernance is taking its toll on the common man. While the politicians can easily find a comfortable private hospital, the voters are suffering in public hospitals. The opposition hardly exists in Goa, with the government being run by opposition MLAs. It’s a sad occurrence, in which the voters are suffering, only due to wrong choices. Not just the politicians, even the spiritual gurus and other influential people hardly came to the succour of the suffering, in this catastrophic pandemic. As citizens we must avoid following people blindly.
Newton Mendonca, by email
Milk in midday meal scheme
It is understood that milk will soon be an integral part of the midday meal scheme in government schools across the country to ensure proper nutrition to students. This is in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim to make India malnutrition-free. The importance of milk for growing children cannot be undermined. Milk consists of carbohydrates and fats for energy, proteins for development and repair, as well as several vitamins and minerals that are essential in a child’s diet. The presence of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D in milk supports the healthy development of bones and teeth in children. Drinking milk and dairy products regularly may prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures and even help one maintain a healthy weight in latter stages of life. Hence milk is essential for the holistic nourishment of growing children. All State governments have reportedly been told to implement the new midday meal policy which includes milk. It is understood that all students from Classes 1 to 8 in all government schools will be given 200 ml milk everyday along with the midday meals. The Goa government too will have to make necessary provisions to provide milk to children in government schools as per the revised menu for midday meals when schools in the State resume functioning.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Was decision to open borders without COVID testing right?
As written earlier, when Goa was in the Green Zone, if the borders were opened without proper COVID-19 testing then the positive cases would rise from 200 to 2000 then to 20,000 and now I say it will go to 2 lakh if no COVID testing is done.
Everyone knows that the economy is on the decline and to revive it the government feels that the only solution is to open the borders. But should not the government make it mandatory for all those entering Goa come with negative certificates from their place of travel or else they should undergo COVID test at the entry points by paying the required fees. If employers want their workers to join duties they can bear the cost and later recover it from their salaries.
If the government does not have enough infrastructure of testing and quick results, then they don’t have the right to allow people inside the State and then cry that COVID cases and deaths have increased.
Politicians, bureaucrats and wealthy businessmen will get the best treatments in the government or private hospitals and come out from this deadly virus, while the common man will be left at the mercy of God. So my request to our Chief Minister and the Health Minister to give a thought to the suggestions and act fast.
Anthony Fernandes, Assagao
States ruined by drug abuse
Generations in States are being ruined by drug abuse, which has become a matter of huge debate and controversy. The recent focus is on the involvement of sandalwood personalities in Karnataka. It focuses on how the NDPS Act, which is meant to deter drug traffickers and peddlers, has been blatantly and arbitrarily used to punish the addicts.
The fact is that it highlights an important failure of the State machinery in implementing the NDPS Act. The NDPS Acts seeks to control the demand and supply of drugs by criminalising production, trafficking and use. It sheds light on larger questions whether harsh punishments can lower crime rates, and whether drug addicts are being effectively rehabilitated into society under the NDPS Act.
But it seems that deterrence by harsh punishments has consistently failed, especially in the context of the NDPS Act. Drug addiction is like a curse and until it is broken, its victim will perpetually remain in the shackles of bondage. The government should do enough to tackle the nexus between the powerful drug mafia and corrupt policemen. There should be concerted action plan to combat the drugs menace.
K G Vilop, Chodan
