Wake up to the Covid-19 reality
In India’s smallest State the pandemic is raging, with COVID-19 confirmed cases racing to 10,000 and the deaths sadly soon crossing a century. The health authorities are unprepared and in a state of total disarray while dealing with the spike of cases. Lack of coordination and non application of mind is on display while we are by the day now losing precious lives. The government had all these months to have the required medical care infrastructure in place but just lost the plot being focused on wrong issues as priorities. The whole situation is very worrisome and the rank failure of those in power is unpardonable and unforgivable.
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The pandemic seems to have not yet instilled fear in our minds and we are learning no lessons of exercising restraint in these current precarious times. It has still not dawned on the people that the virus is highly infectious and passed through personal contact. This virus does not discriminate between rich and poor, young or old, or on one’s political, social or occupational status.
How many more positive cases and lives do we have to lose for the Government and people to take this deadly virus seriously and exercise total restraint and control and strictly follow the health protocols? We cannot continue to live in a worsening situation where government appears to have lost control and its political leaders deliberately ignoring regulations.
This is a time for everyone to be vigilant, rational and prudent in all aspects of life, medically, economically as well as with our personal hygiene and habits. This is proving to be a marathon not a sprint. Life now as we know it and in the new normal will never be the same again. It is a time to tighten our belts and not waste scarce resources on non-essentials and personal temptations.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Dangerous runway
The ghastly Air India Express accident at Kozhikode, killing 18 people, a first India has seen in 10 years, has sent shockwaves across the country. Whether a technical error, or a human mistake, led to the terrible crash will soon be known because the Digital Flight Data Recorder(DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) have been recovered.
The captain, who succumbed to the impact of the crash, is believed to have failed to land with success twice following which he attempted to land from the opposite direction.
The CVC will also shed light on whether the captain was denied permission to divert the flight, considering the very heavy rainfall at the airport. Or were the two pilots running short of that extra-fuel required to fly to the nearest airport? Were the pilots communicated about the excessive tailwind, that pushes an aircraft forward, at the runway they finally desired to land?
The now infamous “tabletop” runway, formed by excavation of hillocks, giving rise to steep trenches or gorges on either end, provides less scope for recovery if a flight overshoots while landing. While landing, change in visual reference points forces the pilots to arrive at a quick decision on deciding the height for landing. Advice to install “arrestors” in all tabletop airports in India, on the lines of the United States, to prevent a skidding plane from nosediving, has not been acceded to due to ‘cost constraints’. Runway friction testing vehicle that examines the friction tendency of the landing area was not made available by the airport authority for the ill-fated Airbus. It was an open secret that the Kozhikode airport was Ill-maintained. A warning, given by an aviation expert, against allowing landing in wet conditions, was buried.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Making NOCs must for films
It is reported that the Defence Ministry has written to the CBFC advising all films, documentaries, and web series based on the armed forces to obtain NOC from the ministry. There is enough of unofficial censorship enforced sometimes with violence affecting the Arts and movie industry. It appears to me that the government instead of strengthening existing institutions for checks and balances are undermining them.
Those in the industry are already harassed and their creativity dampened and rue the bureaucratic red tape and middlemen created with massive corruption added. There is danger of government being on the way to become control freaks and if we do not stop them now, especially since Covid has kept all people at home, they may have to take NOCs from every ministry, industry or collector etc.
There should be just one official authority like there already is for clearing films and it is pathetic that after clearance, some religious or politically backed authority based on someone’s sentiments throws a spanner in the works ruining creativity, stopping all others from enjoying movies and severely damaging law and order and the concept of democracy and freedom. Besides perhaps required for documentaries, this is unnecessarily stunting every aspect of a progressive nation.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Pilgrimage to Vailankanni
Every year thousands of Goans, including politicians, used to undertake a pilgrimage to Vailankani on the eve of the novenas on August 29 and for the feast of Our Lady of Vailankani on September 8. Many devotees make a pilgrimage to the holy shrine by bus, train or by their own vehicles for decades. Special trains were arranged during the days of the novenas and the feast day. This may not be possible this year as there is a ban on congregation of pilgrims as the country is in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. Obviously this year the devotees will have to stay at home and follow the online masses on the days of the novenas and the feast day. Devotees need to pray fervently to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankani to restore the health of the people across nations as the world battles this deadly virus which has claimed the lives of thousands of people worldwide and has infected millions.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Austerity works wonders
Austerity is not such a bad thing. In these Covid-19 times when living dictates that most people practice austerity, there is much we can benefit from by being austere. Conspicuous consumption has declined considerably and even essential consumption has moderated. These are experiences from which everyone can learn a lesson on how to live in the future. Become austere by choice and render our environment into a much better place in which to live in. Decrease consumption of things that harm the environment. Tighten up your belts to consuming less the things that lead to environmental degradation.
Regulate your expenses, moderate conspicuous consumption, spend only on must only essential commodities, reduce garbage, try to phase out use of plastics, especially single use, spend on balanced nutritional diets emphasizing on bolstering your immunity, exercise regularly and go green by planting trees, maintaining orchards, gardens and backyards with usable fruit and vegetable cultivation and also keeping your surroundings spic and span. Choose the positives of austerity and inculcate healthy practices.
Make this world a better place by becoming compact and robust. Austerity can make you tide over longer in these hard times. Occasionally indulge in a little bit of luxury.
Elvidio Miranda,
Panjim
