How insensitive
can one get?
That our elected representatives are insensitive to the cries of the poor cannot be denied! But the act of the South Goa Member of Parliament of not presenting a bike to the physically challenged beneficiary for reaching late reported in the O Heraldo edition dated March 9, 2023, is disgusting.
This arrogance is not good.
Fatima Antao, Nachinola
Shocking humiliation
Thursday’s O Heraldo report on South Goa MP Sardinha refusing to present bike to physically challenged beneficiary for arriving 10 minutes late at the event is not only shocking, but utter humiliation to persons with disabilities (PWDs)in Goa and India. The MP should apologise for the same immediately, whatever may be the reason for coming late. Our brother arrived with his wife and daughter to receive his bike under MP fund all the way to Margao from Assolna. Sardinha’s action towards a physically challenged person is not acceptable and South Goans should take note of the MP’s behaviour.
I want to ask people of Goa, who have been attending programmes all over Goa, what if we reject the awards/flower bouquets from our politicians whenever they come late for the functions? Will they not feel offended?
I request the Social Welfare Minister, Commissioner’s Office for persons with disabilities and DRAG to take note of the same in interest of all persons with disabilities in Goa to ensure that such type incidents are not repeated by politicians in future.
Jerry Luis De Souza, Divar
Delay in pension
is a tension
The inordinate delay in processing the pension papers of retiring government employees is unacceptable. Sadly after retirement the employees have to run from pillar to post for months if not years to get their pension.
All hurdles and delays faced by a retiring employee in the processing of pension papers are deplorable. The head of every department should undertake the work of preparing the pension papers at least a year in advance before the date on which a government servant is due to retire.
Retirement benefits are the accumulated savings of a lifetime of service and denial, non-payment or delayed payment tantamount to denial of an individual’s rightful property. It is in fact a violation of the human rights of the retiring employees wherein their livelihood is affected, often resulting in untold misery and poverty.
A government employee should as a matter of right start receiving pension immediately after retirement. It is high time the authorities awaken to the reality that in delaying the clearing of pension papers they cannot leave the retired person in financial distress.
The government must take concrete steps and measures to ensure that there is no violation of Human Rights of the government employees by way of delay whatsoever in processing the pension papers of those staff retiring.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Fire incidents: Forest dept needs to be
more vigilant
According to information available till Thursday, wildfires are active at nine locations in Mhadei and four talukas across the State. Goa has never faced such a calamity. Though the reason for such wildfires is attributed to the above average temperature in Goa, statistics prove that 90 per cent of the fires are man-made which could be carelessly burning dry vegetation, dumping cigarette/beedi, besides mischief and arson. As such, the directive of government banning unauthorized access in State’s forest area is the right decision considering the prevailing situation in the Sate.
Fires have destroyed age old trees which include herbal and medicinal plants too. Tremendous damage has been caused to the environment and ecology, which is irreparable. Besides, wild animals have lost their habitat and have moved into human habitats further disturbing the natural balance.
We are aware of the fires burning in the US and Australia where wildfires have destroyed millions of acres of forests besides destroying thousands of homes and properties. These fires have caused several deaths and animals too have lost their habitats. The US reports 75,000 fires on average annually and destruction of over 7 million acres of forests and land.
The Fire and Forest Department personnel are doing a commendable job risking their lives to get access to some of the remote and inaccessible locations where the fires are raging. With the help of aerial services provided by the Navy, the infernos have been contained and doused. The assistance of the Indian Air force is also requisitioned.
Forest officials need to be more vigilant and carry out periodic checks in areas where fires are set to gain illegal access to more land for agriculture by claiming that the forest land is degraded. In dry areas in the forests creating firebreaks in the shape of small clearings of ditches may help in controlling the fires. Citizens need to cooperate and inform the concerned officials whenever there is a fire incident. Above all the State Disaster Management have to be well equipped considering the fact that we still have 3 months of dry and hot weather ahead of the monsoons.
Alwyn M D’Sa, Miramar
Schools without playgrounds
“There can’t be a school without a playground” was the succinct observation of the Supreme Court while adjudicating favourably for a school whose land meant for the playground was encroached upon in Punjab. That school playgrounds keep children fit and healthy is unanimous. Admittedly, children learn “how to learn” by playing. Physical skills honed on school playgrounds are muscle strength, motor skills and eye-hand coordination to name a few. But the development of emotional and cognitive faculties and social skills through playing while learning cannot be overstated. It is indisputable that creativity and talent are prized offshoots of playing.
Self-esteem, thought process and immune system receive a fillip when a student steps on the playground and showcases his/her skills. As a thinker said, playgrounds inevitability teach students that they are “not alone” in life. That every individual needs to be taken along life’s path is a supreme lesson taught in school playgrounds that no teacher can teach in classrooms. Equipment like swings, slides, climbers, balancing and stretching are vital to polish a child’s body and mind and it’s laudable that the top court of the land has reversed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s judgement that had ruled in favour of the encroachers.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
