Looking after orphans of accident victims
The effect of road accidents which end in fatalities can be catastrophic and distressful for the near and dear ones of the victim. Punishing the culprit for causing the fatal accident is many-a-times considered as giving justice to the victim and some solace to the loved ones. However, at times such fatal road accidents result in children ending up as orphans. Both the parents could be the victims of a fatal accident. The orphaned children could have no one to look after them. The victim of the road accident could even be the sole bread-earner in the family.
In such instances, the family members could be struggling to eke out a living. There should be a system whereby the person responsible for the fatal accident has to look after the orphaned children for life. Just like there is a fixed monthly-allowance as maintenance allowed by law in a divorce case, it would be desirable to have a law in place wherein the person responsible for the fatal accident has to pay for maintenance of the orphaned children or the family which has lost a sole bread-earner. This will go a long way in making people drive more carefully.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Controlling use of smart phones
It is really disturbing to note that students in rural communities of our country largely use their smartphones for entertainment rather than for academic purposes as per a study titled “The State of Elementary Education in Rural India” recently. Upsettingly, its findings say that out of 49.3% of students who own gadgets, only 34% of that number use them for studies. Constant use of smartphones by students easily distract them from concentrating on their academics and decrease their mental and physical productivity levels. Not all parents monitor their children when they use their gadgets.
As smartphones keep children occupied, elders too find it convenient as they get time to complete their chores. It is a significant worrying factor that students are found having a great difficulty in managing their study-life with the use of smartphones, with the result their health is compromised. It is the duty of the parents to instil confidence in their children that libraries, as resources, strengthen their knowledge as libraries are synonymous with education.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Teacher exonerated in punishment case
With reference to the news item Teacher exonerated in corporal punishment case’ (O Heraldo August 7, 2023), I, mother of the concerned teacher Keegan Gomes, hereby would like to clarify the basis of the report especially in the last para which falsely states that the incident which occurred on February 24, 2023,that 45 students were asked to run 265 rounds on the school ground by my son for half an hour of mid-morning heat and that some students fainted and some started having breathing problems and had to be admitted to the Sanguem primary health centre for treatment.
I am shocked and surprised that as to how young kids of class VII take 265 rounds on the school ground? These are just figments of imagination. If facts are personally verified it can be ascertained that the students were made to jog around the poles of the volleyball and badminton court in the school’s enclosed open quadrangle where the school assembly and other activities are held and not on the school ground as was alleged.
The truth of the matter is that only one student whose mother complained was taken to the health centre made to lie down on the bed and the photograph was made viral. The boy was sent home immediately. Social media took over and made mountain out of molehill but truth and justice prevailed at last.
Maria Nita Gomes, Assolna
Two great and significant events
On August 15 every year, we Indians celebrate two great significant and related events. One is the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother Mary, and the other is India’s Independence Day. The reason as to why these two events are related to each other is because they are both about freedom. Independence Day is celebrated as freedom from foreign domination to self-rule and the feast of the Assumption of our blessed Mother Mary may be seen as freedom from this limited and incomplete life to bliss of eternal and perpetual life. There is indeed a happy coincidence to celebrate our Independence Day on the feast day of the Assumption of our blessed Mother Mary. It is to our blessed Mother Mary that we dedicate our country, as she is our patroness.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Eradicate this madness of violence
This has reference to the report ‘Peaceful candlelight held to condemn sexual assault on Manipur women’ (O Heraldo August 10, 2023).
There have been several candlelight protests across the country in solidarity with the people of Manipur. The violence, the atrocities against women in Manipur & elsewhere must be condemned.
August 9 is a significant day as it is celebrated as International Day of the world’s indigenous people all over the world. Surely, the people of Manipur have nothing to celebrate.
August 9 is also that day when one of the two atomic bombs was dropped on Nagasaki, killing lakhs of innocent people. August 9 is a significant day also for our country, the day when the ‘Quit India Movement’ was launched.
Violence in any form, against humanity has no place in a civilized society. It is therefore appropriate that a ‘Quit Violence’ movement is launched in order to eradicate this madness of violence against humanity.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Youth as nation builders
It is said foundation of every state is the education of its youth and a nation’s youth are the trustees of its posterity. The United Nations (UN) has defined youth as those falling in the age group of 15 to 24 years though it is said that a youth has no age. The International Youth Day (IYD) is observed on August 12 and similar to every year a theme is selected to make the day memorable. This time around the contribution of youth towards making the world environmentally sustainable and climate friendly is focused upon. There are approximately 1.8 billion youngsters in the age group of 10 to 24 years across the globe.
Youth are potent instruments in nation building, and the world recognises youth as ‘change partners’ who play a significant part in fostering peace and harmony. It is the duty of all leaders of the nations to build the future for the youth as well as help build the youth for the future of the nation.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Advice to Goa destroyers
In the words of Pope Francis, “As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.”
Ruiee Sequeira, Mumbai
