Weekend tax recovery, applaudable
For every Madgaonkar, repaying House Tax due to the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is a part of good living in the city.
To every businessmen in the commercial capital of Goa – the ease of doing business is foremost and repaying taxes is mandatory.
But going by recent trends and news reports, it looks like MMC has huge accumulated outstanding amounts owed to its exchequer by both – Citizens and business houses.
While the lockdowns, lack of income and drop in business activity is one aspect, the amounts of house or business (trade) tax isn’t hard hitting and by far affordable to be paid on time, and now that life is back to near normal and business usual, one has to repay a tax owed to the government.
For September MMC staff salaries, Agnelo Fernandes Chief Officer faced a road bump. But knowing Fernandes, he isn’t the one to be stopped by such hickups. He fought the hurdle putting all his might and council resources on the ground. The CO pressed the gas, sent out requests, reminders and teams to wards and the market, then finally opened the weekend doors of the MMC on a second Saturday along with staff and Council to ensure tax arrears were netted and the drive continued.
The above needs to be applauded and it’s also not very robust of citizens and business houses to delay tax repayments and in some cases, the outstanding amounts are huge.
Repaying taxes to Municipality is a must, they collect garbage, provide sanitary services, birth/death certificates and other essential services to taxpayers. Why then should tax payers default? Why has the CO and staff to work overtime and also ensure his staff are called in to work on weekends?
It’s the tax payer who has created this man made misadventure by not doing this prime duty, thereby causing hardships to the government staff. Now there also seems to be a lot of businesses operating without trade licence. This is illegal and deprives the municipality of its due taxes. There has to be a strong arm against offenders within municipal jurisdiction and also their Godfathers as also a willingness among citizens and businessmen to repay what is due to the municipality. After all, even the Bible (Mark 12:17) says, ‘Give unto Ceaser, what’s due to him’. May better sense prevail.
Cedric da Costa,
Margao
Significance of deworming
The National Deworming Day (NDD) will be observed all over Goa on October 12, 2021. It is learnt that in the wake of the current Covid pandemic situation, the NDD round will reportedly be conducted over a period of one week. Deworming is the process that involves the use of medication to get rid of intestinal parasites like worms. All children in the age group of 1-19 will reportedly be administered the deworming tablet ‘Albendazole 400 mg. Deworming can help increase a child’s nutritional uptake and manage infections like anaemia or even loose bowels. Moreover, it also helps reduce worm infection that occurs in the community.
Deworming will also lower the chances of hospital admission of kids owing to abdominal pain. It improves the child’s immunity, and thereby protects him/her from chronic illnesses caused by worms. It improves concentration and attendance, making them more productive in school. Worms being a very common health problem for children and adults alike, experts recommend that deworming should be done twice a year or every six months, starting from the age of two years.
Parents of the child being brought to the hospital for deworming should be advised on the second dose which has to be given after six months. With proper instruction about the tablets and frequency, deworming can be done at home on medical advice since all may not be aware of the days of deworming programs in government hospitals.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
The rich get away scot free
Aryan Khan, son of SRK, was arrested by the Narcotics Bureau for possession of banned drugs. What’s the bet that he will be out of this mess and this is forgotten quickly? Clearly, the powers that be will ensure that the Aryan issue is quickly closed. Obviously, there will be a serious commercial implication for this, making hardly any dent in SRK wealth, but making several people new overnight millionaires. And the friendly media will assist in the process of white washing the incident.
Some interesting statements from the lawyer as well as the erudite Shashi Tharoor; The lawyer says Aryan is innocent – he was the chief guest; he didn’t have drugs; that he could have bought it in the ship; it reminds me of when young lord Krishna would steal the butter and say I didn’t do it! And the great Tharoor – his heart goes out to the young man and he says stop harassing the child. I can predict where this case will go.
He will be set free on some specious argument and let go scot free. Effectively, this will just go to prove the old adage – the rich get away scot free and the poor or the weak will become lambs slaughtered under a spotlight.
C K Subramaniam,
Navi Mumbai
Supreme Court and farmers’ union
A stinging indictment by the Supreme Court on the farmer’s strike. But the question is – will the farmers pay heed? Based on their track record till now – with the strike being led by Rakesh Tiakat, we don’t see them turning their back. A fully funded operation, which provides food, drinks and cash to the “Protestors”, there really is no incentive for them to stop. Will the courts order their arrest for contempt of court? Even if the courts decree, when the police go to carry out the Court Order, what is to stop these anarchists from engaging in violence against the police?
Truly a sad state of affairs in a country, where a handful can hold a large nation to ransom with absolutely no fear of retribution.
C K Mani Ramaniam,
Chennai
Heavy fees levied on old vehicles unfair
It has been reported in the newspapers that come April the centre is going to impose a hefty increase registration-renewal fee for ‘old’ vehicles (15 years and older). Ostensibly because their emission norms are outdated. This decision by the government is not fair as it must be stressed that not old model vehicles are the same. Saving the environment is good but blanket rules are bad.
If the vehicle meets emission norms why not allow people to continue using it. A buy-and-trash culture is overtaking the world and the environment is suffering. Instead of buying a good quality product that will last for years, people are buying cheap Chinese made goods and replacing them every year.
Often the family car has sentimental value for the typical Indian family. If the car is working fine and meeting norms the owner should not be pressurised into scrapping it and buying a new one. This move will only benefit car manufacturers.
Old vehicles have a lot of factors in their favour. Many have not only very strongly built engines but also a robust superstructure with side doors reinforced for accident impact.
If phasing out of old vehicles is to be done, than only those vehicles which are not road worthy should be levied extra renewal registration fees or phased out.
Stephen Dias,
Dona Paula
