Knee-jerk accident reaction drama begins
The Goa government and police are so predictable in my view! After the horrific Banastarim accident where a drunk driver killed/injured innocents, the knee jerk drama has started with checks and absurd announcements, so as to give the false perception that the Goa government is serious about the issue and is taking action. But the reality is the politicians still don’t care.
What is needed is a comprehensive accident prevention policy which should be properly framed as a legislation and passed; should include a policy which covers amongst other things; CCTV cameras, stiff fines, proper road signs (particularly during construction works ) easy affordable transportation where people who drink can use, stiff fines/Immediate action for offenders unlike this case; with the said Mercedes owner where action was not taken and license not suspended even after defaulting on violations!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Drive against drunken driving will fizzle out
The Goa police after coming under fire for going too soft on those drinking and driving in the state has now decided to deploy it’s personnel from the traffic cell in civilian clothes near all the bars and restaurants and popular party places in a bid to crackdown on the menace of drunken driving in Goa.
Well, as long as our Government does not comes out with its own liquor policy, keeps decorating and allowing people (mostly outsiders) to open up more and more bars/wholesale liquor outlets every few metres in the state, allows everyone to freely consume unlimited alcohol, allows the owners of these bars/wholesale liquor outlets to illegally serve/sell liquor 24 X 7 on a quiet at their premises without following any fixed timings, nothing is really going to happen in Goa even in the near future.
The so-called ‘drive’ which has been initiated/started against drunken driving by the Goa Police with a lot of hype will temporarily go on for a while and then slowly fizzle out.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Protecting doctors against abuse
It is learnt that a new regime replacing the 2002 “Code of Ethics” gives professional medical doctors the option to refuse taking a patient under their care in cases where either they or family members misbehave or display aggression.
The option however, will not be available to doctors in emergencies. In case the doctor has been intimidated, the case has to be reported to the National Medical Council (NMC) which will then assign the case to another doctor. It is understood that it is the first time that doctors are being officially given the option to refuse treatment to patients who misbehave. This is a step in the right direction. However it is pertinent to note that much of the abusive and violent action directed towards the members of the medical profession occurs if the patient dies while being treated by the doctor.
The doctor is many-a-times being blamed for the death due to alleged negligence. It is at such times that doctors are more in need of protection after the patient has already been treated and whose life could not be saved. There needs to be a provision in place whereby the doctors can call in the police if they are abused and attacked by family members of a patient who died while undergoing treatment.
Doctors do their best to save lives and cannot be held responsible for the death of the patient.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Provide max admissions to PG courses on merit
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday refused to grant interim stay on Post graduation admissions in GMC, Goa. The petitioner based on admission procedure applied for stay on reservations of 41% for SC, ST and OBC category and 51% for General category.
The government should come out with policy to provide maximum admissions to Post Graduation courses on merit basis. The reservation criteria prohibits deserving candidates for course. The said course is available only on GMC in Goa and very few aspirants will get admission if there is no merit basis selection.
The Indian government has made provision for reservation category in various states based on their caste and on other hand, we speak on equality and equal justice to all in education, work place and other fields. In fact in Goa, we have various reservation categories too.
The state government has right to decide by policy making and give opportunity to all those who are in merit. It is seen that many general category students are deprived of seeking admission inspite of coming in merit and are demotivated inspite of hard work and efforts put in to score high marks. The reserved category is not required to put in much effort as they know there is reservation and can easily get in inspite of less percentage and marks scored. The general category students feel the injustice in this as they are not considered due to reservation of seats. Government should come out with policy where upto school level the reserved category students should be given free education and once they are out of school should compete with all without any provision for reservation. The reservation is not once birth right but it’s only to help the deserving candidates to get upliftment in education and at work place. Once the student is out from school, he or she should be treated equally and at par with others. There should be no discrimination in graduation courses and post graduation courses. All should be treated equally without hurting the sentiments of deserving candidates and those on merit list. Law should be equal to all and true equality will prevail only if all are given fair chance and opportunity to study and fulfil their dreams.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Bhausaheb Bandodkar: Gone but not forgotten
A tribute to Dayanand B Bandodkar the first Chief Minister of Goa on his 50th Death Anniversary was paid at his Samadhi in Miramar with due solemnity in the presence of dignitaries and a large gathering.
Bandodkar was a politician of high integrity and probity in public life and was revered by the people of Goa for having contributed to the development of Goa as also for having protected the interests of backward classes thus making him a respected politician during his lifetime.
Although he was supporting the merger of Goa with Maharashtra in the only referendum held in Independent India on 16th January 1967 which was called as the Opinion Poll which was put to vote in Goa resulting ultimately in Goa having maintained its distinct identity and Bandodkar accepted the verdict of the majority of Goans gracefully.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
