Ten lakh jobs is welcome
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction to all departments and ministries to hire 10 lakh people in mission mode within one-and-a-half years is a laudable step. The Centre’s recruitment drive will focus on vacancies in railways, armed forces and the GST department. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs also unveiled the ‘Agnipath’ scheme to recruit 46,000 young soldiers in a year. The drive could help bridge the widening unemployment gap. However, the announcement’s timing – the 18-month deadline for jobs ends just four months before the 2024 general elections – makes one wonder whether this ploy is an election gimmick.
NJ Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Of falling trees
With the onset of monsoon over the Goa coast, it is learnt that the state has reported as many as 35 tree-fall incidents as a result of widespread rainfall accompanied by gusty winds. The Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has reportedly recorded maximum instances of uprooting of trees and branches falling during the last weekend. It was by God’s providence that these incidents have not resulted in loss of life even though it has caused loss of property. There have been instances of trees and branches falling on roads, cars, houses compound walls and electrical wires. All this can cause huge financial losses. It may be recalled that a couple of years back a motorcycle rider was killed of electrocution in Vasco when a weak Ashoka tree came crashing down bringing along with it live electric wires. It is absolutely necessary to cut down weak trees and to also trim the branches. Citizens need to bring to the notice of the authorities if there are any weak trees or overhead branches in their locality which pose danger. There are several tell-tale signs which prove that a tree has outgrown its life and poses risk to the public. They include abnormalities in the bark with deep cracks or holes, tree decay, dead branches, discoloration of leaves, abnormal number of leaves falling, a tree that is tilting to one side, among other signs.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Bring Mundkar oriented scheme
Goa has Mundkar Law of 1974. Many people may have bought their lands under this Act. But there are still many cases lying in the government offices. There are many reasons for these lingering cases. But it is the responsibility of the government to find out the reasons. Many such questions were asked in Goa Legislative Assembly sessions. The answer was the law itself. Questions were ended with no solution. What is needed now is a Mundakar policy? A sophisticated plan is needed for Mundakars. Prime Minister “Modi’s concept” is important today. One should learn from Modi as how the government should be for the people. Modern plans should be implemented with prudential aim. A mundkar lives in a house, doesn’t he? If such a person is eligible for mundkar process, then give him mundkar “degree”. I don’t know why it should be delayed. For this, it is essential to implement the “Mundkar scheme”. Now who is Mundkar? He is one who lives in a house, pays house tax, electricity bill, water bill, has a ration card, voting card and proof of how many years does he has been living. If all these things are taken into account or recorded, then a person becomes Mundkar.
Our Goa Chief Minister should take into account the problems of Mundkars and implement “Mundkar” scheme to give relief to the people of Goa. A detailed study of where and why the Mundkar cases got stuck can be examined from the case office. Bhausaheb Bandodkar brought the law. Now it is time to bring out a Mundkar oriented scheme from the Mundkar Act.
Here is an example. A person applies for a 50 square meter area under the Mundkar Act and dies within a few years. The case is still ongoing. His family has all the documents of Mundkar. All procedures completed. But, no result. It takes years to get a declaration of Mundkar and buy it? That too piece land of 50 square metres.
Therefore, the Goa government should take the cognizance of the woes of the Mundkars of Goa and give them permanent relief once and for all.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
Land grabbing in Goa unattended
Land rate has shot up in the real estate market. The cases of grabbing the land and forging the documents are on the rise in Goa. There are numerous properties in Goa which are under litigation due to this kind of activities. Lots of Goans are staying abroad and they have left their land and properties either in the hands of some trusted person or unattended. The recent case of Sangolda is an eye opener for the people who have left their properties unattended or with the mercy of some crooks. As there may be big and organized syndicate is working in this field and their main job is to grab the properties belonging to people who are staying abroad and sell them after forging their documents. The unsupervised properties are their main target in this illegal business. The genuine owner should take care of their own properties in case if they own one in Goa. The government should contemplate on bringing legislation for providing protection to such properties from getting sold.
KG Vilop, Chorao
The disappearance of Rs 2000 notes
The BJP government at the Centre demonetised all Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes in November 2016 and the Prime Minister while announcing the draconian decision, assured that it has become necessary for such a drastic action to unearth black money and contain terror funding. However, when he also mentioned that new Rs 2000 notes would be issued in place of the demonetized bank notes, it gave a great shock to the people as a higher denomination of Rs 2000 replacing Rs 1000 will only help the filthy rich and unscrupulous business tycoons to hoard money easily in future.
It also came as a shock that the Reserve Bank of India failed to account for and match the quantum of the demonetised currency returned with the new notes printed. As expected and foretold by really learned people and great economists like former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, demonetisation proved to be miserable in the sense that it neither helped to unearth black money nor helped to contain the terrorist movements as boasted by the government while demonetizing the currencies. As suspected by the people, officials who conducted searches in the abodes and business premises of some of the affluent and rich post demonetization, unearthed bundles and bundles of the newly printed Rs 2000 currencies, of course, unaccounted which made one wonder how and where from those people were able to get such a lot of the new Rs 2000 bundles while the common man was made to wait in long queues to change their hard-earned money / draw their savings from the bank which even resulted in the death of many. We never found any of the rich standings before the banks to exchange notes or draw money which spoke in loud about what has really happened. As expected, the Rs 2000 currencies have now suddenly vanished from circulation and it is an open secret that all of them must have been hoarded as black money by the affluent.
If the government is really serious about unearthing the black money, this is the right time to prove their honesty and sincerity.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
