Internet: Oxygen for education
Teachers in Goa found it challenging to conduct online classes during the pandemic as only 8.5% of the government schools (70 out of 821) had Internet access, much below the national average of 13.6. Statistics show that overall only 38.9% of the State’s schools are connected to the Internet, hampering education and creating illiterate literates. To put matters into perspective, 100% of government schools have connectivity in Chandigarh, 99% in Punjab, 95% in Puducherry, 90% in Delhi and 87% in Kerala. The percentage of government schools in Goa with a functional computer was a measly 18.1 which comes as a surprise for a State that was among the first to introduce the cyberage scheme way back in 2002. Internet is like oxygen for education and if the Goa government doesn’t pull up its socks soon and address the issue we might slip further down in the literacy index. The new government should tackle this on priority.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
BJP dragging its feet
Goa has witnessed before the formation of the government by BJP and swearing in of Chief Minister and other ministers in a tearing hurry at midnight. In contrast, the BJP is dragging its feet this time to have the ministers sworn in. Although the party says that it is not in a hurry to form the government, the people are well aware that there are many differences within the party and among the elected members. The BJP leadership has asked MGP to support the party but many elected members are opposed to it. Secondly, there are many contenders for the post of Chief Minister and although the caretaker CM may well become the CM again, the process is not expected to be smooth. For this reason two Union ministers are reported to be arriving in Goa shortly. It is also understood that there are differences over the distribution of portfolios. Meanwhile, people are waiting for a government to serve them.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
‘The Kashmir Files’- A must watch
The movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ has gained a lot of attention right from the day the trailer of the movie was launched. The movie on watching it, gave me goose bumps on seeing the plight of the indigenous sons and daughters of the soil at the hands of bloodthirsty religious fanatics. The movie also reflects the sheer failure of the State administration and the Union Government in protecting the lives of its legitimate citizens. Every Indian citizen should watch this movie.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Wait for govt formation now on
This has reference to the report ‘MLAs to be sworn in today, new CM still not named’ (Herald 15 March). It is said, “Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet”. Well, the people of Goa have had a long wait of five years for a new stable government. They have waited five years to teach their betrayers a lesson. They have waited for long to see some sort of stability in Goa. However, it doesn’t seem like the fruit has been as sweet as they expected. Yes, the people have taught the turncoats a lesson by rejecting nine out of the twelve Judasses who betrayed them five years ago. Again, the people have waited for close to a month for the election results. The results are also out, but the wait still continues for a new government to be put in place. Is it going to be another long wait?
Another report on the front page says MGP’s hopes of joining government hangs in balance – a long wait for them? All in all, one wonders, when a new government will come into place.
Meanwhile, schools in the country have also opened fully after a long patient wait of around two years. It seems that children are happy to be back in school, the teachers and parents also seem relieved. Teachers have given the children a very warm welcome on the first day of their school reopening. The mood overall seems to be good. The wait is over!
But, perhaps the cartoon on the front page, puts it very well, with the Title reading, “Swearing-in CM” and the caption, “it’s been a while now, how long do we wait for”? That says it all!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
RG opens account
March 10 was important day in history of elections held in five States. Goa election was different from other elections held so far. The difference in the same was due to presence of new parties like TMC and AAP which already had presence in 2017. The new party Revolutionary Goans under the leadership of Manoj Parab won the St Andre seat with the election of its young candidate Viresh Borkar. The RG has made an impact on voting in various constituencies and around 11 candidates from various constituencies got lesser votes as compared to 2017 votes. The difference in votes is ranging from 1000 to 3000 votes which perhaps is gained by RG. The RG has been always in favour of Goans and their welfare with respect to jobs for youth and locals. POGO- people of Goan origin is bill they want to place and pass in the Assembly. Though it will be moved as private bill in coming session, the purpose is to make Goa for Goans in employment and other fields. The aim is to give Goans justice. The RG factor has shown its larger impact on all the candidates who lost election by marginal votes and bigger margin due to split or people’s choice as RG in forefront in the 2022 elections. Now RG’s next step may be to contest panchayat election, then Lok Sabha, ZP and again 2027 elections. As it has put behind major parties like NCP and Shiv Sena there is much scope for RG to come as frontrunner in coming days of Goa’s politics. Hope the right direction and right move by the party will get people’s support and better choice in future.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
World cricket, war & Warne
It is hard to believe that Shane Warne is no more with us. First up, his death was sudden, saddening not only the cricketing fraternity but also the whole world. Just like birth, death is not uncommon. But someone we have been admiring leaving so soon will leave us in the most painful situation. In that event, we would turn to someone for a word of comfort. That said, this Australian cricketer had many achievements and milestones to his credit. One of the greatest bowlers, Shane Warne had come a long way in his cricketing career almost spanning more than a decade from 1992 to 2007.
At the beginning, he started performing well and showcasing his bowling skills. In the 1990s, Warne’s mastery of leg spin was clearly known to the world and all his fans. At my end, I had beautiful memories of many cricket stars like Shane Warne during my schooling and early college days in my native areas like Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Marthandam and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu in the 1990s. Well, we would usually sit for cricket World Cup matches telecast live on TV in neighbours’ houses – sometimes stretching up to late night hours and beyond. On the whole, we a bunch of cricket buffs had usually enjoyed watching cricket matches on TV to the core.
Cricket has always been something cutting across borders, regions, countries and languages. It is just about the players and the game. We enjoyed watching players like Inzamam-ul-Haq from Pakistan and cricketers from other countries for their talent.
Cricket has been instrumental in nurturing relationship between countries and fans.
Finally, the current Russia-Ukraine crisis has been a matter of concern. As the final strong point, cricket has the power to heal the wounds and help prevent a war-like situation over there on the horizon.
P. Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai
