New police districts
The decision by the Goa Government to carve out two new police districts in the State may not have the required backing of the law. Possibly it has not been examined by the law department.
The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) clearly defines a district as a Revenue district. So unless the CrPC is amended by Parliament to redefine a District, this move by the Government to make Mapusa and Ponda the two new police districts will be in bypassing the law. Since Goa has two districts the Government could contemplate having two SPs in each district and designate their specific roles.
Goa is a very small State and the police can perform well if there is no political interference in its functioning. The Police Establishment Board which was set up on the directions of the Supreme Court has lost its sanctity with ruling Ministers and MLAs having Police officials of their choice posted in their area.
Not long ago the Government had decided to have two Police Inspectors at every police station, one to deal with law & order and the other in charge of investigating crimes. But that has not been pursued. Merely forming new districts is by no stretch of imagination going to improve policing.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
World Food Day
Considering World Food Day 2020’s theme of ‘Grow, Nourish and Sustain Together’. World Food Day is calling for global solidarity to help all populations, and especially the most vulnerable, to recover from the crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust so they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shocks, deliver affordable and sustainable healthy diets for all, and decent livelihoods for food system workers. This will require improved social protection schemes and new opportunities offered through digitalization and e-commerce, but also more sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the Earth’s natural resources, our health, and the climate.
The COVID-19 global health crisis has been a time to reflect on things we truly cherish and our most basic needs. These uncertain times have made many of us rekindle our appreciation for a thing that some take for granted and many go without: food.
Food is the essence of life and the bedrock of our cultures and communities. Preserving access to safe and nutritious food is and will continue to be an essential part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for poor and vulnerable communities, who are hit hardest by the pandemic and resulting economic shocks.
In a moment like this, it is more important than ever to recognise the need to support our food heroes – farmers and workers throughout the food system – who are making sure that food makes its way from farm to fork even amid disruptions as unprecedented as the current COVID-19 crisis.
Farha Sayed, Benaulim
New law
The Government has to introduce a new law that serves as a deterrent to cruel and inhuman criminal acts. For example, women are not only raped now, but they are brutalized after the act. Adults are raping minors. When babies and toddlers and children are raped by grown ups, such adults have to be shot like dogs after a court trial and after it is proven that they have committed such an act.
Acid attacks and other cruel acts like this that leaves the victim scarred for life should be punished with the death sentence when the cruelty level has exceeded a certain limit. The law has to be such that it discourages cruel and inhuman acts. Acts of Violence and lust that are savage have to be punished in such a manner that faith in the legal system of the country is restored.
Sebastian Joseph, Raia
Tourism, winds of change
In a welcome move Goa’s first tourism masterplan seeks to shift the focus away from beaches, bars, temples and other such to showcasing of it’s heritage, culture and hinterland.
Tourism forms the spine of Goa’s economy and 40% of the denizens directly or indirectly depend on it for their livelihood. The vision document emphasizes on ecological sustainability and environmental conservation as a key driver for tourism projects in future. Enhancement of beach tourism with better public amenities is envisaged while at the same time protection of sand dunes, installation of effluent treatment plants /solid waste management systems for hotels, maintenance of green areas etc. would find an important place in the whole scheme of things.
The typology would veer more towards hinterland, adventure, nature, culture, river, culinary and sports tourism to counter the ‘sun , sea, sand, surf, sin and sex’ image that Goa is identified with. This transformative , ‘quality’ and ‘experiental’ tourism would provide a fillip to the arrival of high end, long stay visitors instead of the riff raff, backpacker crowd which we mostly see today.
While short stay visitors cannot be merely wished away, the state does badly need an image overhaul. River cruises, village and wildlife treks, cuisine and spice plantation explorations , Indo- Portuguese villa trails, birding, wildlife and diving expeditions, island hopping, midnight forest safaris, cave and quarry walks can boost the tourism profile of the state…why, even ‘on demand’ tiatr and fado festivals for the culturally inclined visitors can be pursued.If wisely implemented I believe there would be many takers for authentic Goan ‘experiental’ tourism.
The only jarring note struck by the new masterplan is that the industry stakeholders have not been given enough representation on the board, bureaucrats with their set ways shall still be majorly running the show.
A robust and industry driven body on the lines of Thailand / Malaysia / Singapore tourist promotion boards (and closer home Kerala) based on the PPP model would probably have been a better catalyst for change and help in transforming the tourism landscape of the state for the better.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Green Goa, Clean Goa!
In recent days we read about people from other nations being arrested for growing intoxicating plants (grass, weeds, ganja, marijuana etc) in their apartments and in their backyard in Goa. Perhaps they are taking the literal meaning of the slogan ‘Green Goa, Clean Goa’ and are under the impression that as coconut trees were once declared as ‘grass’ therefore they can too can grow grass in Goa.
It is really a matter of grave concern that foreigners are imprudent and brazen enough to grow and peddle drugs in Goa (and also in other part of India). They know that they can walk out on bail by using various dubious means and persons. Would these foreigners have the guts to carry out similar activities in Singapore, Indonesia or in the Gulf countries? In those countries the punishment for drug dealers and users is quick, harsh and even capital.
In India most of the jails small time criminals who have either been charged or even forgotten to be charged by the cops, are languishing. Hence, the cops and court deem it fit to release the drug dealers on bail and surety. Moreover it is a tedious task for the cops to charge sheet and prove a drug case because big and faceless players rule the roost.
Since a clap needs two hands, hence we cannot blame only the foreigners but even our people who are hand in gloves with such nefarious elements. It is high time that these people are weeded out to protect the society (especially the youngsters) from falling prey to drug peddlers.
Sridhar D’ Iyer, Caranzalem
