Restart mining activities
Our economy has come to a standstill and is crippled in the last few months due to the corona pandemic. Several families are shattered due to loss of jobs. With the ever-rising prices of essential commodities, one finds it difficult to manage the daily expenditure for a reasonable living with no jobs at hand. Even those who have managed to secure their jobs need to think twice even before they purchase something besides their essential requirements, as we never know what is in store for us in the next few months. The fear of job uncertainty looms large on the heads of many.
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The lives of several families who are dependent on mining activities have been shattered as they are unable to meet the daily expenses. Besides, due to the present pandemic, they are unable to try their hands even in other sources of livelihood such as tourism or any other business sector. We earnestly appeal for immediate resumption of mining activities in the state as it would boost the revival of state economy and protect livelihoods of mining dependents. The COVID pandemic has inflicted a deep wound on the mining affected families. Resumption of mining activities would be like a balm to heal their wounds to some extent.
Franco Sequeira, Bicholim
Oppn is essence of democracy
In olden times, human beings began to get organised for the greater
security and welfare of the society at large. They began by entrusting their fate to a most powerful family among them and gradually this family
became royal family with a king with absolute powers.
Then royalty gave way to democratic form of government in which people elected their representatives and these elected members began collectively to rule the nation. Gradually it dawned upon people that these elected members started behaving like an exclusive cabal with unlimited political powers.. So people encouraged others to form opposition group which would take over the reins of the government when the need arose. Hence it can be said that in a democratic form of government , the opposition is the essence of the democracy itself. Democratically elected governments that cannot tolerate the existence of opposition groups, cannot respectfully wear the democratic garbs and are termed as fascists.
Let opposition exist and give them a decent political space to operate for the greater good of a nation.
A C Menezes, Chinchinim
Lockdowns at short notice
In an attempt to halt the inexorable march of the coronavirus pandemic in Goa, the state government decided to impose complete lockdown in the state over the weekend. However it must be said that a lockdown that is announced at short notice can be counter-productive. This was witnessed when a country-wide lockdown was announced for the first time at short notice leading to unrest among the migrants who wanted to go to their native places. These migrants crowded the railway stations and bus-stops which may have led to the spike in the number of positive cases the country is experiencing now.
In Goa the announcement of a three-day lockdown has triggered panic buying in markets across the state. Large crowds were seen at the market place even when it was announced that the shops dealing in essential items will remain open. This made social distancing almost impossible. There is every possibility of transmission of the virus in the crowded marketplaces since Goa is now in the community transmission stage. This can defeat the main purpose of announcing a three-day lockdown.
Ideally a lockdown should have been announced in Vasco when the first cases were detected at Mangor Hill. This would have stopped the spread of the infection to other parts of the state. Prompt decisions by the authorities are necessary in order to keep one step ahead of the virus.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Youth power
The youth of the State of Goa should galvanise in a massive show of strength to protest against the destruction of the Western Ghats, especially the decimation of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wild Life Sanctuary and the National Park at Mollem where the government is trying to destroy prime green cover for the purpose of 3 projects such as the doubling of existing railway line from Kulem to Margao, laying of power transmission line and four laning of the existing National Highway 4A, in the bargain causing the loss of 185 hectares of prime forest land and felling of 55,000 trees which are the lungs of the Western Ghats and the area is home to a huge number of plant species, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and fungi among other species.
Not only should they protest by way of awareness but should wear protest badges and increase the quantum of resistance to the destruction of Goa’s environment. Student and youth power should relentlessly struggle by adopting means that will force the government, both at the Centre as well as the State and the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change from dropping their evil designs of destroying prime forest lands in Goa. The sheer number of students and youth can definitely triumph by organizing themselves and employ novel means of protests all over the campus and outside the campus. If the youth power is harnessed powerfully, their struggle will be able of protect Goa’s forests, especially the Western Ghats which is a heaven on earth that Goa as one of the major bio-diversity places if the world has been endowed with.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Beds for Covid patients
The Directorate of Health Services has issued an order to private hospitals with ICU to reserve 20% of all beds for Covid patients. If they do not comply with the order their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
In Mumbai, because of the huge amount of cases the govt has empowered the local authorities to requisition up to 80% of the beds in private hospitals, for Covid patients. Goa can learn from some of the mistakes committed in Mumbai.
One: The private hospitals must not be permitted to admit covid patients directly. Some private hospitals conduct tests and admit patients with even with mild symptoms, thus occupying much needed ICU beds. Hence private hospitals must be permitted to admit only cases recommended by the govt.
Two: A cap on maximum amount payable for 14 days’ treatment must be imposed. In Mumbai such a cap exists, but only on paper. Several hospitals are fleecing the patients. Govt must ensure that the maximum charges are not exceeded.
Three: While routine surgeries may be postponed, urgent surgeries must not be delayed. Besides, cancer treatment, dialysis patients, pregnant women must not suffer as in Mumbai, where most of the beds are taken by Covid patients.
Robert Castellino, Mumbai/ Calangute
Good move by Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has done well to launch disqualification proceedings against rebel leader Sachin Pilot and the latter’s coterie of MLAs. The CM also claimed that he had proof of Pilot hobnobbing with the BJP. Pilot was in the news for hijacking the government and skipping two back-to-back Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meetings.
Though Pilot has denied any truck with the BJP and declared he would not join the saffron party, his credibility has taken a significant beating.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
