Is ` 10 a legal tender?
The ` 10 coin is a legal tender issued by Reserve Bank of India in 2005 and has been in circulation alongside ` 10 note but being a legal tender is not accepted by bus conductors . Bank employees, groceries at railway stations and booking counters and also government officials should show public to obey the rules and regulations. But these persons are becoming law breakers when it comes to accepting Rs 10 coin.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
I am also a victim to these but when I told the shopkeeper that I will file a complaint against him then he accepted the ` 10 coin but the funny part is that the shopkeeper kept the coin and gave me back when I came shopping the next time.
This type of behaviour by public and government officials of not accepting a legal tender should be dealt with firmly.
According to RBI rules, those found not accepting legal form of currencies are liable for punishment under IPC section 34-A (sedition charges). Hence public should be aware if it is shopkeeper, auto drivers, government officials or a normal citizen, those refusing to accept a ` 10 coin are liable for punishment.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Stop making bizarre statements
These days the Goa ministers are making some bizarre statements due to which they become a laughing stock and being our leaders they also humiliate us. Few weeks ago, the art and culture minister suggested that we do away with the system of tenders when building or renovating projects since Shah Jehan built Taj Mahal without inviting tenders and it became a wonder of the world.
Now comes another bizarre statement or call it explanation by the power minister who blamed Narkasur for the billing error of electricity charges where a consumer was billed for Rs 57 lakhs. He said this happened due to fatigue after Diwali festivities and the craze for Narkasur effigies. He could have simply said it was a bonafide error. For heaven’s sake the ministers should stop making such laughable statements.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Psychos are dangerous to society
The killing of Shraddha Walkar, who was strangled to death by her live-in-partner Aaftab Amin Poonawala, in a fit of rage after an argument, is a murder most foul. Aaftab chopped the body into 35 pieces and hid it in his fridge before disposing them in the Chattarpur forest. However, the victim’s head is yet to be traced. We believe Aaftab was in contact with many other women via the Bumble app, and screening the chats could help better understand his psyche.
Psychos like Aaftab are dangerous to society and deserve the most exemplary punishment.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Push for e-tourism in Goa
The Western Ghats physically separates the Deccan highlands from the State of Goa, which is located on the southwest coast of India within the Konkan area. With the Arabian Sea forming its western coast, it is situated between the Indian States of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south. By both size and population, it is the fourth-smallest State in India. As we know that most people prefer to come to Goa for tourism, there is a need for a tourism which does not involve higher expenses and supports the use of no gaseous and hazardous fuels.
Electric Tourism or eTourism should be provided through introduction of 100% electric vehicles for sightseeing such as electric buses as this would involve less operating costs and also provision of subsidies.
Saving money and lowering fuel consumption are always the two complementary goals of a nation. Therefore let us keep our State Goa clean and pollution-free.
Leander Chris D’Souza, Candolim
Illegal hill cutting a new menace
In regards to the issue of illegal hill and land cutting for Anjuna nightclub, it appears that unidentified wrongdoers have been taking advantage of the diverted attention of both the authorities and the public — leading to a dangerous situation not just for citizens but also the environment at large. Such illegal activities damaging hills around the city/town seem to be flourishing by damaging the environment. Since this is illegal, action should be taken against offenders as per provisions of the law.
The callous act or razing hills and land is illegal and threat to environment and biodiversity and increases the risk of hill slides during the rains. Nobody has the right to cut hills without the permission of the concerned authority.
In general the government’s policy sounds pro-environment and pro-people, but adversity arises when the question of implementing environmental laws come as vested quarters often interfere. Development needs to be sustainable and it should not be at the cost of nature.
Interestingly, it was in 2011 that the Western Ghats ecology experts’ panel, chaired by environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, had set alarm bells ringing over massive hill cutting in the certain places, while warning of manmade disasters. However, the Centre and State governments concerned continue to dodge the Gadgil Committee report for almost a decade.
KG Vilop, Chorao
White paper wanted on Mega Job Fair
Why has the State government still not bothered to publish a white paper of the recently held Mega Job Fair in Goa?
The Pramod Sawant-led BJP government had organised a huge ‘Mega Job Fair’ at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao from November 8 to 9, 2022 to excite a few Goans after creating a lot of undue hype by installing thousands of posters every few. These were publicized at the same event to woo all the gullible unemployed youth from different parts of the State with the tall promise of offering them with some 4,000 instant guaranteed jobs from 120 private sector companies through direct selections/recruitments at the said venue in Goa.
Unfortunately, no one really knows how many of these youngsters were finally selected by those listed 120 private sector companies. The government too has still not bothered to publish a white paper till date even after holding an event of such a huge magnitude in Goa.
Well, as per my knowledge, the owners (most of whom are non-Goans) of almost all the private sector companies in the State are historically known for recruiting non-Goans. And the reason behind this is not because Goans are less educated but because these owners habitually love making huge profits for themselves.
I personally feel that the government should take a serious note of the above mentioned fact. The government should take a strict action against the owners of private sector companies for indulging in such common anti-Goan malpractices.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Youngsters must be counselled tactfully
This is with regards to the article titled ‘Women Protest in front of kiosk selling tobacco’ Herald dated November 15. Smoking usually begins under peer pressure and sometimes a youngster may even hide from his parents and smoke on the quiet. Such youngsters must be counselled tactfully.
We observe growing number of youngsters purchasing alcohol and sitting besides their expensive motorcycles parked along the roadsides, drinking beer and chucking empties and sometimes also smashing their empty bottles into the adjoining fields adding to the woes of the farmers.
Allwyn N D’Souza, Saligao
Justice to the convicts?
Our late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s murderers have been released by Honourable Court in Tamil Nadu. They served 30 yrs imprisonment and because of their good conduct and behaviour they were released.
Our late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was brutally assassinated and many people also were killed. They are not murderers they are mass murderers. Is this justice to free the convicts? What is really happening to our law and order? Baba Ram Rahim, the rapist, is on parole and organising satsang for his bhakts.
And third not to forget the Bilkis Bano rape case where all the rapists were freed.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
*********************************************
Letter to the Editor
The Supreme Court’s intervention a few days ago on ‘forced religious conversions’ is timely as some fringe Hindutva outfits have long been using this bogey to harass the minority communities in India. While the Indian constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion, it does not explicitly mention the right to conversion. The notion that freedom of religion in India does not contain the freedom to religious conversion seems absurd and illogical. One certainly has the right to religious conversion, provided there are no elements of fraud, coercion and allurement. The conversion is the indicative of collective resentment and the insecurity on the part of the Hindutva groups at the perceived injustice and rejection of Hindu faith by the converts. The reality, however, is that the minority communities do not pose any threat to the demographic and philosophical might of Hinduism. But the political ideology of Hindutva leverages this paranoia for electoral gains.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Sick mind behind slashing
It is a great sin to have a live-in relationship with a stranger. The Mumbai girl suffered a death by murder in Delhi without knowing the motive behind her lover. She could not have a semblance of doubt over her lover and succumbed to the death in a most cruel method. In a harrowing tale of betrayal, the suspect, believed to be a chef, evaded detection for six months, and continued to live in the house he shared with his girlfriend. A resultant quarrel led to the murder. Instead of becoming his lady lover, she was cut into 35 pieces as the chef used his cooking experience with his knife in a different way. A live-in relationship also called cohabitation in some countries is an arrangement when two people involved in a romantic and sexual relationship as partners for a long term or permanently, decide to live together without marriage. Live-in-relationship cannot be at the cost of the social fabric of this country. Sick mind is the cause for such silly and sickening murders.
M.R. Jayanthy, New Delhi
****
Letter to the Editor
Since poverty is not the “sole preserve” of specific castes tribes class and being creamy not the monopoly of others; so extension of reservation for the economically-weaker section of citizens other than the Scheduled castes, Scheduled Tribes and the non-creamy layer of the Other Backward Classes is fair enough.
However had the concerned authorities, be it in Centre or states, been indeed serious in ensuring welfare for all Indians; then it should have ensured the provision of reservation for one and only the financially downtrodden section of the society irrespective of their demographic background (and of course with due regard to the quality and efficiency of the candidates to be admitted/recruited through such quota).
But in this country of “We are all Indians”; not compassionate attitude towards the poor or downtrodden — but one and only all things religion race language caste sub-caste tribe sell like hot cake!
And thanks to such laggard divisive mindset; with each passing day, India is getting fragmented psychologically on the lines of various demographic hues making a mockery of the so-called unity of the country or Indian ethos!
Thus it hardly arrives as a surprise that instead of ensuring welfare and upliftment of all Indians, various parties and Governments are acting as messiah of selected demographic groups only by zealously immersing in cheap parochial quota politics relegating all norms of eligibility merit neutrality and national interests to oblivion.
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkatta
Can one sustain “Moral Values” in today’s political world?
In my personal, work and practical life experiences, I would say “Yes and No” to be fair in regards to keeping up moral values and maintaining ethics. It is not easy as we do fluctuate like the climate changed weather, where one can expect thunder storm and rain during winter or summer, with monsoon season has no meaning. Today’s Moral values are not obedient to set the of rules or laws or a sense of duty towards love, truth, service or even fear of God being religious, as long as one serve in diplomacy – none care as most take one for granted with short-term approach with little moral value or gratitude of your loyalty towards them. At times we do believe in moral values or morality, but we are confused with authoritarianism or some theocratic dictatorship to the core. Remember – today – friends, families, love one’s, are all forced to divide with different views, opinions or beliefs, even to their own blood as they don’t communicate openly or at times hold some part of communication as the trust of confidentiality is buried alive. Some lack morals values or Ethics as they live in a bubble of emotional intelligence or in their own selfish world — with no empathy having political manipulative mind. Today, morals are “relative” so one can basically twist around to suit them and do whatever benefits them. Although, there are those who have not surrendered their moral values, ethics and they are the one who sleep peacefully with clear conscience at heart and live happy and decent life, not caring for those who have given up the moral values for personal gains. On the flip side, it is, at times tough to cope up with such unmatched people in terms of thoughts, deeds and behavior as it is hard to make an accurate judgment to distance them, but we are forced to work with them, live in the same society or even as member of the family, unfortunately. Trust me, I know, there are few super heroes, who will live a beautiful life sustaining their Morality!
Let’s conclude with famous quotes: “Living your life in tune with your moral values and ethics defines integrity. Those who are fundamentally honest do not need any code of ethics and are aware that principles are only good when they generate acts” – keep up, results maybe slow but really blessed and good!
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
