Vaccination effect in US
According to reports many are affected with vaccination of Covid-19 in US. As per reports many have suffered side effects of vaccine and have died due to heart attack, stroke and other diseases.
The main side effect is in blood and produces substance which leads to ailments with severe effect. In India too we have after effects of vaccine but no one has yet given formal complaint not expressed any side effects. Many have suffered heart attack, strokes and other ailments which were not before.
It’s time for research and investigations and study post vaccination effect on human body especially middle aged and old age people. WHO should come out with study on post Covid-19 vaccination and booster dose given and it’s after side effects on citizens. This will help to prevent side effects on people which will be more serious concern then the Covid-19 virus itself.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Increase in the price of beer
The Goa government has reportedly hiked the excise duty on beer by Rs 10-12 per bulk litre while leaving the excise duty on hard liquor unchanged. Foreign liquor across north Indian States is cheaper than in Goa. The hike in the excise duty on beer will now further narrow the price gap. While entry-level beer attracted Rs 30 per bulk litre, the excise duty has now been enhanced to Rs 42 per bulk litre.
In the premium segment, strong beer with more than 5% alcohol content and where the retail price exceeds Rs 160 per bottle, a duty of Rs 60 per bulk litre has been imposed, as against Rs 50 per bulk litre earlier. The move will add further woes to the liquor industry, which has already pointed out that alcohol prices in the State are no longer the lowest in the country.
One of the most popular tourism destinations in the country, Goa is known for its liberal liquor regime, where alcohol is taxed less than other states, especially neighbouring states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. It must be said that beer is a mild alcoholic drink, many-a-time referred to as a “lady’s drink”. With the increase in the price of beer, people will now go for hard drinks which can lead to health issues and drunk driving.
It would have been prudent to increase the excise duty on hard liquor. At wedding receptions beer may not be served due to the cost factor. The increase in the price of beer will also have a negative impact on tourism.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The RTI Act needs a booster
We have just observed another RTI day. The Right to Information Act came into force on October 12, 2005 enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in governance. But the manner in which the government has been subtly subverting this law is a matter of concern while the bigger challenge has been to ensure its implementation.
A well informed citizenry, transparency, and free flow of information are the very foundations of any successful democratic society. India may be publicly acclaimed as the world’s largest democracy but the ground reality is that we are now ebbing away as Democracy and non-transparency in the functioning of the Government cannot co-exist.
Under Section 4 of the RTI Act all public authorities are duty bound to regularly display on their website a wide range of information, including all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect the public. This proviso in the law was enacted to reduce the need for filing individual RTI applications. But this mandatory duty has been flouted by the authorities with most government websites themselves dysfunctional or not updated.
We need to battle it out and cannot allow the RTI Act to be choked by the government to a slow death. Steps need to be taken to strengthen the transparency regime that was sought to be established as envisaged by this Act. Effective implementation of the RTI Act requires political commitment from the very top.
Governance by cloak of secrecy and opaqueness needs to be strongly resisted. It cannot be a hush-hush regime. We need to dismantle those walls of secrecy that continue to hound transparency and good governance.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
India-UK free trade deal, collapsing?
The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) is reportedly on the “verge of collapse” after the Indian government was angered by comments made by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman questioning action over visa overstayers from the country. This is sweet music to Indian ears. We should be guarded and careful with UK and its deal offers for sure after three centuries of deceit and loot.
Lakhs of British citizens are leaving the country and settling in Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, the research published by Columbia University Press shows that during the period from 1765 to 1938, Britain looted USD 45 trillion from the Kohinoor Crown India. This research has been flashed out in many international media.
CR Krishnan, Coimbatore
We need more Periyars
While standing bewildered learning of the gruesome human sacrifices made to propitiate deities to get prosperity and the murderers eating human flesh as a ritual, one is only reminded of Periyar EVR who sacrificed his whole life preaching against such superstitious beliefs and practices of the gullible, triggered by religious fanatics.
If such a gory incident has happened in a State like Kerala said to have attained 100% literacy, I dread to think of the people of the other States. At this juncture, one is also reminded of the so called ‘sadhus’ in places like Kashi who are allowed to roam around freely and remain intoxicated.
Under the circumstances, one strongly feels the absence of a great reformist like Periyar now. What a difference his presence would have made today to ward off the evil designs of those who cheat people in the name of religion.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Domestic work is undervalued
Domestic work in India remains one of the most undervalued and least regulated forms of employment. Without clear terms of reference and unregulated payment structures, domestic helps are among the most vulnerable groups of workers in our country.
Due to a very unbalanced employer-employee relation, domestic workers experience poor recognition and a high degree of exposure to isolation and violence. Affected by the frequent lockdowns in the last two years, they were left to fight not only the Covid-19 pandemic, but class discrimination also, as they were gibed as potential carriers of the virus. Exploitation of these workers continues and the law is still not equipped to deal with the specific problems.
There is a need for specific legislation on the subject as well as greater debate on the issue. Only then can we expect better inclusion of these workers into the ‘economy’ and assure dispensation of justice for this class of workers.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Holiday in Goa
I do hope all the hotels and businesses who rely on UK tourists fully appreciate just how many hoops and hurdles we have to negotiate in order to get a visa so we can come enjoy the excellent weather and hospitality we get in Goa.
The Indian Government seems determined to turn the journey for visa applications into an everlasting race. As soon as you see the finishing line just ahead the lights go out and mysteriously when they come back on there are another two laps of the hoops and hurdles to negotiate before you can get one.
Dranreb Aclos, UK
