Encouraging youth by politicians
In recent days there are advises doled out by MLAs and Ministers in Goa that Goan youth need to take up horticulture, agriculture, floriculture, start a business and try to be independent.
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On the face of it, these suggestions are good as these could help Goa to become self-sufficient to a large extent and help the economy.
In general, Indian politicians encourage that others children study in mother-tongue while their own children would be in English medium or exorbitantly priced boarding schools. They would wax eloquent about avoiding brain-drain from India and the need to get back brilliant Indians settled abroad through reverse brain-drain. But they prefer to send their children to study abroad.
Why the politicians do not give their advice to their children and relatives? The politicians shout hoarse about jobs for sons and daughters of the soil and insist on domicile or residence certificates. Ironically their children would be working in other States of India or even abroad (sometimes as 2nd class citizen) without such requirements.
As they say, ‘Charity begins at home,’ similarly the advices that are either given out of good faith or spur of the moment or as elections gimmicks need to be followed by the well-intentioned politicians. The advice givers need to remember that what is ‘sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander!’
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Mapping of sand dunes in Goa
Dr Antonio Mascarenhas in his article ‘Goa CZMP 2021 (draft): sand dune fields R.I.P’ (Herald, February 17) says, that if the 2021 draft is implemented, we will see a complete elimination of the sandy coast of Goa, the sand dunes in particular.
The sand dune belts of Goa were researched by NIO scientists in the 1980s and mapped in detail by them. In the present CZMP 2021, the entire coast of Salcette, from Cansaulim to Mobor, that has majestic sand dunes have been shown in patches and in the case of Sernabatim-Colva these features are not mapped at all! Further, the beaches of Miramar, Patnem, Palolem and Rajbag have all been classified as CRZ II.
It would appear that mapping of sand dunes of Goa has been done by novices rather than expert coastal scientists. The reality is that many people have been travelling from Goa to Chennai in the past year and the officers preparing the CZMP may have fallen prey to vested interests. This highly deficient plan is a fraud on the people and must be corrected urgently.
Jennifer Viegas, Navelim
Anti-vaxxers queering the pitch
Despite the government’s earnest attempts to vaccinate the state population some anti-vax vested interest groups are queering the pitch.
Though @ 18,000 healthcare workers had registered themselves on the Co-win portal only @ 10, 500 have actually taken the jab. Similar is the situation with frontline workers where only @3700 turned up though @ 16,000 had empanelled themselves. There are doubts, some justified and some unjustified about the vaccine in the medical fraternity as also the general populace.
Politicians, bureaucrats and doctors are exhorting HCWs to get vaccinated though they themselves are reluctant for the same. Secondly one of the two vaccines approved for emergency use by the GoI has yet to clear phase 3 clinical trials but is being thrust upon the public to advance this notion of ‘atmanirbharta’, there is no informed choice available to the aam janta. Thirdly, fear of adverse side effects including death (reported in a few countries) has been amplified by anti vax lobbies which has spooked even healthcare personnel.
It is ironic that people are not exhibiting Covid appropriate behaviour yet are apprehensive of the vaccine. Many people who had taken the first shot have not come back for the second dose which defeats the very purpose of the vax drive as there is almost zero immunity provided by the initial dose ; studies have shown that for a vaccination programme to succeed atleast 75% of the population need to be inoculated.
Anti-vaxxer’s propaganda needs to be effectively countered by the government by reaching out to people and forcefully putting out the message that the whole state will benefit only if people compulsorily get vaccinated. Also the state would do well to publish photos of politicians, bureaucrats, doctors and other eminent personalities taking the jab, as is being done by some nations, this would go a long way in instilling confidence amongst a confused /fearful public.
They say charity begins at home, Hon’ble CM and his cabinet should take the jab publicly, this would encourage others to follow suit.
Vinay Dwivedi,
Benaulim
Leaders of Indian origin make a mark
It is learnt that more than 200 Indian origin persons occupy leadership positions in as many as 15 countries including the United States and United Kingdom.
According to the ‘2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List’ released on Monday, 200 leaders of Indian origin have ascended to the highest echelons of public service in 15 countries across the globe, with more than 60 of these leaders holding cabinet positions. These government leaders of Indian heritage have made an immense contribution towards the country they now represent. It only goes to prove that Indians are among the best in the world when it comes to possessing leadership qualities.
The icing on the cake is of course Kamala Harris being appointed as the first woman Vice President of one of the most powerful countries in the world, the US. It is a matter of huge pride for Indians and these leaders are building a legacy for future generations so that more and more persons of Indian origin occupy important positions in other countries across the globe.
These leaders who have now settled in foreign countries should be proud of the Indian heritage and should not forget their country of origin, many of whom have migrated for educational opportunities or are of subsequent generations. These leaders of Indian origin are making the country of their choice a better place to live in.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
For criminals bail, for others jail
Why are the likes of notorious criminal ‘Tiger ‘with 25 criminal cases free on the streets and people like Disha Ravi, Fr Stan Rao Siddique Kappan, Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde and others in jail?
While criminals roam free, activists, writers, poets, students, journalists and comedians are in jail. How is it bail and not jail for criminals? The answer lies in the ‘crime’. The likes of Anwar commit crimes against the citizens and it is not the priority of government to protect the citizens. These criminals never criticize the government. They in fact are supporters of the government. During elections their muscle power is in demand.
The activists, writers, students biggest crime is showing the mirror to the powers that be. They are not against the country but the government in power. The government has no use for them.
The difference between criminals and activist writers etc. is that in New India it is a crime to criticize the government. Criticizing the government is not the same as criticizing the country. In the case of writers, poets ,student it is the case of show me the man and I will manufacture the crime.
D C Dias, Taleigao
