Putin’s misadventure in Ukraine
Putin in the Ukraine war has unintentionally, one would assume, exposed the vulnerabilities of the Russian military apparatus. The latest withdrawal from the Kherson area emphasises this. It is not only just that but there have been reports that the Russian army has been running out of ammunition and supplies have been coming in from even North Korea via the Gulf.
The continuing war will thus end up not serving Russia’s interests and in the event of a military confrontation with the West in the future it will have to deal with a more aggressive NATO and the US. The West, have in the battlegrounds around the world in modern times like in Afghanistan and Iraq, have used these conflicts to test their latest armaments and weapons and thus improve their military capabilities.
In contrast Putin in Ukraine has exposed to his enemies the flaws that are existing in the supposed might of an armed Russia. Thus it would leave Russia as a doddering old man wagging its atomic weapons as a last resort. In Putin’s misadventure in Ukraine has been laid the ground of Russia’s demise as an influential member of the world polity.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
Human population large for planet Earth
On November 15, 2022 the global population has raced past the 8-billion mark. This suggests that India is on course to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by next year.
While it is a concern that eight billion humans are too many for planet earth, experts say the bigger issue is the over-consumption of resources by the affluent people. Reaching the milestone mark of the world population is both a cause for celebration and a caution for humanity to find solutions to the challenges that humankind faces. The challenges before humanity are critical: generation-defining issues such as, climate change, conflict and Covid-19 pandemic that have extremely affected the most marginalised and vulnerable sections of world society.
Humanity holds the key to unleashing the unlimited potential of people around the world to address these challenges and the global problems threatening us all.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Action on unhygienic places appreciated
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is reported to have inspected some restaurants and bakeries in Salcete and ordered closure of two restaurants and one bakery in Margao which were operating in unhygienic conditions. This action is very much appreciated since many a time they are given nominal fines.
Some food manufacturing units and restaurants don’t maintain proper hygiene and sanitation and they ignore the mandatory norms. They don’t seem to have any fear of the authorities since usually when they default, they receive minor penalties. Further, they show no concern for the health of the consumers. Their sole aim is to make more profit.
In this situation, more frequent inspections and severe punishment by the FDA is the only way to discipline the defaulting business units. Therefore, the FDA should conduct such inspections periodically and impose heavy and exemplary punishment. If necessary, it should ask the Government to sanction more inspection staff which would be justified in the interest of health and safety of the consumers.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Activating staff selection commission an eyewash?
The decision to activate the Goa Staff Selection Commission which has been defunct from its very inception is a step in the right direction and about time too. But it needs to be ensured that Ministers and MLAs should have no role whatsoever directly or indirectly in the recruitment which should be done through a very transparent and meticulous process. It should be done with merit being the sole guiding criteria in the selection of every government employee to any post. Integrity would also be a very desirable and necessary attribute if people are to have trust in the system and those serving them, something increasingly lacking of late!
As almost the entire senior bureaucracy is bowing and bending to the political bosses, it would be appropriate for this Commission to be headed by a retired High Court Judge to ensure that there is no political interference and manipulation in the selection of staff. Integrity of the selectors and transparency in the process must always be beyond question and doubt.
After the BJP in Goa came to power in 2012, we have seen thousands being brazenly recruited into government service with merit thrown to the winds. All this is reflecting today in the pathetic functioning of the government offices with very incompetent staff having managed to creep in by paying for their jobs or blessings of their political god fathers.
If we are to attract and retain high calibre quality staff and reap the benefits of a successful recruitment process, then it is imperative that we select staff based on merit and integrity and not on any political or financial inducements or any other bias.
The late Nelson Mandela placed great emphasis on these selection criteria with his famous quote ‘My respect for human beings is based not on the colour of a man’s skin nor authority he may wield, but purely on merit’.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Mobile app to prevent spread of malaria
In order to achieve zero malaria cases in Goa, it is learnt that a special mobile application will be developed that would track the movement of migrant labourers within Goa and record their health condition for early medical intervention and prevention of spread of malaria disease (Herald – November, 17).
The migrant labourers could get infected at their native places and carry the infection back to Goa. It must be said that these labourers may not just carry the infection from their native place but could also get infected in Goa itself.
Construction sites are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes which make the migrants transmitter of the infection. Earlier, the incidents of malaria were high during the monsoon but now the prevalence of the disease is a year round feature.
Even the State government, by amending the Goa Public Health Act in March 1996, had declared malaria as a notifiable disease. It is a problem that to a very great extent is man-made. It is pertinent to note that besides the construction sites there are hundreds of migrant labourers working at the fishing jetties as well.
Given the sheer number of migrants entering the State every single day, it would be next to impossible to keep a track of them. However, with such an app to prevent malaria, the possibility of the infection being spread could come down drastically.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Doctors let off for gross negligence
A blunder by surgeons at the Government Peripheral Hospital in Periyar Nagar in Chennai has snuffed out the life of a teen footballer. Priya, a BSc student, underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in her right knee. But, the doctors botched up the procedure by not tying the band properly, leading to blood circulation complications. As a result, her right leg had to be amputated. It is incredulous that the doctors have got away with just a suspension for their gross negligence.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
