Politicians need basic qualifications & training
In every country every trade, plumber, electrician etc needs a basic qualification/training from an accredited institute. Apart from this they also require a license or permission to provide the services. Engineers, doctors, and lawyers also need a license and membership with their respective councils. The smallest businessmen need various licenses to operate, and every industry which serves the public needs a licence & approvals. The license is in addition to the respective qualification that guarantees that the respective person is qualified & trained to carry out the job, and as an individual, he can be sued for any major failures.
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Whereas a politician does not require a basic qualification nor a license, no basic classroom study, no examination, no textbooks required but they form a superior class to make laws and they are even empowered to override court judgements through ordinances. They become the rulers even of the educated class who have to accept the blame game for wrongdoings of politicians. As the world is changing with new technologies there should be an amendment to the respective law to ascertain basic qualifications and training for politicians so better sense prevails and they serve the public better, because corruption has reached the highest levels. Bridges are deteriorating, water plants are collapsing within a year, Smart Cities woes are never-ending, the under restoration kala academy open air auditorium stage roof collapses and the list goes on.
James Moraes, Cuncolim
Art & Culture minister should resign
The late Charles Correa would certainly be turning in his grave. Who would have imagined that the roof of the stage of the open air auditorium of the iconic structure like the Kala Academy, one of Goa’s cultural hubs, that he designed would collapse? While the chief secretary has ordered an investigation into this unfortunate incident, the findings should be made public, and the people responsible brought to book. The minister under whose department the academy comes, should tender a public apology which he owes to the various artistes who teach here, students and the public at large. In fact, this is not the time for blame games and lame excuses. He should actually resign out of sheer decency.
The structure should now be repaired after an open and transparent tender is floated, and the ones responsible for this fiasco should be barred and made to pay the damages to KA. The government claims to be transparent in all its dealings, whether or not they have to do with Art & culture or any other sphere be in municipal services, roads (Panjim itself is struggling with bad infrastructure). It’s time for the government and its departments to keep this promise that they have made and put its money where its mouth is. The citizens of Goa deserve no less.
Brian de Souza, Margao
What went wrong?
There has been so much hue and cry in the media on the collapse of the stage roof of Kala Academy’s open air auditorium, but no politician in power is taking the blame. They are only pointing fingers at others. The only reaction that has come in the right direction is from the MLA of Aldona Constituency who rightly said: nothing will happen, no inquiry can be completed in a day, the govt is only fooling and playing with time. Yes, but those who are badly affected are the performing artists who used to perform there and earn their living.
It is a huge task now, involving so many other activities to put the auditorium back in usable condition in place and waiting time period will be long. What comes to mind is, was the renovation of the stage roof really required or was it some fantasy of the Art/Culture Minister Govind Gaude to have his Gawde-Jahan to perpetrate his memory? But it all came crushing down before its inaugural ceremony. Whose money has been already wasted in crores and who should answer and bear the responsibility? But the cry of the audience who used to go there for some entertainment and more so of affected artists is: how long should they wait for the fallen stage to be repaired? Yes, how long for the commission game to end as well?
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo.
Balrath strike & safety of school children
A shocking video, that went viral on social media, shows children of a Margao-based school, travelling dangerously in a goods carrier. Some children were seen hanging precariously from a rod attached to the back of the carrier rickshaw. This has raised several questions pertaining to the safety of students while going to school and returning home. The goods carrier rickshaw owner needs to be booked for putting the lives of the school children in peril.
It is learnt that the failure of the government to settle the demands of the striking Balrath employees has compelled the students to travel dangerously and put their lives at risk. These children coming from poor families find it difficult to reach school in time and return home due to the Balrath staff strike. Hence they resort to travelling by any possible conveyance option available. The government has reportedly increased the salaries of the drivers and attendants but the employees have refused to accept the new salaries. The issue of the Balrath employees needs to be resolved as the lives of the school children could be at risk.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Balrath issue: Find concrete solution
After the strike declared by the staff of Balrath seva, the buses are on vacation . The strike called by the drivers and attendants is to demand increase in the pay and pay full 12 months’ salary. The government in its reply during the Monsoon Session of Assembly agreed to revise their pay with 5% hike annually and salary revised to Rs 20,000 for drivers and Rs 14,500 for bus attendants. The staff should have called the strike during the vacation so that government had enough time to study the package and decide upon the demands and act accordingly. The sudden strike has put children in trouble and they had to travel in public carriers, etc. Government should come out with concrete solution to continue the service of Balrath to school-going children.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
