Congratulations to the farmers
Congratulations to all the farmers who fought relentlessly against the Narendra Modi Government’s unjust farm laws. The farm laws have not been repealed because Narendra Modi loves the farmers but because he is afraid of losing his khursi.
So this is a good lesson for the Goa BJP Government and all the activist that all the laws passed by the Government are all not for the welfare of the people and if we dig in our heels like the farmers we will succeed in protecting our land and environment.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Free pilgrimage scheme
This is in reference to Vibha Verma’s piece titled “Govt’s free pilgrimage service already at people’s disposal…” (Herald, Nov 19).
This piece has successfully demonstrated that offering free pilgrimage service ahead of elections is a norm rather than an exception. The political parties irrespective of their ideologies have used the card of free pilgrimage services to woo the voters. The implementation of this free pilgrimage service on the ground is successful or not is another subject altogether. Having said this, some leaders are smart enough to make a larger-than-life announcement of this free pilgrimage service by stoking the passions of the gullible voters. Whereas some leaders downplay this scheme yet include it as a me-too-phenomenon to stay in the competition.
We get the leaders we deserve. The voter must stand up to such hollow pre-poll announcements and give a message in no uncertain terms that burning issues like electricity, road and water must get top priority. Other manufactured issues with an eye on the popular vote can wait.
I pray that sanity prevails in 2022 when Goa delivers its mandate. Leaders will then think twice before suffering from the foot in the mouth disease.
Gafaar Shaqoor, Margao
Professional hunters to kill wild boars
It is learnt that the Goa government has allowed culling of the wild boar amid repeated complaints by farmers whose farms and crops have been ravaged by species. It is pertinent to note that the wild boar is protected under the Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). The Wildlife Protection Act protects all kinds of animals from amphibians to birds, mammals, and reptiles under Section 2(1). The definition is exhaustive and can accommodate a variety of animals within the scope of protection. However the permission to kill wild boars could be misinterpreted by the hunting enthusiasts. It is pertinent to note that the order comes with a number of riders. It is a well known fact that wild boar meat is a delicacy which is served in several restaurants in the state. Culling is initiated after a panchama is carried out in order to ascertain the destruction caused by the species. More importantly, the carcass would then be designated as government property and cannot be consumed or sold commercially.
Hence hunting of the wild boar will be only in exceptional cases and not for consumption of its meat. This fact needs to be stressed upon as many may be under the impression that they now have the permission to hunt the species for its meat.
In order to do away with the confusion, it would be desirable for the authorities concerned to appoint professional hunters to kill the species after ascertaining the complaint of the farmers as regards the widespread destruction of the crops.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Ordinance route
The central government’s decision to extend the tenure of the heads of the CBI and ED through Ordinance route goes against a recent Supreme Court decision and past judgements of the court. The Supreme Court has in the past specifically said that the power to issue ordinances should be used only in extraordinary situations. And such extensions should be done only in rare and exceptional cases and only for a short period.
Recently the government promulgated ordinances giving itself the power to extend the tenure of the heads of the two agencies to a maximum of five years from the current two years. Moreover the government’s decision is in violation of the spirit of the Vineet Narain case judgement in which the SC prescribed a minimum tenure of two years for the Directors of the CBI and ED.
The government’s decision seems specifically intended to serve political ends only. This will undermine the idea of autonomy for these organizations. The central agencies have been regularly used for targeting the government’s political opponents and critics. These ordinance is unconstitutional and these are outrageous exercises in showmanship and blackmail. The power to promulgate ordinances is truly a relic of the British Raj and has existed since 1861.
Our Constitution is based on the principle of separation of powers and the legislature’s primary task is to make laws for good governance.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Two sides to a story
In a radical move the state government has permitted site specific culling of wild boars in private cultivated land after assessment and authorization by the forest department. As a rider the laws state that the carcass of the culled boar shall be government property lest people misuse the ordinance for boar hunting. By this measure hopefully Goan farmers shall be able to minimize crop losses on account of animals. No permission shall be granted for hunting of wild pigs in protected areas or designated forests, moreover juveniles and squeakers shall be excluded from the ambit of this act ; any breach shall invite penal action.
The government ‘s move has expectedly ruffled the feathers of wildlife and animal rights activists who claim that this legislation shall lead to extermination of the species, they suggest that farmers should protect their crops by fencing and resorting to measures like bursting crackers to scare away vermin.
On the flip side the state should also enact laws to reverse environmentally destructive activities viz large scale mining, massive infrastructure buildup, highways, transmission lines, railway tracks, real estate projects and institutional activities in fragile forest ecosystems, green zones, plateaus and other such areas. The man-animal conflict occurring due to humungous loss of forest cover is what leads boars and other wild animals towards human habitation and agricultural fields in search of food and water.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
World Children’s Day
Children’s Day is a day observed all over the world (though on different dates) to remind us about children’s right to enjoy their childhood without any boundaries and to become educated well-developed adults in the future.
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 and is celebrated on November 20 every year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide. November 20 is an important date, as it is the date in the year 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Parents, teachers, nurses and doctors and civil society activists, religious and community elders, corporate moguls and media professionals etc can play an important part in making World Children’s Day relevant for their societies, communities and nations.
World Children’s Day offers each one of us an inspirational entry point to advocate, promote and to celebrate children’s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
