Tilak Maidan for Vascoites
Tilak Maidan happens to be the only football ground in Vasco. The playing field and the stadium was recently spruced up in order to organise several matches of the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) along with the GMC ground at Bambolim and the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium at Fatorda. In the past I-League matches were also held at the ground which has a unique arrangement for the flood lights.
However, the playing field remains idle for long periods of time. It would be desirable for the ground to be made available for citizens of Vasco, if not for the entire day, at least for the morning session. The ground could be used by joggers and senior citizens who go for a morning walk every morning.
In absence of a joggers track in the city, Vascoites have to go to the ‘Joggers Track’ at Vaddem Lake or the ‘Jogger Park’ at Chicalim. I recall during the school days my school, which is located close to Tilak Maidan, was allowed to conduct all sporting activities and also organise the annual sports day on this ground since our schools did not have a playground of its own.
It would be desirable for Tilak Maidan, the pride of Vasco, to be made available for Vascoites so that the facility could be utilised for the morning walk, jogging, yoga and other sports activities.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Make your body work for money
It isn’t good to gamble your life away early on. School and college students should be sweating it out a little bit and initiate the laying of a foundation of a strong body that encapsulates a strong mind. Work early on hard and thus make your immunity rock steady for a strong and prosperous later life.
After college, don’t even try to gamble your life away, lest you miss on the thick of the action and become lethargic. Initially, all those passing out should take up to solid and heavy action-oriented jobs that build up your muscles, the origin of a sturdy body and mind.
The advent of gambling slows down your reflexes and body and makes you incapable of doing tough tasks. Do not think of making fast money at the cost of affecting the speed of your reflexes which is very crucial in the early part of your working life. Build yourself up and accumulate energy for a long and active life that will concentrate on physical efficiency and boost your mental faculties. In the middle ages and even later in life, exercise strenuously. Pull ups, push ups and sit ups can boost your oxygen levels and built up your immune system.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Shame on Tirath Singh Rawat
What a shameful comment Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat made to deride woman wearing ripped jeans. I want to know who decides what a woman should wear and do women invite unwanted attention with what they wear?
I am of the view that people are not entitled to tell others what to wear and what to not. Many people like to justify crime against women referring to their clothes. They seem to forget that even girls aged 4 year are raped; women wearing saree are also criticised for their uncovered feet. So, It’s a problem with mindset and not clothes. We live in a Democratic country where women are constitutionally free to choose their clothing irrespective of what others think. So men have to change their thinking about ripped jeans and wearing makeup. We need to educate students in schools and colleges by adding relevant topics retarding such issues in order to spread awareness.
Yashi Bairagi, by email
Pandemic can again impact GDP
With rising of new COVID cases there are chances that economy may be adversely impacted and when it looked like India had won its battle with Covid, it is back. Fresh daily cases dropped to around 10,000 in mid-February but since then it rising every day and it is now 40,000 per day which is a matter of causing concerned. And immediate remedial measures are required. What does this mean for India’s economy?
Can we afford another series of lockdowns and disruptions? Clearly not. India’s economic performance has been the worst amongst larger economies. This was mostly because of the extended lockdowns we faced. However, we were already doing badly before COVID hit us. This made it even more difficult for India to cope with the pandemic-induced global recession. The only country whose economy has grown in 2020 is China, ground zero of pandemic and experts attribute this to China’s authoritarian and highly centralised welfarism.
If a decision is taken at the top of the Chinese Central Govt, it reaches a citizen’s home within a very short time and same is not expected in our country due to the democratic set up. First step should be to make medical requirements of the country men. The second important focus point should be schools and the Govt needs to spend big money on building schools.
Industries which can successfully implement social distancing should continue to operate so that the growth in GDP may continue.
Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandar
Why was the haste?
The Delhi police showed undue haste in arresting Disha Ravi; there will be thousand Dishas rising up.
If Disha had done something wrong, she should be certainly punished. But I feel the Delhi police did not have substantial evidence to keep Disha in custody. Or, did the Delhi police do that to scare away people who engage in those activities? Who knows!
The entire nation sighed relief at the just, and fair and bold judgment given by Justice Dharmendra Rana granting bail to Disha. It has rekindled hope in the judiciary, and reposed faith in the courage of conviction. The idealist youth of this country, with a mind of their own, need to be congratulated and not put behind bars.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Has India become electoral autocracy?
An analytical research project by Sweden-based Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute says that India has turned into an electoral autocracy. It said India’s autocratisation process has largely followed the typical pattern for countries in the Third Wave over the past ten years; a gradual deterioration where freedom of the media, academia, and civil society were curtailed first and to the greatest extent.
The government in India has used laws on sedition, defamation, and counter-terrorism to silence critics and most of the accused are critics of the ruling party. The report also claims that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, amended in 2019, is being used to harass, intimidate, and imprison political opponents as well as against people protesting against the government’s policies. These developments are among the instances contributing to the descent into electoral authoritarianism in what used to be the world’s largest democracy. With increased pressure on human rights organisations, rising intimidation of academics and journalists, and a spate of bigoted attacks, including lynch ings, aimed at Muslims.
But how to measure the percentage of truth in these reports? Citizens feel more free and enjoy better life compared to earlier regimes. Foreign contribution received by NGOs was used for conversion activities and personal gains by trustees. Live and let live is the new theme of liberated India from the rule and opinions of foreigners.
KG Vilop,
Chorao
