Biden-Harris team is very diverse
It was refreshing to see the American democracy coming to life at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. The team of President Biden is so diverse with whites and people of colour. We have our own Kamala Harris as the first Indian-American as the Vice-President of the United States of America.
Truly democracy shines when everyone is respected, and given the chance to participate in decision making. Often, we don’t see successful democracies, when people at the periphery are not given due importance. America as the world’s powerful democracy has done much, despite its limitations, to bring equality and justice. No wonder America shines in the fields of research and discovery.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our own Indian democracy. We need to do more in education, healthcare and elimination of poverty. Participative and inclusive governance is so crucial. Providing monetary help to the youth, to start profitable businesses is so necessary. Encouraging research and innovation will help us to advance technologically. Justice system must be made more accessible to the poorest of the poor.
Can we see emergence of India as a strong democracy?
Newton Mendonca, Aldona
BJP should stop meddling in WB
The BJP is trying to destabilise democratically installed regional parties in States like West Bengal, by merely distributing the very money that is collected as taxes from Corporates and those in taxable brackets as inducements for gains to the party. The Trinamool Congress in West Bengal is ably administered by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a State that respects excellence and merit based performance. The people of West Bengal are surely against the CAA, NPR and NRC which the NDA government wants to impose on the citizens of India. Today, Netaji Subhash/Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary would be proud of the way Mamata Banerjee has been steering the governance of West Bengal. The people of West Bengal should not fall prey to the transient enticements of the BJP but should maintain their unique identity by voting for the Trinamool Congress yet again.
Even Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel literature laureate would have been very pleased with the way Mamata is guiding the merit-based society of the people of West Bengal. As TMC MP Derek O’Brien has catalogued 105 people in India died as a consequence of the draconian demonetisation which put common people at risk of their lives and livelihood. The people of West Bengal have to realise that Mamata is their leader who will protect their interests and should not be enticed by BJP who have also imposed the Aadhaar card through coercion, containing sensitive bio-metrics such as the iris scan and finger prints as also tried to burden the common men with high GST rates, before bowing to popular pressure.
The issue of the repealing of the three farm laws, which is not acceptable to the farming community in West Bengal has also to be taken into account. Let secular India be not rocked by allowing BJP to get foothold in West Bengal. The new President of the United States, Joe Biden has already begun to crack the whip on the RSS elements in America.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Show your true alliance
Lot of U-turns will take place in the next few months with regards to Government decisions, as the politicians have to face elections. Many MLAs have voiced their opinion past few months for many objected projects and now as elections come closer and people began to revolt, they change their colours. Once they win the elections, (next 5 years) they won’t listen to anyone and will commit their original sins. The people of Goa need to be very careful with these U-turns and think well whom they should now choose in future and vote for a change.
With regards to the proposed IIT campus at Shel Melauli village in Sattari taluka, the government has to denotify the land acquired, not mere words. Let them publish in the official gazette, only than should people trust the government. Otherwise, all projects are considered as kept in abeyance. Which means the government can restart the projects once re-elected in 2022.
Why are elected members who claim to be with the people, still with the government that is against the people? Let these politicians show their loyalty to the people, withdraw support now or resign now. Not 6 months before the elections to fool the people.
Allen Noronha, Porvorim
Nasal Covid-19 vaccine for students
According to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria, nasal COVID-19 vaccine will be easy to give to school-going children who bear a very mild load of the disease but are infectious. It is learnt that once children start going to school regularly and if they contract the COVID-19 infection, they will not have much problem but if they bring it home they can spread the infection to their parents, grand-parents and the elderly people at home. Hence it becomes absolutely necessary to vaccinate school children.
According to the AIIMS director, Bharat Biotech is trying to get approval for its nasal vaccine. Such a vaccine will be easy to administer as it is a spray and not a jab. An entire class of children can be vaccinated in half an hour with the nasal vaccine. In view of this it would be advisable to wait till the nasal vaccine is available before school children are vaccinated.
A nasal vaccine for children is advantageous in many ways. Besides the ease of administering the vaccine, it will not be painful like a jab. Children will be more adverse and will resist taking an injection as compared to a nasal spray. A nasal spray of the vaccine will probably not have side effects like localised pain, swelling, and even mild fever.
It would hence be advisable to wait till the nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine is made available before vaccinating the school children.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
