Thorough probe needed in land scam
The number of people’s properties in Goa sold and transferred fraudulently by fraudsters and the ease with which this has been done has shocked Goa and Goans. It is good that the government has stepped in and entrusted the investigation to a Special Investigation Team. However, there are certain things that the people expect from the SIT and the Government.
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The team should thoroughly go to the bottom of the scam and unearth all the wrongdoers and wrongdoings. The team should work without fear or favour and give its report within reasonable time. The government should nullify all the fraudulent deeds and transfers and restore the properties to their lawful owners. Those involved in this huge scam should be dealt with an iron hand irrespective of their position or power. Govt officials involved in this mega fraud should be dismissed from service. The loopholes found in the system, if any, should be corrected so that no such frauds take place hereafter.
The innocent owners of the properties have lawfully acquired or inherited them from their ancestors. They have also maintained these properties for years. A group of scamsters and fraudsters should not be allowed to dispossess the innocent owners of their hard earned assets.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Shelter – A Central Necessity
Regarding necessities, we are taught food, clothing and shelter are the three most important necessities for human survival and sustenance. A very core to us, we can never think to lead a normal human and dignified life without them.
Though the consumption of food and usage of clothing is on a personal level, shelter belongs to the whole family unit consisting of self, spouse, children, and parents; moreover, it is our residential identity.
If need be, we can still afford to survive somehow without food for a few days; we can even deprive ourselves of wearing expensive clothes. However, can we ever imagine leading such a life having no roof above us? Knowing well the importance of shelter to every human being, I wonder why such punitive measures are being adopted nowadays as demolishing someone’s shelter just to punish the perpetrator.
Shaikh Imtiyaz, Margao
The importance of handshakes
Among many “days” observed by countries across the globe, the National Handshake Day practiced in the United States (US) on the last Thursday of June is significant. Handshake or shake hand that initially started as a symbol of peace to reveal no weapons in the hands, assumed broader ramifications over the decades.
It is an ancient art of greeting one another, and was said to be propagated by Ivan Zupa who called upon the world to “place its hands in the sea and shake hands with the world”. The 5th Century BC has records to show two soldiers shaking hands ostensibly to check for weapons like daggers though the origin of the handshake can be traced to 2nd century BC.
Since women did not carry weapons during the medieval days, they shook hands less. When two hands of two different men or women are clasped tightly, the self-confidence and friendliness of the protagonists are on display. An expression of goodwill and appreciation, mutual trust and respect towards each other are written all over most handshakes.
The up and down movement of a handshake, generally seen in business meetings, exemplifies the successful conclusion of an agreement, and the inclination of the two hand shakers to keep up the spirit of the agreement. Right hand is almost always used for shaking of hands; it is regarded proper etiquette. Born left-handers are sometimes exempted. Also, handshake while seated is considered bad manners.
In many countries like Russia, women do not shake hands and in some other countries it is considered courteous to shake the hands of women first. In some nations, handshakes between opposite sexes are not encouraged; in few they are strictly prohibited. The style of handshake is said to reveal a lot about one’s personality. The common refrain is “first impression is the last impression”, by the same token the first handshake is a reflection of whether or not a person possesses a warm and welcoming demeanour.
It is believed there are different types of handshakes like aggressive, assertive and passive – all denoting a person’s traits. Aggressive hand shakers are “self confident and dominant” who frequently grab the hands of the other person, they are also called “handcrushers”. The assertive ones are believed to be the “perfect” hand shakers who clasp and squeeze the hands. The so-called hand hug practised by politicians by placing the left hand covering the person’s right are all centres of attraction for body language experts and psychologists.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Government must ensure good road safety
The monsoons are here and with the roads across Goa spread with so many potholes, we are sadly witnessing an increasing number of fatal road accidents which is a matter of concern. The thrust of the government should be in urgently tackling the causes of the increasing number of road accidents. Poor road engineering is a cause of many accidents. Government departments and contractors must be held accountable and responsible for poor workmanship as a result of corrupt practices and cutting corners. Those that are guilty of short changing the public should face the full force of the law.
There also needs to be a total crackdown on drunken driving and reckless over speeding. Vigilance by the traffic authorities around the schools and colleges must be enhanced to stop those young unlicensed and rash riders. Cattle squatting on our highways besides the dogs and pigs crossing our roads are also a cause of many accidents, some being fatal.
Nothing more needs to be said about the Atal Setu which is the third bridge across the Mandovi. It is now a monumental disaster which seems to be beyond repair. We were assured that the bridge would last for over 100 years but has been crumbling within just a few years of its rushed inaugural for a photo shoot rather than its credibility.
Maybe it is also high time that our traffic officials are professionally trained on all aspects of proper traffic management and road safety. Road safety is of paramount importance. Government’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety. Safety does not happen by accident. It is the solemn duty of everyone to take their own safety and the safety of others seriously. Prevention is better than cure.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Maimollem, Vasco has the charm!
The Letter “Maimollem has tourism potential like Mayem Lake” by Adelmo Fernandes (Citizen Herald, June 20) is certainly a brilliant proposition and I wish to emphasize that the Government must do the needful to promote/develop the location for leisure and water sports realizing the fact that Vasco-Da-Gama is always buzzing with tourists and has all modes of transport to its advantage.
Moreover, as Adelmo said, the port town has very little to offer for tourists and such a project will also provide self-employment for the local youth.
I hope the government will seriously look into this matter to build a worthy project in Vasco.
Augustus Alphonso,
Vasco-da-gama
