Whimsical grain export policy
In early May the prime minister made a lofty statement in Denmark that India was ready to save the world from hunger by supplying food grains but within 10 days of the announcement we banned the export of wheat, possibly the consumer inflation index which was at an all time high had spooked the government which had announced a trade delegation to 11 countries to boost wheat exports.
The ban was so sudden that close to 500,000 kgs of wheat lying at various ports waiting to be loaded on ships had now to be sold in domestic markets. The ban led to a massive price distortion and the local rates crashed by @15% in anticipation of the export quota being dumped in the domestic market, while in Europe the prices shot up by @7% because the expected supplies could not arrive.
The G-7 countries made their displeasure known to us for the unhealthy volatility as a result of an unthought through embargo. To salvage the situation the mandarins in the commerce ministry issued another notification to enable at least the wheat lying at the ports to be exported. This torturous flip flop dented India’s image as a reliable partner and further lent credence to the fact that all our trade policies are ad hoc and mere knee jerk reactions to set right the unfolding economic crisis in the country.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Late Rajiv Gandhi murder case
It is surprising to hear the release of convicted A G Perarivalan by Supreme court in Rajiv Gandhi murder case. It was he who designed the battery to kill our PM on May 21, 1991 at Sriperambadur. All of them belonged to Sri Lankans Tamil Liberated Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). There were 7 persons convicted in the case and Kalaivani Rajratnam alias Dhanu was human bomb amongst killed. The Madras HC refused to grant bail to Nalini also accused in the case. But it’s surprising that after 31 yrs one convict gets released and free from the case.
Indian law sometimes punishes innocent and releases actual culprit or accused in murder and criminal cases. Initially it was capital punishment which was later a life term but without death sentence. If a criminal in murder gets relief then all the accused will not be afraid of law and will be under impression that they can get bail or get released.
Killing somebody has become an easy and common in India and in Goa too. Recently there were cases of women murders in Goa. On the other hand in the case murder of Sheena Bora the accused arrested Indrani Mukerja got bail from Mumbai jail and was released by Supreme court as trial will go for long and not be over soon.
It’s too late to decide and sometimes too early to release someone who has committed crime not proved to be criminal or accused in the case. Courts should not drag the case but trial should be done early so as to punish the real criminals and not punish innocent who haven’t been in the picture.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Sort out grievances of the people
The ‘Public Grievance Cell’ being contemplated by the Goa Government is a step in the right direction. It must, however, be a robust mechanism and not a cosmetic exercise.
With its headquarters at the Secretariat at Porvorim, a representative of this Public Grievance Cell should be available at every Taluka, possibly in the office of the Deputy Collector. This cell must be also accessible to the public telephonically and by email to those in need of assistance on the problems faced by them.
The Public Grievance Cell should be broad based in its objective in resolving issues and not requiring aggrieved persons to come on the streets and agitate. The current struggle by the terminated Anganwadi staff and also workers of the Institute of Psychiatry & Human Behaviour (IPHB) are examples where issues could be resolved with a humane and proactive approach.
This much needed Cell will achieve its goal if it functions positively and with the right initiative in reaching out to the people to try and expeditiously redress their problems. It would also be a source of solace to Goans outside Goa in solving issues they may be grappling with here. While it should be the endeavour to reach out to the people with a very helpful approach, solving the grievances of the poor and elderly in particular must definitely be a priority.
The proper and effective functioning of the Public Grievances Cell would not need citizens to knock the doors of the Courts for even their pension benefits and other miscellaneous issues.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
The monkeypox scare
As more cases of monkeypox are reportedly detected in Europe and North America, some scientists who have monitored numerous such outbreaks in Africa say they are baffled by the unusual spread of the disease in developing countries.
It is learnt that in the past week, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, US Sweden and Canada have detected the virus mostly in young men who hadn’t travelled to Africa. France, Germany, Belgium and Australia have confirmed their first cases of monkeypox. Monkeypox typically causes fever, chills and lesions on the face and the genitals. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the disease is fatal for about one in ten infected persons. WHO estimates that there are thousands of monkeypox infections in about a dozen African countries every year. The disease is endemic in Africa. Monkeypox is a virus that originates in wild animals like rodents and primates and occasionally infects people. It is understood that the smallpox vaccine can help guard against the monkeypox as the viral infection is similar to smallpox.
The infection can be passed from humans to humans through close contact or by using clothes or linen used by a person having monkeypox. However the good news is that the infection does not spread easily between people. However India needs to be vigilant against this virus especially with regards to those travelling from Africa.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
High decibel noise should be curbed
High decibel noise is very hazardous to health hazard it is medically proven as most of the dance clubs and beach parties mostly in the North areas like Calangute, Candolim and Anjuna and a few in the South which uses loudspeakers which create a noise level that is hazardous to the health of senior citizens, ailing residents, babies and students preparing for their exams.
After repeated complaints they reduce the noise level to a certain extent then after a few days later they increase the noise decibel which is unbearable. There are even loudspeakers used late in the nights by catholic feast celebrations and in mosques or temples celebrations hence noise pollution, whether from mosques, churches or temples if they are close to the residential areas should be strictly curbed in the interest of public health and peace of mind.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Sidhu’s delayed sentence
Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu getting a one-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 34-year-old fatal road rage case is another case of delayed justice. In a May 2018 judgment, the Supreme Court had let off the former cricketer-turned-politician lightly with just a fine of Rs1,000. However, the court observed that a manifestly inadequate sentence could not produce a deterrent effect on society.
The decision came on a review petition filed by the family of the victim, Gurnam Singh, who perished in the 1988 road rage incident.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
