Hope for better days in 2021
As 2020 is nearing its end, it has been a year that has created havoc worldwide on account of the current pandemic. Damage has been seen across the globe. So many very precious lives have been lost by people succumbing to COVID-19. In our country itself the death toll is almost 150,000. Medically and economically people right across the earth are feeling the pain and suffering with anxiety and fear.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
In the prevailing grim scenario it is pertinent that we take every step and all measures to ensure that we do not enhance or aggravate the virus from further spreading. We are currently in a very dangerous state of affairs and every possible caution must be taken to ensure that this pandemic does not further worsen the current already sad state of affairs.
Across India the number of COVID cases is continuing to mount up at an alarming rate and should be a matter of great concern. Caution and focus with zero complacency must be key in our battle against a vicious virus. The government has to show dedicated and determined leadership by making the fight against pandemic the number one priority and taking swift action to improve the health care facilities across the nation. As a means to protect our environment it would be imperative that we stay away from setting up any polluting projects and industries. There has to be a consistent thrust on maintaining sanitation and cleanliness all over while social distancing and wearing of masks will now be a way of life at least for the near future. But let us not be blind to the fact that we need to be also kind, concerned and compassionate at all times to those in distress.
Everyone’s thrust has been to boost one’s immunity. From Vitamin C to Zinc is what everyone has been seeking recourse of. For the last four months I have been doing brisk walking for an hour every morning including the weekends. And the feeling has been great and good. Having been blessed with good teachers all through my academic days, now as a Senior citizen, I am very fortunate to have good doctor friends, whose medical advice and knowledgeable guidance is just a phone call away.
With this pandemic still raging and nobody knowing what is in store we can only hope and pray for better days in 2021 by being confident in ourselves and always with a very positive mental attitude.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Massive jump in bank frauds
Lapses in system make easy the job of offenders to dupe banks. The number of bank frauds in India is substantial. It in increasing with the passage of time. Many people in India, particularly the elderly, have been victimised of digital payment frauds while they are staying at their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
All the major operational areas in banking represent a good opportunity for fraudsters with growing incidence being reported under deposit, loan and inter-branch accounting transactions, including remittances. Frauds are increasing and banks are unable to improve their technology wherein it just cannot stop the fraud from happening. There are reports of users falling prey to fraudsters who are luring them on fictitious pretexts, such as alleged completion of KYC requirements, impersonating identities and websites of banks and payment system operators.
There are also cases of users being tricked into downloading spurious apps that access critical information stored on devices. With no data standards, there are no digitisation standards, and there are no payment standards — neither defined by the GoI nor by the RBI nor by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), people have been left aside from the security point.
K.G.Vilop, Chodan
Celebrate love
More than celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas let us celebrate the love of God for mankind. It begins in the Genesis with the creation of first human beings, man and woman. They were Adam and Eve. They were gracious in the grace of God. God had placed them in a garden where they had everything to be contented with. He had not laid any restrictions on their movement or eating. But they were given a command not to eat fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and bad. Should they then they will die and disaster will fall on them. Sure enough, it happened with Satan around them who enticed the fragile woman into eating the forbidden fruit and she in turn her partner, the man. Here begins the love of God for mankind.
God who used to fellowship with them too separated because the human beings who were created in his own image and likeness lost his graciousness in them and they too separated from each other hiding in the bushes. But God promised to bring back mankind into his embrace by sending Jesus into this world in our midst. This is Christmas we celebrate each year to remind us to live as good human beings.
Unto you is born a new king, Jesus the saviour, said the angels who appeared to the poor shepherds who were keeping watch on their flock in the night. The angel gave them the knowledge how to go about and find the king in a stable. They did and found the new born in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, sleeping peacefully and so gracious. They rejoiced and came back telling others.
The same was not with the three Magis, Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar who carried gold, myrrh and frankincense. They struggled to find the child in Bethlehem in spite of being learned men of their time. God is wisdom, his ways are strange. He makes things known to the poor but not to the learned.
Let us celebrate love in pandemic days we are going through. We have many issues before us and we are struggling to find solutions to all. We have gone too far in celebrating Christmas in a way we should not. What we have forgotten is humanity in our midst, the love for one and other. God’s purpose in sending Jesus in our midst was to live being human, in love and be with God in ways of meaningful living. Probably, the COVID-19 has taught us to respect humanity and live being humans. This Christmas let us celebrate love more then the birth of Jesus, the way God wants us.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Mask, sanitizer for guests at reception
A lot has changed for brides and grooms in the last few months. The wedding attire now comes along with a new accessory, namely the mask. The mask has become a part of the bridal trousseau which could be made from lace to embroidery to even beadwork. However it is not sufficient for just the bridal couple to wear the mask. The limited number of guests at the nuptials and the reception also need to wear the mask.
The other day when I attended a wedding reception the guests were handed a take-away gift as they left the reception hall which included a packet containing a small sanitizer bottle, a mask and a soap. This is a very thoughtful gift but the only hitch is that the gift needs to be handed over to the guests at the beginning of the nuptials and the reception and not as a take-away gift at the end of the wedding reception.
The guests should be advised to wear the mask in the church and the wedding hall use the hand-sanitizer and wash the hands frequently while in the reception hall. The mask and hand sanitizer should also be provided to guests at parties and get-togethers. This needs to be included as the new normal in order to protect us during the pandemic especially as the second wave of the infection could be knocking at our doors.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
