Power debate
The long awaited power debate on electricity tariffs between AAP Delhi power minister Satyandar Kumar Jain and his Goa counterpart Nilesh Cabral finally came to fruition on July 26 at the Menezes Braganza Hall.
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It may be recalled that the gauntlet was thrown open for discussion by Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman and MLA Raghav Chadha during his visits to the state but our power minister had shied away from the meeting by citing protocol issues. Chadha, a Chartered Accountant by profession, had reeled out statistics to support AAP’s claim of providing free electricity up to 300 units, reduction in tariffs and a waiver of past arrears.
With the soaring cost of essential commodities and motor spirits, making a dent in the purchasing power of the beleaguered consumer, a reduction in power tariffs would be a welcome gesture to alleviate his sufferings.
It is hoped that this crucial meeting is streamed live on the local channel network for wide publicity as this would also test the power equations of the rival political parties at the forthcoming assembly elections.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
Online programmes on career guidance
The results are out and students from Std X and Std XII are exploring options academically. It must be said that these students are at the crossroads of their career which will define the course their life will take in future.
Those students interested in taking up science will have to appear for an entrance exam. However, for those not getting into the science stream, it is not the end of the world.
In the past most parents wanted their children to either become doctors, advocates or engineers. But now there are several options available for the students. That is where the importance of career guidance is felt.
In the past programmes in career guidance were held in every educational institution in person in order to help students choose the career that suits them. However, now due to the pandemic such programmes cannot be held with physical presence. But career guidance programmes can be conducted online by the educational institutions just like online classes are being held. This will be a great help for the students, who may to some extent, be confused on which career to choose.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Where are the new Rs 100 notes?
Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur in Rajya Sabha on March 4, 2020 announced that new varnish-coated 100-rupee notes with longer life will be shortly issued on experimental basis in five cities Shimla, Jaipur, Bhuvneshwar, Kochi and Mysore. But similar commitment by the then Union Minister of Finance Namo Narain Meena on March 12, 2013 in written reply in Rajya Sabha about introduction of plastic-currency in ten-rupee denomination has not been implemented till now.
It is better if experimental plastic-currency in denomination of rupees ten may also be done simultaneously to ascertain better of the two options namely varnish-coated currency and plastic currency.
Thereafter notes in other lower denominations of Rs 10, 20, 50 and 100 also can be issued simultaneously in better of the two forms namely varnish-coated and plastic currency. However, one-rupee notes restarted on March 6, 2015 after a gap of about two decades just for bureaucratic craze to be signed by a secretary-level officer rather than RBI governor should be discontinued to be printed.
It may be mentioned that all other notes except of rupee-one bear signatures of RBI governor. This is why notes in other discontinued lower denomination notes of Rs 2 and 5 were not re-introduced because these notes did not bear signature of secretary-level officers.
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi
Rely more on direct taxes
Kudos to Manoj Jha for highlighting in the Rajya Sabha the irony of India’s following indirect tax regime in a country where rich-poor divide is as sharp as it gets. He said, “This is a welfare state, isn’t it?
When a poor man buys a bar of soap, he is as much a taxpayer as are Adani and Ambani.” Indeed indirect taxes are totally insensitive to inequality. This is the reason why unlike India direct taxes constitute the lion’s share of the total tax collections in many modern welfare countries.
While direct taxes are proportionate to a taxpayer’s ability to pay, indirect taxes being blind to the economic status of the taxpayers, hit the poor the hardest. Given huge income disparity among Indians, India should rely more on direct taxes which are equitable.
Sujit De, Kolkata
Fuel prices in India
It is really sad and shocking to see that the people in India are paying more than Rs 100 for a litre for petrol, and this rise in fuel prices is affecting every single Indian household. The fuel pricing in India and the global price is currently around $60 per barrel – roughly Rs 28 per litre. Indians are paying close to Rs 100 because of taxes. Almost two-third of what a buyer pays is excise duty and taxes.
The base price of the fuel, transport charges and dealer commission make up just a portion of the pie. India gets oil from Saudi Arabia, United States, United Arab Emirates. They have cut supplies but the demand is raising.
Once upon a time Iran was among India’s major supplies. The oil from Iran is the cheapest but this country has been sanctioned by the US. Since 2019, there been zero imports from Iran because of the Trump administration sanctions on Iran. Even the gas cylinder prices touched to Rs 850 giving a hard time for the earner in the family.
Looking at the present situation people in Goa State and throughout the country are very angry on the rising of petrol and LPG which is becoming a tough time for the middle class family in this budget. In India everything is increasing but not increasing is a common man salary.
During the election time big promises were made by the politicians but soon after the election they forgot their promises. Now since the assembly elections are near government may play tricks with the public by reducing the price for just Rs 5 per litre to show that the ruling government is with the people where they can fool the people of Goa and India for five more years.
Hope government of India and State government bring down the fuel prices by cutting taxes and excise duty in the interest of public who are affected very badly. When the fuel prices go up each and every single thing goes up automatically which only makes a hole in the pocket of the common man.
Ronnie Dsouza, Chandor
Pegasus causes Parliament paralysis
Pegasus is a mythical winged divine horse and one of the most recognised creatures in Greek mythology.
We are all lucky that we get to see the mythical horse in action in Parliament and TV Studios. And the winged horse is really flying in the face of logic and reason. Suddenly, we have instances of phones hacked, State secrets leaked etc.
We do not know how much money is received from across the border; how much money is given for stone pelting and other assorted fun activities with destructive collaboration. And the people behind this unacceptable intrusion of privacy – The Big Two. The Big two are going blue in the face denying all allegations. Not acceptable at all.
C K Suresh, Chennai
