Fairness and integrity
India being one of the largest Democracy it’s horrifyingly absurd to face the challenges of not being heard the voices of the masses. This ongoing trend of neglecting the pleas of the people by the elected Leaders to scrap all the mega projects that negatively impact our environment speak out loudly that dictatorship has blanketed and silenced the voice of the people.
I have to say we are being ruled by goons, panchayat being the supreme power why is it that the double tracking work going on illegally without it’s NOC? Even though the Railways Act cannot override or supersede Panchayat Act why is this violation being carried out where even the DGP has got involved to support it? Is there a gap in following Law and Order or does our Law enforcement system lack knowledge? Is this called the fairness which our law enforcement officers took an oath to protect our Nation and it’s integrity?
It is very imperative for us, every Goan to question our Leaders and remind them that we will not stand down until all this illegal projects are scrapped. These leaders have no integrity and truly lack leadership skills, they don’t have the courage to say no to the Central Govt. because they are afraid of losing the ticket for the next election. True leadership does not compromise for personal benefits at the cost of the environment and the lives of the people. The moment is now to put an end to all this destruction that is focussed to benefit Adani, Jindal and Vedanta.
We will come together as one force to confront these dictators and fight with evidence to save our Goa.
Savio D’Costa, Chandor
Bivpachi Garaz Na version 2.0
On Tuesday Goa saw the highest number of Covid infections (167) and yet again our CM trotted out the (non) comforting homily about the pandemic situation being under total control, people should not be afraid and that there are no grounds to introduce a rigorous SOP for inbound travelers as Maharashtra had done recently.
Our HM in his wisdom has mocked the neighbouring state’s move and has infact directed GMC and the Directorate of Health NOT to carry out Covid tests for travel purposes, if this is not putting your head in the guillotine then I don’t know what is. Maharashtra has mandated that travelers from four states including Goa need to produce a -ve RT-PCR report before entering it’s borders, a good move to check the virus brought in by imported means.
Goa is already reeling under an uncontrollable influx of local tourists most of whom are coming to escape the scourge of the virus in their respective states, sadly most of them on arrival throw all caution to the winds and move about as if there is no tomorrow. Cases have been rising exponentially in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal and it is from these very states that we see the maximum chunk of visitors.
Our government is either getting complacent or has some sort of a deathwish considering the fact that we are moving into the peak tourist season as also the impending arrival of guest workers.Goa should atleast make it compulsory for intending visitors to have a Covid negative certificate if we are to avoid a second/ third/ Nth wave of Corona. Merely doubling the fine for not wearing masks to Rs 200 would not suffice, infact it would be infantile to assume that this would check the spread of the contagion.
Wake up and smell the coffee CM sir before it is too late, learn from the mistakes of the past else it would become a repeat case of locking the stable doors after the horse has bolted.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
When a guest becomes a pest!
Goans by nature are very hospitable to the point of committing hara-kiri! As far as tourists are concerned, we never ever intrude on even obnoxious behaviour, leaving it to the authorities to take action.
The current pandemic has stressed out people no end. Holidaying in Goa is a great stress buster. The Goa Govt., at a risk to the local people, has opened up tourism with hardly any restrictions. Even people from Delhi, in the grip of a 3rd wave, are free to enter untested, and do so too. Further, they are seen roaming around with no mask or social distancing. Now, Maharashtra requires Goans to carry negative test reports to enter their State!
Do these tourists believe it is their birth right to roam the way they do? Even if no strict SOP implementation exists, what absolves them from being responsible? How crude are they? A recent photo in a daily showed the garbage left behind on beaches.
People are cribbing that Indians travelling to Hong Kong are made to wait while other Nationals have a very less waiting time. They forget that Air India flights from India, were banned once again as 5 passengers were tested positive on arrival despite carrying the RT-PCR negative certificates. How we love playing the racist card! There is no sanctity or responsibility in India: we can see the culture in the tourists. We need to change at home first. They say education is the way: online classes for people intending to visit Goa or for TTAG? Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?
R Fernandes, Margao
Being self-sufficient in repair works
“Atmanirbhar” which means self-sufficiency or self-reliance need not necessarily be implemented only in the field of manufacture but also include the maintenance and repairs of gadgets in the house which stop functioning.
It is understood that several women were trained to maintain and repair gadgets commonly used at home at a workshop held at Tivim by Mapusa ITI. This program was a part of the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swayampurna Goa” mission. This is a very novel step and needs to be followed by ITIs across the state. It is a fact that several household gadgets lay idle because they have stopped functioning. These gadgets could either be repaired at the repair shop by spending money or sold as scrap. Having knowledge of how to repair household gadgets can be a positive step towards self-reliance.
Small jobs around the house like plumbing, carpentry, masonry, etc. can also be carried out by individuals having some knowledge, without relying on the paid service of professionals. For this basic training is absolutely necessary. Various ITIs in the state need to come forward and hold such workshops in repairing household gadgets and also providing basic knowledge to the citizens in plumbing, carpentry, masonry work, etc. This will go a long way in making the citizens self-sufficient in carrying out minor repair works around the house and not depend entirely on professional service.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Power for power’s sake
Ethics in the political arena have no meaning nowadays. Every party wants to make alliances with the aim of grabbing power. This situation needs to be reversed by undertaking urgent reforms. People choose their representatives keeping in mind a party’s ideology and promises. At last showing moon to the voters.
After the election, if the chosen ones change the alliance in the quest for power, it amounts to deceiving the electorate and doing a disservice to democracy. Some parties have abandoned their ideology and played the politics of opportunism. They have join the hands with the party having a history of vandalism.
K.G.Vilop, Chodan
