Wearing masks at home?
What an advisory – wearing masks at home! Is that all the Centre can do? Panic is bound to set in, whether it is unnecessary or not. Has there been any assurance from the centre that India is in a position to control the pandemic?
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Far from it, on the contrary, according to the joint secretary in the ministry of Health & Family welfare, many people are occupying beds out of panic or extra concern. The centre would do well to ask themselves, who created this panic in the first place. What was the centre doing when COVID-19 was knocking at our doors last February? Yes, we were busy entertaining personalities. We were busy clanging thalis, lighting lamps, clapping, what not! And what are the authorities doing today, to contain the pandemic – organising mass religious festivals like the Kumbh Mela, huge election rallies?
We need to see some concrete steps being taken by all concerned authorities, whether it is the Centre, States or others.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Elected councillors need to reciprocate
The elections to the various municipalities are done and dusted. There are the winners and the vanquished. The candidates along with their supporters went door-to-door before the elections, canvassing for their candidature. In these times of the pandemic the voters welcomed them in their homes and listened to them patiently. On the day of the elections the voters came out in large numbers, despite the Covid-19 scare, and voted for those whom they wanted to represent them in the municipal council.
We are at a difficult juncture as the Coronavirus is spreading everywhere leaving a trail of misery and death behind. For the elected councillors it is time to return the favour. They need to look into the needs of the people in their ward. There could be several senior citizens living alone and not able to come out from fear of contracting the disease. Their needs need to be looked into. The councillors also need to come to the assistance of those infected by the virus and need hospitalisation.
Those elected to the respective municipal council also need to keep a watch over those infected individuals who have opted for home quarantine. All in all these councillors need to reciprocate to the voters who risked their lives while voting for them. This is the time for them to show the voters that they have made the right choice by coming to the aid of all in these trying times, including those who did not vote for them.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Use the funds for good of humanity
Everyday there is news of Covid-19 cases rapidly increasing and precious human life is lost. All over the country there is news of shortage of oxygen for patients severely suffering due to corona virus. It will be best of our CM to use the Rs 300 crore which was meant for 60 years of liberation celebration, for the greater good of humanity at large and help the needy during this pandemic those suffering due to virus and those suffering due to unemployment in this pandemic times. As citizens we will follow all SOPs, but together with government we will win.
Franky Viegas, Sao Jose de Areal
Karnataka lockdown impacts Goa
As Karnataka announced a two-week lockdown, the impact was almost immediately visible in Goa. Though transportation of essential goods would hopefully not be affected, the prices of fruits and vegetables have started showing an upswing with many establishments putting up ‘stockout’ boards. Beef and chicken consumers would also have some cause for anxiety as a major portion of it is sourced from Karnataka.
Kadamba Transport Corporation has meanwhile suspended 27 buses which used to service the Karnataka-Goa route thus causing immense hardships and possible loss of livelihood for industrial workers from Belagavi, Bijapur and Karwar who were daily commuters to Goa.
The Karnataka lockdown adversely affects the liquor business in Canacona district especially in Polem, Loliem and Poinguinim which depended on business from tipplers across the border, who used to stash up in Goa, given the lower prices of alcohol here. Small and medium horticultural businesses in the border areas revolving around coconuts, exotic fruits and processed food have also taken a hit. The virus has put paid to whatever little improvement was expected in Goa’s economy, let’s hope and pray that the dark clouds of Covid lift soonest and we resume our normal lives.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
CEC’s advisory by and large positive
The Supreme Court’s mandated Central Empowered Committee to investigate and advise on the three linear infra projects in Mollem has to be hailed, but it could have been more in line with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Goa. The CEC has opposed the double tracking in line with the wishes of the people. The CEC has ruled that the 400KV power lines be laid on the same area as the 220KV existing facility, however falls short of the expectations of the people that it should be shelved at all cost. The CEC has ruled that Environment Clearance has not been done for the highway project and thus cast aspersions upon this project.
By and large, the people of Goa are against all these three linear infra projects and the people of Goa have to laud the contribution of the Goa Foundation and the Goyant Kollso Naka NGOs, who have been relentlessly pursuing the causes of Goa since their inception and has been instrumental in saving the environment in Goa.
What Goans need to be vigilant about is that coal transportation under any circumstances is not allowed to go on and towards this end the Goyant Kollso Naka contention that they will keep on agitating until all the three linear infra projects are shelved in the best option for green Goa It should be borne in mind that not only coal transportation, but also coal handling at MPT should be opposed resolutely by all the Goans.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Lockdown needed to check virus
Goa Inc. has coerced the CM to avoid lockdown. With what amazing ‘reasoning’! Truly, they must consider taking up consultancy to Singapore/New Zealand on economy revival! They put the blame squarely on the public but fail to answer how the spread will be arrested!
Goa Hotel and restaurants say to ban weddings, parties!? GSIA says no one told people to attend weddings, etc.
Come now: tourists can come in thousands to patronise hotels without masks, attend parties, etc: but Goan weddings with 50 guests are responsible? GCCI added its 2 bits: they followed all Sops: the people must do so.
Because the ‘employers’ do not have a fixed number of workers: they want the luxury of hiring on a daily basis: 30 today and none tomorrow. Check MMC building and Industrial Estate units gates every morning. Has Goa Inc. started the vaccination drive at Industrial estates? No, not their responsibility. We need to audit Goa Inc.: do they have ISO, use Six Sigma, CRP, Risk assessment? Not required when you have the luxury of migrant labour in lakhs.
Problem: the horses have bolted. Goa Inc. solution: shut the stable doors! Sorry, this solution should have come up in December 2020. Translate this to the current problem. How does only stopping small weddings stop the spread? The virus today is a double mutant one that is fast spreading and affecting all ages. Resources including simple oxygen, beds and medical staff is 110% utilised. What is the efficacy of all SOPs together: 100%? It is not even 70% and hence cannot arrest the spread of this fast spreading mutant.
R Fernandes, Margao
