We cannot afford
another disaster
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This has reference to the report ‘Covid scare on the air again……’ (O Heraldo, 27 March 2023).
Yes, once again the ghost of Covid seems to be showing its ugly face in the lives of mankind. Already, there have been news reports of people suffering from the side effects of the Covid vaccine, also claiming several lives. And now once again, the fear of the coronavirus looms large over us. People have suffered enough during the last two waves of Covid. Cases may be on the rise in Goa and in Maharashtra and several other states as well. However, the government ought to come clear on the current wave of the virus. Is it going to be as deadly as the earlier two waves or is it just a case of a mild flu? We cannot afford another disaster. A large number of lives have been lost, more on account of the vaccine or out of fear. Entire families have been devastated. People are still unable to get over the loss of their loves ones. So, let’s not press the panic button again.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Nikhat spearheads India WBC Gold rush
Nikhat Zareen fought fatigue and tough competition in the gruelling six-round women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi to emerge victorious at last in the final beating Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Tam in the 50 kg category to clinch her second World Championships following her victory in Istanbul, Turkey last year in the 52 kg division, thus staking claim to be one of contemporary women’s boxing greatest star being technically the best equipped boxer in the world. India’s Nitu Ghanghas (48kg), Saweety Boora (81 kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg) boosted India to first place ahead of China in the gold medals tally.
The formidable foursome has thus scripted history for themselves as well as for India.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Development
at what cost?
This has reference to ‘The flood of Goans migrating for work is a slap on the claims of making Goa a hub of opportunity and skills’ (Herald insight, 23 March). This is a real eye opener for every Goan.
We are Goans and this state belongs first to the Goans. Our Goan brothers and sisters from North and South are literally suffering from land grabbing, scarcity of water, broken and damaged roads in the name of development.
We are literally being harassed. Development and progress should be for the benefit of people not for some honourable politicians who are all out to fill their pockets. People who raise their voice against those in power are falsely accused and put in prison. Is this democracy which our freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for us? In America, our Indian American Congress man also raised a question regarding the democracy which is targeted in India.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
The Emperor’s
new clothes
The story of ‘The Emperors new clothes’ can be used to describe the present political situation in India where the ‘Emperor’ who is the Prime Minister of India thinks that he is supreme and infallible, and all others (opposition) are guilty. My question to the PM is why was he banned from going to the US and UK if he was innocent?
What Rahul Gandhi said is not wrong but it ruffled the feathers of the Emperor and his coterie.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
PAN-Aadhaar link
The government has mandated that every citizen link its PAN to Aadhaar by March 31. Many people do not know the reason but in view of the deadline fast approaching, particularly the seniors, are now finding it difficult to do so online.
Obviously, this government initiative has opened up an opportunity to those who can do the needful and are charging the affected citizens a hefty so called service charge which is not advisable given the time to do so. Some volunteers are doing a commendable job by obliging to serve the needy while the government in power has sought to be silent to give relief to the affected citizens after imposing the mandate. People’s Representatives too have remained immune to their voter’s grievances.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Beware! The traffic
sentinels return!
The defunct Traffic Sentinel Scheme (TSS) will be re-introduced but strictly for cops, but it is not clear whether it is only for the traffic police or all the cops. In 2017, the TSS was introduced in which citizens were photographed and reported traffic violations and in 2021 due to large payouts and complaints of harassments, TSS was scrapped.
The TSS which may kick in from April envisages that there will be no cash given but cops will be rewarded in the form of 5-star hotel stay and gift vouchers. The cost will be borne by private establishments under corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.
The higher-ups are already discussing with some of the establishments. Incidentally, are there any minimum or maximum limits for the rewards? Can families enjoy the benefits?
Before implementation, the new avatar of TSS should answer the following. (1) When catching traffic offenders is the cops’ job then why incentives for their routine duty? (2) Will cops in mufti or those off-duty be involved in the TSS? If yes, then motorists will have a tough time. (3) Would offenders be only reported or penalised, either on the spot or later? (4) If offenders are penalised, will the cops still be rewarded? (5) Since government employees cannot curry favours from private entities; then how can CSR be used to justify the scheme? (6) If an employee of the company that rewarded the cops is caught in traffic violations, will it be a case of quid pro quo?
Agreed that cops could be compensated for going beyond their call of duty but instead of getting rewards from CSR, allot marks in their annual performance appraisal and use these as one of the criteria for their promotions. This will be a far better and useful method to help in the cops’ career than gifting transitory rewards that may be used and forgotten.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Make India
‘Spit free’
Some people construe spitting in public places their birth right. Strangely, other parts of the world like Europe was used to the disgusting act of spitting on streets. But with time, things changed.
Not so in India where the sight of a spitter with mouthful of saliva, admixed with tobacco, can be a cause for sleepless nights for the discerning.
It is not anybody’s case that there are lack of rules. There have been many; paucity of will to implement them adequately has emboldened the chronic spitter. Maharashtra was the state that pioneered the anti-spitting law, in 2015, ranging from a fine of Rs 1000 rupees 5000 depending on the number of times the offender was caught in the act. However, there seems to be little headway in catching the “droolers”.
In Maharashtra, in addition to the fine, spitters caught red-handed were expected to do different community service to shame them.
The spitters are too “busy” to understand that their shameful act could bring in a host of communicable diseases. Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have anti-spitting laws, but on paper only.
The government should seriously think on the lines of introducing stringent punishment for spitters or enact an Act to provide spittoons for the benefit of spitters.
PM’s “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” needs to shift its focus on making India “spit-free”—-a tall order, but worth trying.
Ganapathi Bhat,
Akola
