Strays menace at frightening levels
Given the fact that the Goa Government has been unable to address and redress the grievances of humans, it should at least try to ensure that our State is freed of the alarming menace of stray dogs and cattle.
The stray dog and cattle population has reached frightening levels plaguing every nook and corner of the State which is very worrisome. Even our beaches have not been spared. The government needs to tackle this issue with a sense of urgency so that people can walk on the streets and travel on the roads without any hindrance. The stray dog population is multiplying all over with every city and village infested with the menace.
The anguish and distress faced by a victim of a dog bite is only to be experienced or seen. Many years ago a toddler at Ribandar lost both eyes after being attacked and mauled by a stray dog. He is growing up now without eyes. Lots of people are also terrified of their bark, growl and being chased risking personal injury, anxiety and fear.
There is a need and necessity for the authorities to consider the seriousness of the stray dog menace.The welfare of dogs cannot supersede the well being of humans. Over the years crores have been spent on tackling the stray dog menace but the situation is just getting shoddier. The so-called sterilization programme is just not working. Sterilization alone can anyway never be the only solution to this grave and alarming crisis of stray dogs. There is a need to educate people on their responsibility for owning pets and garbage management so that strays are not encouraged to be attracted to easily available litter and garbage on our streets and neighbourhoods.
Animal welfare organizations have been making tall claims about their successes in controlling the stray dog population. However, the general public remains unimpressed as the stray dog population grows relentlessly. Pet animals may be an asset to society. It is also true that animals are required to be protected from unnecessary pain and suffering. However, when it comes to choosing between the sufferings of human beings due to a dog bite, obviously the weight age will have to be given to the suffering of humans. There is a need and necessity to consider the seriousness of the stray dog menace in a very dispassionate manner uninfluenced by any emotional issues.Will it need the kin of a Minister to be mauled by a rabid dog for the authorities to act on this grave issue?
Aires Rodrigues,
Ribandar
Highway to hell
It is ironic in the extreme that while the government has taken up cudgels with Karnataka in the Supreme Court over the Mhadei water diversion issue, it has no qualms about destroying the catchment area of the Khandepar (which is the source of raw water for the Opa treatment plant supplying water to Tiswadi and Ponda talukas) by bulldozing through the three linear projects, ofcourse with much help from the Centre.
Today the Power minister informs us that there is no provision (read: intent) for conducting a cumulative environmental impact assessment for these projects, the last fig leaf of the government’s ‘deep concern’ for Goa’s ecology has thus been discarded. It was primarily for ensuring water security that Mollem and adjoining areas were declared as ‘protected’ zones in the 1990s, with the Dudhsagar and various tributaries originating in the Western Ghats flowing through it.
Mollem is also home to 1512 plant species, 275 bird species, 48 kinds of animals and 48 genera of reptiles, second only to the Amazon rainforests in terms of biodiversity.The state is not paying heed to saner voices calling for a stop to such pyrrhic ‘progress’…a myth, if not an outright lie .From a water surplus state we will turn into a parched land , a mini Sahara of sorts if we do not take cognisance of the enormity of the annihilation which awaits us. For now, we are surely cruising on the ‘Highway to Hell’ with blinkers on, maximum acceleration, no rear view mirror, a full tank of gas and defective brakes.
Vinay Dwivedi,
Benaulim
Awards & rewards: Pros and vons
Many a times we read about some personalities being bestowed with awards and/or rewards and these may be by State, National, International bodies or Governments. The recognisations are for their contributions to arts, sports, sciences, films etc. The awards may be politically motivated or influenced or for other considerations. This is a grey area.
There are 4 categories of persons who are awarded. (1) Persons who are awarded only once in their lifetime and forgotten even if they do remarkable work later on. (2) Persons who get more than one award. Perhaps, the first award acts like a magnet and subsequently attracts the others! For example, a person who has already being bestowed with Padma Shri, could be given Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibushan and may be even the Bharat Ratna! Incidentally (and fortunately) all these are citations and do not have any monetary benefits to the recipients or to their families.
At the international level we have the Nobel Prizes which are the jewels in the crown, Maysaysay Award, Bookers Prize, Oscars etc. There are persons who end up cornering more than one award for the same work! (3) People who are awarded when they are so aged that it does not make any difference to them. Had they received due credits during their prime of their lives these would have been helpful in their career. (4) Awards that are bestowed posthumously do not serve much purpose and is an insult to a person who was not appreciated or recognised during his/her lifetime. It is good if these awards have some financial gains for the family else the citations may lie in a cupboard and be forgotten.
Any awarding bodies or governments need to have a procedure in place that a person who has already being awarded should not apply nor be nominated for another award. There is no need to keep adding feathers to their already overcrowded cap. No one person would be so exceptional or brilliant enough to get several awards for the same kind of work or contribution. There are hundreds of deserving and unsung people who also deserve to be awarded and rewarded.
Sridhar D’Iyer,
Caranzalem
Good article
This has reference to the article ‘Keep life simple’ (Herald, 28 January). Change is inevitable, yes and see the change that has set in with the coronavirus on the rampage. In the background of the coronavirus turning the world upside down, this piece by Sathappan Narayanan is like soothing ointment on the wounds. Of course, the world has seen numerous deaths on account of wars and other epidemics but this pandemic is unprecedented. While we do our best to prevent contracting this disease by taking basic precautions like wearing a mask, etc., we should be prepared for any eventuality.
The article rightly says, happiness and sorrow are after all, two sides of the same coin. Could we also say, Life & death are also two sides of the same coin. The author ends beautifully, when he says, ‘everything is equal in this world – all people, all emotions, all events – if you learn this important lesson, everything becomes simpler.’
As we can see COVID-19 had struck all equally, without discriminating between rich & poor, weak or strong, high class or lower class, etc., etc. So, keep it simple, folks!
Melville X. D’Souza,
Mumbai
