Do we need legislators or Robin Hoods?
Promises of cash allowances, land rights, subsidised homes to the homeless are being made left, right and centre. It seems like the covert cash for votes concept is now being replaced by these overt flamboyant, impractical and illegal promises which will only backfire and have adverse impact on State’s Treasury, lead to economic disparity, in harmonic relations between citizens, and reduce the citizen’s faith in justice, merit, hard work and law of the land in the long run.
Have these parties first identified how many homeless people actually exist in Goa? Have they identified the land on which subsidised houses for these homeless people will be built? And why should we have a judiciary in place if such things can be settled by passing laws which are not even being debated on the floor of the House? How promises are made before defining anything or without debate?
Rather than trying to be Robin Hoods, legislators should promise on building avenues for employment so people can earn their living with dignity and can afford to buy their own dwelling place and renovating it. Focus should be on building infrastructure for growth and healthcare, assisted living for the elderly, better law and order to make Goa safe, disposing cases faster so people can get speedy justice.
Sonia Pereira,
Majorda
Think Goa, vote for a better Goa
Murkier as it gets, politics makes strange bedfellows. With the Goa assembly elections round the corner, what one witnesses in these days of run-up to the polls is politricks of the weirdest kind, unprecedented in the history of liberated and literate Goa.
The political pendulum of defections and alliances is seen vacillating faster than the wink of an eye. Unmindful of which party bandwagon they hop into and with scant regard to the sentiments and aspirations of the electorate, politicians are seen unashamedly exchanging party loyalties for their own conveniences, and then, if denied the party ticket they seek to contest as independents.
In the allotment of party tickets, winnability is preferred over credibility, a clear indication of how low political ethics in the State has stooped to. The core issues of corruption, joblessness, devastation of the ecology/ environment and breakdown in law and order regrettably remain in the backburner while political parties and their contestants seek to titillate voters in their favour by promising short term freebies and by playing divisive games.
It is now left to the citizenry to decide as to the type of governance that they wish to see; one that is clean, transparent and principled in the interest of Goa or one driven by greed, pursuit for power, wealth, bigotry and self-interest. May better sense prevail when the time comes to exercise our sovereign democratic right to vote. Goa deserves better.
Tomas Lobo,
Aldona
Maharaja back in Tatas hold
After being run as a government entity for 69 years, the Maharaja is back in the Tatas fold. The takeover comes three months after it emerged winner of the Air India privatisation exercise last year. With the new acquisition, the Tatas, who already hold a majority interest in Vistara and AirAsia India, will have access to 141 planes.
Besides, they will also get control of 4,400 domestic and 1,800 international landing and parking slots at domestic airports and 900 slots overseas. Given the Tatas quest for quality and excellence, one is sure they would transform the Maharaja into a world-class airline.
N J Ravi Chander,
Bengaluru
Immunisation for adults
With reference to your article titled Covishield get nod for use in adult population, this approval has come a little too late for many senior citizens who lost their lives in this 3rd wave. On Thursday, 15 deaths were reported in a single day. Relatives of those who died in January still wonder how their loved ones got infected in spite of protecting them within the safety and security of their own homes.
According to one doctor sometimes the biggest carriers of the virus are the vaccinated who move about irresponsibly without even wearing masks infecting the old and vulnerable. Some give an excuse that they feel uncomfortable wearing a mask and just carry it like a dirty rag on their chin. Have they stopped to think of the doctors, nurses and medical staff at the GMC ICU who sometimes are on a 24-hour duty fully covered wearing PPE kits?. The medical staff are risking their own lives and those of their family members.
Our religious institutions should have exercised restraint and austerity measures instead of having gala fellowships, pilgrimages and zatras.
Despite warnings this government did nothing to stop or prevent the spread of the virus.
Allwyn N D’Souza,
Saligao
Feb 14, a major day for the Goan youth
About 20 per cent of Goa’s population should be between 18 and 25 years of age and Goa being such a small State and when one look at his/her constituency – we know one another so well that we don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know our best candidate in the interest of our self growth and to keep our mother land clean and green.
Most parents are very caring towards their children and vice versa, although some parents could be stereo type to open their ears to their relatives, neighbours or friends for their views on candidates, but the youth can brain storm the parents, screen — share to a conclude a candidate with good character, integrity and should not look at the basis of political affiliations even if independent or have a herd mentality.
Surely not, and so, why risk to shatter your dreams again with poor governance for the next 5 years. Look at the democracy in Goa, it is decimated by illicit governance and setting where politician get richer and the State becomes poor, bringing us on the road, begging for help.
More importantly, I wish to live happy without any stress or obligations being my constitutional right, and so, on February 14, 2022 please proudly walk in the polling booth with your family members and uproot the rot out of our beautiful Goa once and for all – This coming election is “Do or Die” as there is hardly any charm left in Goa for the future generation to relish – let’s join to rejuvenate our beautiful Goa.
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Padma awards for political signalling?
Padma awards have always been political. Distinguished personalities is an arbitrary criterion, so people who are pushed by certain lobbies will stand to gain. It’s a little disappointing that a disproportionate amount of awards have gone to the poll-bound States.
For instance, in 2022, late BJP leader Kalyan Singh and Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad have been selected for the Padma Bhushan. The Padma awards are the highest civilian honours announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service) in any field. Padma awards are progressively being given to low-profile society changers most of whom hardly bother about the recognition.
KG Vilop, Chorao
