Cancel Leave Travel Concessions
Government employees (please do not call them ‘government servants’ else even the hi-fi UPSC officers and politicians would come under this category!) are entitled to leave travel/fare concessions (LTC/LFC).
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
LTC can be availed in a block of four years and entails fare reimbursements to the employee and his/her family. Depending on the eligibility an employee can travel by train or only Air India flights to any place in India once in 4 years or twice to his/her home town.
The finance minister recently announced that the LTC amount for this block year would be paid to the employees but there are three caveats. Either the employee undertakes the travel or pays 30% tax and retains the balance or buys goods (high-end products like car, mobile, computer etc) which need to be worth 2 times the LTC amount and documentary evidence needs to be produced by the employee. On the face of it the scheme seems to be ‘tempting’ and perhaps boost sales of products but there are some lacunae in the FM’s offer.
During the ongoing pandemic no one, in their right mind, would for the sake of a few days of vacation like to put themselves and their families to a great risk. Again, in these days of job loss, inflation, uncertainties etc who can afford to spend 2 times the LTC amount and buy goods (some may turn out to be white elephants)? Considering the near empty coffers of the government, the FM could cancel this year’s LTC block year and pay 50% of the amount to all.
The money saved could be used to disburse salaries to the unpaid Covid warriors like doctors, nurses, municipal workers and many others. This would be a win-win situation to the government and its employees.
Sridhar D’ Iyer, Caranzalem
Reopening of churches,chapels in Goa
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao has issued a circular letter to the Archdiocese of Goa & Daman and has appealed to all concerned priests to fully open churches/chapels latest by Nov 15 without any further delay so as to help all devotees (including those considered vulnerable by reason of age or illness) return to the active reception of the Sacrament.
Unfortunately, some people seem to be very much upset with this latest decision.
The Archbishop is definitely not trying to open churches or chapels for his own reasons but to help the faithful to reignite themselves with positive hope and to put their whole trust in God even in today’s worse pandemic crisis by strictly following all the SOPS without any compromises.
I therefore strongly feel that the people who believe in living with negative thoughts should not frighten others by talking of possible spike in coronavirus cases during the upcoming winter season and targeting the Archbishop for advising all the concerned priests to finally open the Churches/Chapels for devotees in Goa at the very earliest.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Do not be complacent
It is heartening to note that the Covid curve in Goa is on the downswing with significantly reduced caseload at the ESI hospital which has bottomed out at 50% occupancy.
With the onset of winter and also the festival season kicking in, it would be quite a challenge to hold down the infection numbers.Unfortunately the quantum of testing has been reduced in the past few weeks and needs to be scaled up pronto.There is a risk of abrupt reversal in Covid positivity if people don’t act responsibly in the months to come ie. they should maintain social distance, use sanitizers and wear masks in public at all times.It is entirely in our hands to keep ourselves safe and avoid a ‘ second wave’ , the government is doing it’s level best to ramp up medical infrastructure, manpower, testing and allied activities.
The general populace would be well advised to exercise restraint in these taxing times and limit their festive ardour by cutting down on temple visits, crowding in public places and by following all SOPs diligently.
After all “jaan hai toh jahan hai.” We can celebrate another day but right now it is imperative to keep the virus at bay.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Onion a bulb bomb
The onion is a bulb bomb in India, it is powerful enough even to shake governments. The Janata Party government at the Centre in 1979 and the BJP government in Delhi in the 90’s are still considered victims of onion bomb.
This month yet again we saw exploding prices sky rocketed to a record high of Rs 80 kg prompting jokes like onion rings giving diamond rings a run for their money.
The skyrocketing prices does not give glory to the farmers as the farmer sells his produce at a low price to the traders as he does not have enough storage facility and the skyrocketing price of onion benefit the traders as they bask in glory after making huge profits and the poor farmers after producing the onions is almost like a beggar and penniless hence the government has to bridge the gap and purchase the farmers and give them good prices.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Training students in green technology
It is understood that eighty-four government high schools and higher secondary schools in the state will soon get training in green technology. This will include training on how to make grey water potable, vermi-composting, ways of preventing soil erosion, use of solar energy and methods of water harvesting.
Green technology is a term that describes the use of technology and science to create products that are more environmentally friendly. The goal of green tech is to protect the environment and in some cases, to even repair past damage done to the environment. Green technology helps reduce emissions, conserves water, reduces waste and consumes less energy than conventional technology. The active use of green technology can help significantly reduce pollution. That is why the developed and some of the developing countries are now turning to this type of technology to help them protect the environment from negative impacts.
Students in the government schools will be taught how to develop solar panels to generate power. Schools will reportedly form committees comprising local agriculturists, civil engineers and technicians to work on the project and then train the community to implement it at the village level. This is a very ambitious project which will go a long way in educating children and, through them, the general public on how to save the environment. Besides the government schools, private educational institutions also need to take up this initiative.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Risk allowance to Covid-19 warriors
We are on the verge of beckoning the start of winter as well as the festive season has just begun. Winter signals an alarm as far as contracting Covid-19 is concerned and it is at this critical juncture that the selfless yeoman services of the doctors, nurses, health care workers and the Covid-19 testing personnel have to be lauded and appreciated.
Thus it would be in the fitness of things for the government of Goa to disburse a special offer of risk allowance to the front line Covid-19 warriors, who have put their own lives at risk in order to save the lives of thousands of those afflicted by the corona virus.
A special risk allowance would be a fitting tribute to all our Covid-19 warriors who have toiled tirelessly in order to bring a smile to the faces of those who have recovered. Let this token of gratitude not be denied to our Covid-19 warriors. This would be a fitting way to express our gratitude to them all.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
