Dumb and dumber
A politician recently said that people must ‘consume laughter in large doses to remain healthy’! Well, we know that politicians regularly laugh at the way the voters are fooled time and again – whether by a ruling member, opposition member or newbie. And they are indeed very healthy. Of course, they have not disclosed other gains that contributed to their prosperity. Reminds one of the cartoon: Dumb and dumber.
The famous IIT did a detailed study and found that the Covid virus came from outside India from 2 countries. The new mutant strain was discovered before December 15 and immediately disclosed to the world. The IIT was saved a lot of work here.
Despite being forewarned, 6 positive cases to date of the new strain have been found in India. Their contacts have not been traced leave alone tested. Today is 14 days from 15th. Why were passengers from the UK not stopped on the 15th alone? Why only on the 22nd? Who bungled? A replay of dumb and dumber? Will laughing keep us healthy and free from the new strain?
R Fernandes, Margao
Hold the exams with great caution
The detection of new strains of Corona virus cases in India, in a way while compounding the already existing fear has again signalled that people are not still out of woods. As per the reports published very recently, Goa has the second highest number of positive cases in India only next to Kerala. Under such grim situation the parents of the students of Std X and XII seriously wonder, without any logical explanation, why the school authorities are hellbent in holding physical 20 marks exams in January?
The exams that are scheduled in January by the schools must be held online only as this is the best way to safeguard the student’s life as well as their family’s life. The practicals must be held in March as Goa Board has decided to hold the final examination in April-May for both Std X as well as XII. Considering the present grave situation, the HRD Ministry at the centre has also declared that no exams must be held for X and XII until end of February.
As the vaccine has already given hope, we must be extra cautious for a little more time and do everything within our boundaries to make sure we don’t snatch someone’s hopes, dreams and life due to our hasty and narrow-minded decisions.
Agnelo Pires, Panjim
Revival of Konkani Tiatr needed
With a dip in the number of coronavirus positive cases in the State, life is slowly and steadily getting back to normal even if one would like to call it the ‘new normal’. After the lockdown period, when the movement was restricted and people had to be confined within the four walls of their home, they deserve a break.
Movie houses are slowly opening up. People need some sort of entertainment to get over the mental trauma they had to undergo during the past several months due to the pandemic. For many Goans Konkani tiatr happens to be their sole source of entertainment. However, the tiatr has not been revived thus far. In this context it is gratifying to note that the Konkani tiatr “Hero” is making a comeback after crossing the century mark as the troupe is all set to perform once again after the pandemic.
Other tiatr producers and directors also need to come forward and stage their tiatr in halls by following all SOPs.
Goan Konkani tiatr lovers have over the decades supported the tiatr producers by attending their shows in large numbers. It is now left to the producers to give back to the people by reviving the tiatr culture in a big way.
Tiatr lovers are eagerly looking forward to the revival of this most popular form of entertainment among Goans.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Tread cautiously CM saheb
The State government is planning of permitting cannabis cultivation, the proposal for which was moved recently by the health department and vetted by the legal eagles. It is envisaged that the entire crop shall be directly purchased by the pharmaceutical giants for manufacture of medicines.
Recently India had voted in favour of a UN resolution to drop cannabis from the ‘most restricted drugs’ control list. In a place like Goa this move is fraught with danger as there is no guarantee that prospective cannabis cultivators will sell their produce only to pharma giants, they might also offload it to drug syndicates and smuggling cartels surreptitiously because of the extremely hefty profits to be realised. Regulating and exercising control over sale of cannabis would be a humungous task for the government machinery of a State which is already awash with drugs. Instead of permitting cannabis cultivation the State should incentivise horticulture and farming of exotic fruits like strawberries, kiwis, dragonfruit, avocados, etc.
Recently a farmer in Sattari district managed to successfully grow strawberries for the first time in North Goa , after attending a workshop in Mahabaleshwar. Also the strawberry fields are in close proximity to the Satrem waterfalls and the area can be marketed as a potential tourist spot generating employment for locals. Exotic fruits being low volume, high margin products will usher in prosperity to remote villages besides promoting sustainable farming practices.
Don’t play with fire CM Sir by getting carried away by the legalisation of cannabis in other parts of the world, everything has to be seen in context. Goa being Goa, promoting cannabis cultivation (it is already a cottage industry in many parts of North Goa) would merely make the State another Afghanistan, tread carefully.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Learn from Israel
One is flummoxed when one sees the amazing strides that a small nation like Israel has made over the years.
The small nation which is surrounded by much hostility, has made a meteoric rise, tantamount to that of a Phoenix in Greek mythology. More than 50 per cent of land in Israel is arid, yet it has excelled in agriculture.
The fact that India is spending a meagre amount on primary and secondary schooling, when compared with other developing countries, is a cause for great concern. The government should remember that money invested in education is never a waste.
The pact made between India and Israel in 2018 will pave the way for technological innovations in India and also make further development in agriculture and energy.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Erratic drinking water supply
The impact of water supply to the residents at Bhatlem has become difficult for the people and the routine of the day is disturbed. Moreover the water supply to the residences are contaminated. The pressure of water is low that it doesn’t reache to the first floor. Some of the buildings even don’t have storage options.
Water is one of the basic needs of human beings. The common feeling is that the authorities are not doing enough as they have to suffer often this ordeal . Even the ruling MLAs let alone the opposition are fed up and starts openly criticizing the pathetic state of water distribution in Goa. The residents of this constituency have been victims to irregular, contaminated and scarce water supply from the last two years. There is total injustice in the distribution of water supply in these areas. Water supply should be strengthened and quality of water should be improved. Goa government should give more importance to the water and electricity to the common man.
KG Vilop, Chorao
