Vote wisely, get employed
Many States including Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat have all either announced, or are in the process of implementing a policy or bill that plans reservation for locals in government and private jobs by default without any hassles to upto 75% the least. How about Goa and when? 60 years since Goa’s liberation, what we have seen is, the increase in percentage of jobs offered on a silver platter to the neighbouring States, who are keeping the below 25% employed Goans in all sectors under their feet, why, isn’t bullish? The main reason is, most of our high percentage of bureaucrats is uneducated or unqualified in their position, to them; this means all Goans are the same to allow others to suppress their talents and education – while placing a red carpet to the neighbouring State candidates. In Goa most heads of the unit, branch and zone are non-Goans. This is one of reason why Goans have ventured aboard as they are treated like aliens in Goa, where local jobs are concern. In my personal experience, I know of a private bank in extreme South Goa, where I have never seen a single Goan branch manager since 2014 of nearly 6 in 7 years that I’m personally banking with and the joke is, the supervisory or lower position Goan act as manager when they are pushed to attend Goan customers with banking challenges – what a shame on those who are encouraging such non-Goan recruitment. The story does not end here, most in the zonal unit who are responsible to recruit for the branch offices are also non-Goans, who are totally blind to see any Goan application. The sad thing is, the small 25% percentage of Goan recruited is harassed to resign when the zonal or the branch manager has his or her own non-Goan candidate in line for employment. To conclude, it is the bureaucrats who are to be blamed time and again at the cost poor assessment by the electorates, these bureaucrats just look after their own development and this encourages those to take advantage of the situation. Now as election is nearing, one will see this manifesto of employing 75% Goans in all sectors printed in bold, but once they win, the same will be buried in daylight – Being a Goan, it is sad, helpless and uneasy to digest one of this poorest atrocities against our innocent and educated Goans at large. It is time to vote wisely and get employed to make Goa proud!
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
SOPs to curtail COVID surge
The recent circular issued by Revenue Secretary to curtail rise in COVID-19 cases seems like shooting in air with no aim. On one hand the State’s CM says there shall be no curbs, as the tourism economy has to run, on the other hand the circular issued curbs tourism activity in Goa. Can the government answer to this to the people of Goa: how many people who are currently infected have taken their vaccine? If 50% of those who have contracted COVID this month, are vaccinated what is the efficacy of the vaccine? Or if 50% of those who have contracted COVID during this month, are not vaccinated, then how was the statistics that Goa´s 100% population is vaccinated was arrived by the CM months ago? The curbs in restaurants; casinos, weddings, parties, etc, will not help curtail the spread of COVID. I feel the rise in COVID cases should be attributed to the election rallies held since the beginning of this month by political tourists. If one recollects the first rally was on Dec 10 and the last for this year was Dec 21. Can the CM and the Revenue Secretary issue orders, that in such rallies only 200 people can attend one rally, RTPCR test is a must, SOPs maintained, social distancing maintained, only vaccinated can attend such rallies? Will the government have the courage to do this? Or will the government shy off in this question and impress the EC to postpone the election in the excuse of COVID?
Economy is already affected by COVID and there is no proof that only unvaccinated people are affected by COVID. But yes, there is proof that COVID variants have travelled across continents by vaccinated people. So, forcing the economy to run only on vaccinated people is nothing, but spreading COVID and its variants faster. Let better sense prevail, we have a CM who is from medical fraternity, so he should be a person with vision, a person who should be keen in studying the cause of spread of the virus.
Allen Noronha, Porvorim
Ramp up testing
For the second day running Goa showed a sharp upswing with 170 new COVID cases reported while the infectivity rates went off the charts, zooming past 5.25% compared to less than 2% over the past month. In the absence of widespread testing (December 26 saw just 1073 tests being conducted), it is unclear whether the current numbers are driven by the Omicron variant or is it still Delta at work. This might be attributed to people enjoying the festive season with friends and families and fewer testing centres being open but it is time we took the bull by the horns and ramped up testing across the board. Compared to Karnataka which does 20,000 tests daily, our numbers are a pittance though we receive four times the number of tourists our neighbouring State does. A minimum target of 5000 tests, along with proportionate genome sequencing assays should be set as Goa is witnessing a massive influx of visitors. Increased surveillance at crowded public places like cinema halls, stadiums, malls, banquet halls and markets is a must, also the recently announced SOPs should be strictly implemented without fear or favour; the next superspreader event could very well be a beach party, a shopping festival, a marriage reception or an election rally. If we are to get a semblance of control over the rampaging coronavirus it has to be…Testing 1,2,3….Go !!
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Switch back to online classes
A day after shying away from imposing any restrictions fearing disruption of the festive tourism peak despite a surge in cases, the Goa government has finally announced a slew of restrictions. Guests and staff at parties and other functions will have to produce RT-PCR for tests conducted not more than 72 hours or carry a full vaccination report. Casinos, cinema halls, community halls, parks and other entertainment cannot operate beyond 50 percent. The State has seen a positivity rate jump to 5.25 % and all necessary pandemic related protocols have to be strictly followed. It is pertinent to note that the first case of Omicron reported in the State was that of an 8-year-old boy who travelled from a foreign country. Contrary to belief that children are more immune to the virus than adults, it must be said that the transmission rate of the Omicron variant makes even children susceptible to the disease. Goa had recently commenced physical classes for school and college students. In view of the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the State it would be in the fitness of things to revert back to the online classes. Parents could be apprehensive of sending their children to attend physical classes. Vaccination of children will commence only in the first week of January. Children could be vulnerable during the third wave of COVID-19 which is expected to reach the peak in the country in February. While many restrictions are in place in the State, the government needs to take the call to switch to online classes.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
