letters to the editor

Curbing corruption

In a bid to provide a corruption-free civic administration, it is understood that the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has launched an initiative to curb bribes. Under this “Do Not Pay Bribe” initiative any citizen who has a complaint of being asked for a bribe by any MMC employee can intimate the same to the Chief Officer by writing a letter or by a WhatsApp message to his official mobile number.

These complaints will reportedly be investigated through an internal enquiry and any action deemed necessary will be taken. It is also understood that the confidentiality of the complainant’s identity will be maintained.

This is a step in the right direction as it will go a long way in reducing corruption in public offices. Such an initiative needs to be introduced in other civic bodies and panchayats in the state. However, it must be said that the one who offers a bribe is equally at fault as the one who receives it. There may be instances that the bribe is offered to get the work done in quick time without any demand being made for the same.

It is for the general public to take the initiative to put an end to corruption in public offices.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

End plastic pollution

When did Earth Day (celebrated on April 22) grow into Earth Month? Does it mean we can choose any one of the 30 days to do “it” or we should do “it” for all 30 days? Well, let’s first see what they want us to do this year. Is it an easy “do?” Does it save “me” money? This year’s theme is “End Plastic Pollution”. 

According to the World Economic Forum, by the year 2050, our oceans are expected to contain more plastic than fish. Essentially, this really shows how much plastic we will be consuming. Plastic, a fossil fuel product, does not biodegrade, instead it breaks down into tiny pieces that the fish eat, and then we eat the fish.

Another common destination for plastic is the landfill, which contains toxic chemicals, and this in turn contaminates groundwater. I suggest we really try to make small efforts in ending plastic pollution every single day. It’s not hard, and it saves everyone money.

Just like our trash cans, our garages and our homes, the earth has limited space to store junk. 

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai

Maligning the judiciary?

The CBI Judge BH Loya (Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, DOB: 12/12/1966, Gategaon, Latur/MH State, DOD: 01/12/2014, Nagpur, MH State, Age 47/48) who was handling/presiding over the Sohrabuddin Sheikh 'fake' encounter (on 26/11/2005) case in which various police officers and the incubent BJP's president and then Home Minister of Gujarat State Amit (Bhai) Shah were named/allegedly involved (the latter was later exonerated in the case), died on 01/12/2014 due to cardiac arrest, which was confirmed by the hospital authorities/doctors and even by Loya's close friends present at the spot and also by Loya's son too.

At that time Loya was in Nagpur who went there to attend the marriage of a daughter of his colleague. In the case, finally the SC has ruled (gave a verdict) that Loya's death was natural. And, that a separate/independent probe as asked for in the five PILs filed, was dismissed and pulled up the petitioners and their lawyers.

The verdict of the SC went against the expectations of the Opposition Congress (INC). And, allegedly at their insistence, few (proxy) PILs were filed in the SC, seeking a separate and independent probe to find out the exact cause of death of judge Loya. The 'proxy' acts of filing PILs indirectly by the Opposition party (INC) and thus doubting the integrity of the judges, scandalising of the judiciary, is highly dangerous to the norms of democracy of India. Certainly one would conclude in the regrets that the politicians of sorts are even maligning the judiciary and using it as their 'ploy' to aim at settling political scores which is a dangerous trend that should be avoided."

Vijay D. Patil, Pune

Et tu Judiciary of India?

With the verdict in Justice Loya case given by the Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the four senior learned judges of the Supreme Court who held an unprecedented press conference to record their displeasure over the Chief Justice allocating sensitive cases to preferred benches particularly the Loya case for reasons best known to him stand vindicated of their stand.

Despite such a hue and cry against his conduct, the Chief Justice continued to go ahead with the benches set by him and saw to it that he headed benches handling such sensitive cases.

There can be no second opinion that many questions remain unanswered and the Bench has only based its verdict on the assertion of the fellow judges of Justice Loya that there was no foul play in the death of Justice Loya, conveniently forgetting the fact that those four judges are not medical experts but only legal luminaries.

Whatever said and done, people have lost their faith in the judiciary particularly with this verdict and one is pushed to think that the impeachment proceedings initiated against Chief Justice Dipak Misra by the opposition parties is right.

Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai

Unified road tax in India?

Toll-payment through digital mode? Why not abolish toll by increasing one-time road-tax? This refers to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) experimenting of toll-payment on some selected highways through mobile phones linked with pre-paid wallets so that motorists may not have to stop at toll-plazas. But with most people paying cash, toll-plazas will continue to be an unnecessary hurdle in smooth traffic-movement thus slowing down pace of vehicles on modern built highways at heavy cost.

Otherwise also there are massive irregularities, corruption and problems of law and order. Even some private persons in connivance with local authorities and police have set up unauthorised toll-plazas to mint money.

State-governments are now asking, rightly too, uniform rates of road-tax. It is best time to decide for an increased uniform road-tax throughout the country which may also add adequate one-time payment to abolish concept of toll-tax. Purchasers of vehicles costing lakhs of rupees each will not mind paying some increased one-time road tax with cost of new vehicle to gain by abolition of toll-tax. 

Existing vehicles can be asked to deposit balance of increased tax by providing them a sticker to be fixed on their wind-screens.

Madhu Agrawal, 

Delhi

Do more for education

The education sector of the country is in a deplorable condition. Instead of producing thinkers and intellectuals, we are producing students who rely on rote learning. In addition, teachers that are appointed in various government schools and colleges are inexperienced because of which students suffer the most. 

It is the responsibility of the government to work for the betterment of our people and take relevant steps to uplift the education sector.

The sad state of the education sector doesn’t affect the rich. It is the lower-income families who have to bear the brunt of the neglect of the authorities. 

While affluent families send their children to private schools, the poor are left with no viable options and continue sending their children to schools that are neglected. Progress and peace can be brought to the country through education. We need to do more to uplift our education sector.

Md Rustam Parwez, Hyderabad