Doctors and private practice
Dr M Joshi, retired physician
The recent unfortunate death of Raveena at GMC brings into focus once again the well-established fact that many doctors in Goa Medical College (GMC) as well as the Dept of Health Services (DHS) do private practice. This implies that their salaries are not remunerative enough.
After the Sixth Pay Commission, it was thought that government doctors would have no reason to complain. But that would be ignoring the fact that these professionals who dedicate themselves to the service of the patients who cannot afford private care and throng the GMC and DHS clinics, sacrifice lucrative careers in the private sector.
At the same time, the government is already reeling under financial constraints, and cannot be expected to offer salaries commensurate with corporate hospitals. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have tackled this by offering doctors the option of private practice after routine working hours by refusing the non-practicing allowance (NPA). This attracts more doctors to government service; it would help fill the numerous vacancies in the DHS and among the teaching staff in GMC. It would also mean considerable savings for the government.
Goa is one of the leading states in health care, and has a dynamic Health Minister, who has taken several innovative initiatives. It should not lag behind in looking after its health care providers.
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Karnad and CM
Cedric Da Costa, Margao
The recent resignation-retraction drama by noted actor Girish Karnad seems to be more of a publicity stunt than a protest. Every Goan knows how the current CM is a master of pulling cunning stunts and later blaming the media for ‘misquoting’ him.
All Goans must get together and ask the CM to ban fanatical organisations of all religions operating in Goa and ensure that the long standing issues plaguing Goa are solved before the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Liberation begin. Forget Karnad; can the CM ensure that illegal mining, River Princess, bad roads, garbage, and corruption in his government – including departments headed by him – are done away with?
What is the point in celebrating a Golden jubilee in which most of the crores of rupees spent will be pocketed by some middle men?
Parrikar, Jerry & Nitin
Leonardo E Lobo, Vasco
I strongly support the views expressed in the letters ‘Stop glorifying Parrikar’ by Jerry Fernandes (Herald, 19 August) and ‘Parrikar’s true face’ by Nitin Kamat (Herald, 20 August). They are a true reflection of the bankrupt character of Goan society today. Manohar Parrikar is wasting his time and energy trying to correct the ills affecting true Goans.
After all, isn’t it much more difficult to write a Letter to the Editor than what Parrikar did in the last Assembly session? People like Jerry and Nitin are doing more for Goa than Parrikar. Writing Letters to the Editor is a tedious and difficult job indeed!
Religious ravers
Kalidas Sawkar, Caranzalem
I commend Dr Joe D’Souza for having written an excellent and a balanced article: ‘God and Devil are in Man’ (Herald, 20 August). Unfortunately, in recent times, it has become fashionable to make rabid comments about all things science and scientific, while enjoying the fruits of scientific achievements.
Many people idiotically blame science for the Atom Bombs exploded in World War II, since they are too immature to properly reason out the developments or pros and cons of that war. Many of them equate science and scientists with inhumanity, and identify them with animals. Belief in God or religion is supposed to be with humanitarian intents. Both these equations and their makers are bigoted, to say the least.
Mocked in our home
Harold Andrade, by email
While travelling in a local bus on the Margao-Betul route, a group of male tourists conversing in Hindi, were making a mockery of the language and the music when Konkani songs were being played on the bus. I cannot understand how we allow these boors to show such disrespect to our language and music in our own land.
I have been studying in Tamil Nadu. I know if the same thing happened there, these people would have just shut their mouths out of fear. What can be more disgraceful than outsiders coming to our state and ridiculing its language and culture?
Inefficient MLA
Roque Pereira, Navelim
PWD Minister Churchill Alemao is receiving a much-deserved bashing in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ column these days. Regarding the squealing pig gaffe, someone should tell Churchill that NGOs comprise educated and farsighted people who have the welfare of Goa and Goans at heart, unlike himself, who refuses to see beyond his nose; or if he does, only for his own personal benefit.
Can Goa forget that Churchill, not long ago, called Goans ‘rascals’ on a national TV news channel?
As Navelim MLA, how many regular government jobs has he given to the people of his constituency? Can he come even close to the services rendered by Vishwajeet Rane and Sudin Dhavalikar in terms of jobs to the people of their respective constituencies?
Goa needs Oscar
Jerry D’Souza, Divar
On reading Whistleblower’s ‘Where is Dr Oscar?’ (Mirror, Herald, 8 August), I was upset as I misunderstood Whistleblower’s point. I was happy when I read the letter ‘Oscar’s rage is misplaced’ (Herald, 14 August), that it was saying that Dr Oscar is needed by Goa and Goans.
Dr Oscar’s reply ‘Reply to rumor-mongers’ (Herald, 11 August) must have brought tears in people’s eyes, as it did with me. Years back, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao was a crowd puller, as he used to fight for Goa and Goans. Now, only Dr Oscar can pull crowds, as we saw during GBA meetings. Can he also get people elected? Dr Oscar, we all want you back, not only as Dr Oscar but as MLA Oscar in 2012.
Life of the pitiful man
Bartholomew C D’Souza, Anjuna
Merciless discrimination in jobs by politicians bring frustration to deserving candidates, causing cries of favouritism against God. God simplifies it, saying: ‘If you do evil and reject the Lord, He will bring upon you disaster, confusion and trouble in everything you do, until you are quickly and completely destroyed.’
God further states ‘There will be no descendants for Godless men, and fire will destroy the homes built by bribery.’ Be careful how you accumulate wealth, because curses follow evildoers’ families, while blessings engulf the righteous.
Our rich MPs
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Parliament proposed to raise the salary of a Parliamentarian by a whooping 300 per cent, from Rs16,000 to Rs50,000 per month, plus allowances and perks. MPs are not happy with this and are asking for Rs80,001 per month!
These politicians were drawing a paltry Rs16,000 all these years, which only goes to show that Parliamentarians are not dependent on their salaries for their daily sustenance, and have other sources of income. How else can one explain the crores of rupees spent by each politician on elections?
What is the need to give them a raise at the cost of the taxpayer? In fact, Parliamentarians should work in an honorary capacity.
Aid to Pakistan
Michael Vaz, Merces
Pakistan, our unfriendly neighbouring country, is reeling under the fury of unrelenting floods, the worst in its history. Close to 1,600 people have perished and over 20 million are marooned, but it dilly-dallied on accepting aid from India.
This is what happens when one is obsessed with false pride. Isn’t it a tragedy that on the one hand they are asking for international succour and on the other spurning the help provided by a neighbour? Are they not concerned about the plight of their own people? Disgustingly, Pakistan has launched a campaign blaming India among others for the catastrophe. What is the use of peace initiatives under these circumstances?
Boycott Golden Jubilee
Arwin Mesquita, Abu Dhabi
I sincerely appreciate the protests in Margao on Independence Day against the anti-Goan policies of corrupt Goan MLAs / Ministers. The harassment of the protestors by the Goa Police should be condemned.
Instead of going around singing praises of the perceived development of the state, our Ministers should go around talking about what development they and their families have achieved.
The Golden Jubilee of Goa’s Liberation is coming up. Goans need to start another front to protest and boycott these farcical celebrations, and portray the true reality of how Goans are actually losing their state and identity.
Pot and the kettle
Orlando S A Da Silva, Carmona
Churchill Alemao’s outburst against Mickky Pacheco’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the functioning of the PWD is like the pot calling the kettle black. I remember when Churchill Alemao first took charge of the PWD, he gave an assurance that every road hot mixed in the state would last for at least three years, otherwise he will blacklist the concerned contractor and suspend the engineer concerned. Today, almost all roads hotmixed prior to the current monsoon have been washed away before the monsoon is even halfway through. The PWD minister is solely responsible for this, and should have submitted his resignation on moral grounds.
