Medical profession is under siege

While doctors have been protesting for their safety for over a month in Kolkata, New Delhi witnessed a gruesome murder of a 50-year-old doctor, who was shot dead by two teenagers, which is shocking. It raises the question: how many more doctors on duty must be killed before the authorities take decisive action to ensure their safety? The medical profession, built on the fundamental principle of saving lives, is under siege.

They continue to work under constant fear, forced to protest in the streets instead of focusing on their duties. Medical associations across India have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of safety protocols and enhanced security at hospitals, but these appeals have mostly gone unanswered.

Every life lost under such circumstances is a tragic reminder of the failure of the government to protect those who dedicate their lives to saving others. The administration must take all steps to ensure the safety of doctors. If the matter is not treated with the urgency it deserves, we risk losing more lives of both patients and doctors.

Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai

Social Activists are doing yeoman service

There has been a huge public outcry in the state against illegal land conversion, hill-cutting, illegal land-filling, etc. A clarion call has been given to Goans to remain united against arbitrary changes in land use regulations in order to protect the identity and land of Goa.

At the forefront of this mass movement have been the social activists as well as the RTI activists. RTI activists who are the backbone of activism. If not for the efforts put in by these activists, Goa would have lost a lot of its land to real estate developers from other states, especially from Delhi.

These social activists are the eyes and ears of the Goan population and are doing yeoman service for society. They are there everywhere giving a helping hand to the locals who are fighting injustice.

However, taking strong objection to the recent criticism of various government initiatives and decisions, the ruling party has reportedly condemned the functioning of some activists, accusing them of acting as “extortionists” and misusing the platform for personal gains.

It seems like a move to stifle the voice of the social activists. Social activists have the confidence to fight those in power and the passion and perseverance to see victory in the face of opposition. If there is proof of social activists engaging in extortion then legal action can be taken instead of just making statements to demoralize those who take up public issues.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Question mark over safety of students

Two back to back incidents that happened in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh respectively have put a question mark on the safety of the students at school.

A school principal in Gujarat's Dahod was arrested on the charge of sexually assaulting and killing a six-year-old girl student of his school while giving her a lift on the way to school in his car.

The principal of the government-run Torni primary school had allegedly kept the body of the Class I girl student in the car throughout the day and later dumped it in the school compound in Singvad taluka on September 19.

In another incident, a Class II student was killed on the premises of DL Public School in Rasgawan in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras in a sacrificial ritual for the institute's prosperity on September 23. According to police, the manager and the owner of the school, a teacher, and the principal were involved in the crime.

Even a government-run school fails to ensure the safety of its students. Now, where should parents go for their children's education?

It is a crying shame that a public school has turned out to be a breeding ground for superstitions. It happens when we are going to celebrate the 75 years of the Constitution which says developing scientific temper is a fundamental duty of every citizen of India.

Sujit De, Kolkata

Rent-a-car and accidents

Where this business idea of rent-a-car came from no one knows. It may have started with good intention but for its misuse by our local tourists coming from various neighbouring states taking Goa for granted and presuming that anything "chalta hai", which is a misconception.

The fault is not theirs for misbehaviour but the government in power and particularly the Transport Ministry which is unresponsive and uncaring.

With the number of liquor shops given permission to operate everywhere the situation has aggravated to cause innumerable accidents killing innocent people and injuring many others bringing misery in life.

Neither the police is stern with such misbehaviour of tourists taking Goa for granted attitude nor the Transport Ministry is doing anything that such reckless driving under the influence of liquor to send a message across that Goa is not for anyone to do as and how one thinks can be done.

Said one affected citizen: with money easily flowing from the rent-a-car business, even some private car owners have given their cars on rent. Where is the law, where is the government, where is safety for innocent Goenkars who are law abiding and peace loving.

Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo

Tirupati laddu issue has snowballed

The Tirupati laddu issue grew much bigger than the actual size of the prasadam itself, and snowballed into a nationwide polemic solely because of our dirty politicians, who will not spare even the god for their selfish and cheap political gains. More than the alleged use of adulterated ghee into the laddu’s preparation, it is Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, whose purported ignition of the controversy for scoring quick political points and casting enough political dye, has actually accentuated the roiling issue.

It is more than clear that Mr Naidu, fearing a CBI probe into his hasty allegations, swiftly formed a SIT to negate the need for any inquiry by a central investigation agency, and ensure that the investigation remains under his government’s control.

Now that his remarks have boomeranged on him after the Supreme Court’s intervention, the AP chief minister appears more anxious, worrying if his allegations are proven false in the court, the impact could be significant for him and his government. But amid all the hubbub of the Srivari laddu issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been mute so far, and expectedly so because of the compulsions of the coalition dharma!

Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai

02-10-2024