Home delivery of booze in Goa?
It is learnt that Goa is one of the states reportedly contemplating a pilot project to allow home delivery of alcoholic drinks via online food delivery platforms starting with drinks with low alcohol content. Other states include New Delhi, Karnataka and Haryana. Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
While alcohol consumption is prohibited in states like Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland, all other States and Union Territories permit the sale of alcohol. Currently Odisha and West Bengal allow home delivery of alcohol. Obviously there are pros and cons in online availability of alcoholic drinks.
For many who perceive consuming alcohol as a recreational drink with meals and for senior citizens, who detest buying their bottle that cheers from traditional liquor vendors, this will be a welcome step.
This could raise the spirit of those who consider liquor as a social drink. Home delivery of alcoholic drinks will reduce incidents of drunken driving which has resulted in several road accidents, many of them fatal since drinks will be consumed at home. One will also probably consume less drinks at home than at a bar or a club.
Industry executives have reported increased sales in states where such deliveries are permitted. Hence the move could earn more revenue for the Goa government through the excise department.
However on the flip side there could be an increase in the number of alcoholics in the state. It may not be possible to keep a tag on the underage youth ordering for booze online.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Hatras stampede a ‘destiny’?
This has reference to the report ‘Nobody can avoid destiny, death is inevitable: Bhole Baba (O Heraldo July 18, 2024).
Sane words indeed, from a self-styled Godman. How true, ‘nobody can avoid destiny, death is inevitable’. Yes, and nobody knows the timing, we must also know, it is in the hands of the Almighty, not in man’s hands. So, do we conclude that the Hathras stampede was not a man-made tragedy but it was destiny?
We have heard, ‘when everything else fails, try prayer’. But, here it seems like, when you have nobody to blame for such tragedies, blame destiny! As such, man himself is blameless.
Destiny cannot speak or defend itself, but it is interesting to note what Jean Evelyn Nidetch an American businessperson said, “it's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny”. So, where do we stand, whom do we blame for anything that goes wrong in our life?
Melville X D'Souza, Mumbai
World gradually turning dictatorial
TADA, then POTA, and now UAPA were laws introduced to curb terrorism. But unfortunately, these laws were largely misused by the State and its agencies, leading to the suffering of many innocents, and their families. Many youths were unjustly picked up, branded as terrorists, and jailed for years. A conviction rate of less than 5 percent, where courts ruled how the laws were unnecessarily invoked. Often justified as collateral damage going against the law maxim “that it is better that guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer”.
It is sad and unfortunate that this continues to happen in today's times also, with even political opponents and activists branded as terrorists. Then it was TADA / POTA, now it is UAPA. Are the law meant for settling political scores or dissuading dissent? By today’s standards, renowned figures like Gandhi, Tagore, Bose, Nehru, Savarkar, Sarojini Naidu and countless others too would have been labelled as terrorists.
But this issue is not limited to India alone; the world is gradually turning dictatorial, with those in power using nationalism as a tool to suppress their people. Tagore’s words seem to be particularly more relevant in today's times: "Nationalism is a great menace to the world. It is the particularism of the human mind which is the greatest obstacle to the realization of human unity.”
Has Nationalism been misused to abuse human rights and can it be reversed to promote peace, stability and progress in the true sense? Or is the World heading for harder times ahead, and leading to a path of self destruction?
Sandeep Heble, Panaji
Govt paying lip service to Dabolim airport
The ever increasing number of airlines choosing to operate from Mopa airport, instead of Dabolim is going spell doom to the tourism sector in South Goa. The Government’s claim of saving the Dabolim airport is only a mere eyewash with the most recent Air Arabia choosing to shut shop at the Dabolim airport and transfer all operations to the Mopa.
The government needs to intervene and save the falling footfalls to the South instead of only promoting the north. The tourism industry which was thriving in the south is now witnessing a downfall. The Mopa airport is no doubt an infrastructural pride to the State of Goa and a boost to the Goan economy. However, both the airports should be functional by striking a right balance between the operation of flights by airline carriers.
The Government should act quickly and design a policy where airlines need to operate flights by ensuring a healthy ratio of domestic and international airlines from both the airports. Goa is indeed blessed with two international airports, so the Government needs to work in the best interest of the welfare of the people of north and south Goa.
Sheldon Rodrigues, by email
Register pets with civic bodies
The issue of stray dogs was debated and the onus to implement these schemes falls on local self bodies or NGOs. While the scheme was notified many years back, it could not be implemented due to paucity of funds.
Infact, owners should register their pets with the civic bodies while sterilised and animals vaccinated against rabies should be tagged so that a proper record is maintained.
Our legislators should also do some yeomen service and part with land so that animals can be saved.
Gregory E D’Souza, Siolim