Provide solace to unorganised sector
For India to graduate as a, in the first place a developed country and then a thriving superpower, the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us one very glaring shortfall. The unorganized sector workers in India, also known as the migrants as they travel to places where they can find work, the country has to adopt a Common Minimum Social Security network that in lean times, when they are found wanting, they can lean on.
Every multinational, companies registered under the Companies Act, 1956 and other big businesses should contribute say about 6% to 10% of their monthly emoluments towards a fund that will sustain them in hard times. The level of living standards of those that do not get paid well and live from hand to mouth, without provident fund, family pension and gratuity has to be uplifted by providing assistance by employers so as to secure their common minimum well-being.
The plight of the migrant labourers is very sad and woefully inadequate measures are taken to safeguard their basic living standards. In fact they are the ones who do the dirty work for us but their contributions should be appreciated. An organized mechanism has to be established to provide solace for the hard working unorganized sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened our eyes to their woefully inadequate social security and inability to provide for their basic needs.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Sad death of elephant
'Right to live' is not a prerogative of human beings. It applies to animals as well. The Supreme Court and various High Courts have, from time to time, upheld arguments in favour of animals' right to life. Two elephant deaths in close succession in Kerala has proved the increasing vulnerability of animals to man-inflicted cruelty.
The brutal killing of a pregnant elephant near the Valliyar river in Palakkad district, an incident that came to light on May 27, has sent shockwaves among animal lovers.
The villagers' propensity for eliminating wild animals like sloth bears to protect their crops is common knowledge in the area. Elephants, too, now it appears, are their favourite targets. There are, of course, views that the Palakkad elephant may unwittingly have walked into a snare trap that is usually laid out for boars and pigs. However, nothing can be said conclusively till the culprits are brought to book.
That is in itself difficult because the elephant, probably, was carrying an injury that was more than two weeks old and the big mammal is said to have covered some distance, writhing in pain, before trudging into water. Spotting an elephant with injuries can be a mammoth task as the gentle giants are known to move together in herds. The country is home to more than twenty five thousand jumbos; by conservative estimate, annually about eighty elephants die an unnatural death.
The Wildlife Protection (1972) Act, 1972, has taken some flack following the tragic incident. The Act was amended in 2002; something extraordinary related to identification, prosecution and conviction of 'animal criminals' appears missing. New ideas on conservation of natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants have to emerge. Elephant habitats should receive legal sanctity and diversion of forest land for illegal constructions should end so that man-elephant conflict is substantially reduced.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
US colour bar system
Further to the foul murder committed on Black man George Floyd in America by the White American Police Officer recently, I condemn this unpardonable cold-blooded murder and also such other brutalities committed by the police even below my nose.
How terrible is it to notice even in this century and in this millennium the curse of Apartheid still existing in America where two of its finest Presidents were killed because of their opposition to the Apartheid? What role the Church is playing in Christian America to stop this anti-Christian practice there?
I still remember how civil rightist Martin Luther King used the Church platform to oppose Apartheid in USA by the racist Whites who not only opposed Martin Luther King by showering abuses on him but even stoning his house because they were found at fault with racism. The spark produced by Martin Luther King’s sermon in his home town Church at Montgomery, telling the Whites who by virtue of being Whites, had to occupy the Benches placed at the right side in the Church while the Blacks at the left side. Seeing this type of segregation in the house of God, he told the Whites, “my dear brothers and sisters, if you cannot integrate with the masses (pointing to the Blacks) then you will never integrate with Christ because Christ is come from the masses”.
Some of the Whites attending the service volunteered to leave the Church but not to integrate with the Blacks. Such was the chicanery practiced by the White Christians there but the echo produced by this sermon reverberated all around USA prompting the larger number of Americans to oppose the apartheid.
I think America now needs one more Martin Luther King to completely eradicate the colour bar system.
A.Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Walking into a dead wall
I'm wondering if I’m a Goan, Indian, or even a human? As this human thing in us is now diminishing. Blame public for it or blame the lame Government there's no change, it's like walking into a dead wall.
The government is willing to pay Rs 6000 per migrant and not a single rupee to Goans, are Goans living on fresh air? Isn't a Goan taxi driver effected? Isn't a Goan shop owner effected? What about ‘pilots’, rickshaw or small kiosks, fish mongers or bus driver. We all are affected, some in a big way some small.
This government is more concerned about migrants but our Goans returning to Goa must pay for quarantine. Is this fair? What has the migrant bought to Goa? Ask what my NRI brothers and sisters have contributed to Goa. Where are these politicians and social workers at this time of need. Why isn't anybody questioning them? It's simple, if you speak you will be arrested. Section 144, lockdown, why do people want to go into the open? Don't they have fear? Don't they have families? They do so to fend for their families. Had you done your job and provided for the needy, I'm sure they would sleep, rest and spend time with their families. I'm sure you will agree.
I go out, I get beaten, if I escape it, I get fined for no helmet, seriously am I worried about a helmet at this time. When is this going to stop?
When are you going to think about the people, who voted for you, who gave you all this wealth and luxury? You give me a bag full of rice and sugar and take photos of it, you paint me on every social wall, what about when you loot and stash away crores of rupees? I guess this is called social service.
We have no ruling we have no opposition, it's Hitler’s regime. You talk I seal your mouth, you try to fly, I cut your wings, you try to run I cut your legs. You just wait and watch silently.
John Fernandes, by email
Good decision
The central government will develop 200 urban forests across the country in next five year under the Nagar Van Scheme. This is a good decision and necessary for the environment. As we know well that urban areas of the country are most polluted where carbon emission is much higher. Sometimes people find it difficult to breathe in metro cities. People should take part in cleaning the environment and save the forests. It will be helpful for a healthy life and better future for the next generation.
Amit Singh Kushwaha,
MP