Provide onions at subsidised rate
Recently the price of onions has increased considerably. As a matter of fact, the existing rate has brought tears in the eyes of Goan consumers at large. In Ponda and its surrounding areas, the rate ranges from Rs 90 to Rs 100 per Kg. The same is unaffordable to the common man. Onions being an important food item, people have been hard hit due to the present inflationary prices.
The State government has to consider the difficulties of citizens at large and initiate appropriate favourable steps in order to provide onions at a subsidised rate through its outlets. In case this item is provided at around Rs 50 per Kg, it would go a long way in reducing the burden of a common man.
Of course, people need to secure some relief in this regard at the earliest. Let us hope that the government would do the needful possible in the interest and welfare of its citizens.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
‘Smart street’ in every town, village
While a smart city may be a distant dream, Goa has got it’s first ‘smart street’ in the coastal village of Calangute. The street has 30 light poles with four-coloured theme lighting, CCTV cameras and WiFi connection. The entire paved street is also lined up with solar blinkers which come alive at night and digital smart boards that are used to flash messages.
It is understood that the 'smart street' has been done through CSR activity and that the government has not spent a single rupee to develop it. The 'smart street' was possible because of the nod given by the locals and was developed by a private party in association with village panchayat. The street indeed looks very impressive. It is obvious that maintaining this street needs to be given top priority in order to make the facilities, which are available, to last. It would be desirable for every town and village in the State to have a ‘smart street’ in it's locality. The respective civic body and panchayat could earmark a particular street to convert it into a ‘smart street’.
While becoming a tourist attraction in the locality, the 'smart street' will also set a benchmark for other streets in the town and village as far as cleanliness and maintenance of street lights and other work is concerned since every street will then be compared to the ‘smart street’ in the locality.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Savoury memories
The onion is widely seen as the poor man's vegetable. It is the staple food of the common man and has seen a steep rise in the country in the last few weeks. This is because of hoarding and the sale in black. The price-rise has resulted in kitchen grievances for majority of the households, as the price is too high for them to afford.
Onions are needed by us daily not only for cooking, but also for making salads, poha, bhajiyas and burji. It is also needed for garnishing raita.
This inflation has made the life of the common man very difficult. The worst hit are the fixed income groups like the salaried people, labour class and the pensioners. For them, even the commodities of basic necessities like rice, wheat, sugar, pulses and vegetables are getting out of reach. Every increase in price disturbs their budget.
The price of onions to Rs 100 a kg in Mumbai and elsewhere in the country is bringing tears to our eyes much before we cut them.
The government must control inflation and must do something to bring down the price of onions so as to provide relief to the common man.
Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai
The overdose show must go on
A hybrid version of the notorious EDM Sunburn is slated to make re-entry into Goa soon, as per online reports. The cause of the three boys' deaths last December are yet to be resolved but to quote the feckless tourism minister "The show must go on". The strict lockdown during Covid 19 proved that there is every chance to put an end to tiny Goa's tryst with psychotropics but this is probably not on the cards.
The sad truth that the drug business and lawmakers are complicit is painfully obvious. There are numerous red flags to Goa hosting this EDM again; from the notoriety associated with it to the financial scams and alleged criminal charges against their local partners here. To the young, restless and unaware, the effects of synthetic drugs are deadly, sometimes even violent. The high comes on fast and strong, but can have side-effects like paranoia, extreme anxiety, hallucinations, seizures, aggression, suicidal or homicidal behaviour.
The gruesome murders of teenager Scarlett Keeling and Danielle McLoughlin are a testament to this. Both these beloved daughters met their violent ends at the hands of locals with a history of illicit drug use. The recent news about a Goan family being arrested for cultivation of cannabis was disturbing but is only a fraction of the scale of the macroeconomics behind this scourge. States with areas under Naxalite control grow and/or manufacture drugs that are spoon fed to innocent kids, a trend rationalised by Bollywood's relentless portrayal of India's item number: Goa.
Drugs and alcohol only trick an innocent into believing she/he is happy with a fleeting flood of chemically induced satisfaction.
Reality check: True happiness is always free and isn't peddled by Jack the ripper.
Chris Fernandes, Miramar
The Gandhi legacy
Mahatma Gandhi was a silent hero of his generation never outsourced ethics. He dreamt it; lived it. Gandhi taught us to invent our own ethical world. Gandhi was perpetually for experiments. Walking, fasting, weaving, printing, cooking, protesting were all his experiments. Gandhi's ethics doesn't appeal to the new generation. I feel Gandhian ideals are increasingly irrelevant in the present world. Despite Gandhi being deified by politicians unerringly on the day's of his birth and martyrdom, the true spirit of Gandhian ideology is seldom remembered by people.
I concede that Gandhi's leadership did appeal to the ethics of his generation. Without Gandhi, India would have been independent nation perhaps earlier than 1947. But, it was Gandhi's legacy which has helped us to become more liberal, democratic nation.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Power outages in Goa
Powercuts in Goa have made people’s life miserable. The major issues resulting in power cuts in any area are power shortage and lack of proper network infrastructure. Electricity being an essential service has become much more than a luxury now affecting every aspect of life. The lack of proper infrastructure and inadequate operation and maintenance of the network are causing frequent power cuts in Goa. Frequent breakdown of a transformer indicates inadequate monitoring and maintenance of the transformer.
Goa does not have its own power generation and is totally dependent on central generating stations. People have been celebrating the festival in darkness as power supply is being cut frequently in Goa. The Electricity Department has failed to provide uninterrupted power supply even during this important period.
Privatisation of electricity would be a better option as it would lessen the burden of demand on existing sources. It would also be a good way to utilise the wind and solar energy. Moreover it would bring a great relief to the local population as there would no longer be any frequent power cuts as natural resources would be utilised to supply power.
KG Vilop, Chorao