Anti-terrorism Pledge

Information Officer Prakash Naik of the Department of Information & Publicity is seen here leading staff into taking ‘Anti Terrorism Pledge’ at the office premises of DIP, Panaji to mark observance of Anti-Terrorism Day on May 21, 2021. The pledge was taken in memory of the late Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi who was killed in a bomb attack by Sri Lankan terrorist in Chennai on May 21, 1991

What kind of a BJP government chief minister would impose the current on-going curfew of 15 days – but permit liquor shops to remain open? Surely essential services applies to grocery, veggie, chemist’s shops but not liquor shops! The essential goods shops are permitted to operate from 7am to 1pm daily in most parts of Goa. After that it’s a virtual shutdown with the exception of chemist’s shops. But mysteriously public vegetable, fish and pork/beef markets have remained virtually closed even before the half-day curfew came into force right from day one. Even mobile servicing shops are shut but shockingly all liquor shops are seen openly operating not just in towns but even in the most interior villages of Goa. Isn’t this confusing and disgusting?
I think that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s government is more interested in Goans staying drunk! Yes, after studying the attitude of this government it looks like we don’t have “aam-Goenkaracho” but a “rostaad-bhebdiencho” government in Goa and it’s a 100% hard fact, whether some people accept this harsh reality or not.
So, continue sleeping my most succegaad, self-centered Goenkaara and continue to silently watch the on going destruction/degradation of the small state of Goa in the hands of power hungry greedy elected politicians. Nidhot Rav Goenkaara and keep saying cheers of Viva Goa, Viva Goenkaar!
—Jerry Fernandes , Saligao

DEAR MR CHIEF MINISTER
GREETINGS from the GCCI! Our State is going through a unprecedented crisis and we hope that the pandemic wave recedes and the system rejuvenates soon. However, the most important project which needs to be proactively addressed is vaccine procurement and vaccine drive for which both sourcing and prioritization plan needs to be in place.
As we all are aware that the current pandemic is highly contagious and fatal and creates severe stress on the healthcare system and economy. While many are privileged to be able to work from home it is the retailers/distributors who have risen to the call of the duty of supplying essentials to homes, ensuring that the last mile delivery of essentials to the people goes uninterrupted.
However the fact remains that the retailers in general are left to fend for themselves with no acknowledgement or support from policy makers. Retailers have to pay rent, taxes, electricity bills, license fees, etc, during shutdown, lockdown or trimmed business hours with no dispensation provided. Despite being SME they are unable to benefit from any schemes or relief packages extended for MSME and hence hey are left high and dry.
The size of retail segment in India is almost $854 billion with 1.5 million stores across the country, together they employ 46 million people, sustain the livelihood of 250 million Indians. These numbers can estimate our contribution to the state of Goa. Retail is also one of the largest employer second to agriculture and it is the most inclusive employing people of all age, skills, education and economic background.
The government has recognized the work of Health Care Workers (HCWs) and Front-Line Workers (FLE), we do appreciate this gesture but the current scenario is also a “humanity crisis” and it is heartening to see several unsung heroes from retail and distribution contributing and risking their lives and braving the logistic hardships and odd working hours .
Unlike industries these Last Mile Workers (LMWs) meet on an average about 50 to 100 customers (citizens) a day and have a high chance of getting infected as they cannot exercise stringent covid SOPs due to the variance of consumers’ attitude as also due to the limited manpower at their disposal which directly contributes to the risk factor. The entire retail supply chain has multiple handshakes as goods move from manufacturer to the distributors then to the retailers and finally the end customer.
We request you to include retail and distribution workers as front-line warriors (FLW) and see that they are vaccinated on a priority basis so that they continue to serve risk free and contribute towards breaking the chain.
We share the following important inputs/suggestions for consideration vis-à-vis vaccination:
• The government of Goa come out with a vaccination priority plan
• To keep dedicated stocks of the vaccine for the retailers on priority
• Retailers will explore on providing infrastructure
• Mobile units for vaccination of retailers
• If required the retailers and distributors can create a corpus fund for vaccines
• Facilitate tie-up with leading private hospitals or PHC/RHC for seamless vaccination drive.
We look forward to hear from you at the earliest and assure you of our constant support in the fight against Covid-19.
—Manoj M Caculo, GCCI president, Panaji

IN FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION, PLEASE
Olencio Simoes President of GUWN has demanded that PCR test should be mandatory for the next six months for those entering in the State of Goa on account of 3rd wave which will be likely to hit Goa along with strict lockdown. Lockdown should be extended further until the Covid completely subsides in Goa as many employees, workers etc have been losing lives and demanded that Labour department should direct all the industries/factories to follow strict SOP’s as some workers are forced to come to work even if they fall ill .He also appealed to the High Court of Bombay to look into the gross mismanagement by the Directorate of Health Services.
Simoes stated that the death rate and positivity rate is still the highest in Goa as compared to the rest of India but still the Directorate of Health Services has failed to put the system in place to handle the covid crisis.
GMC is facing chaos and sadly the doctors are being over burdened by giving several charges as Dr.S.M.Bandekar is handling several post like the Dean,Medical Suprintendent ,H.O.D of Orthopaedics,OPD,Operations and many more responsibilities Can one doctor do multitasking specially during pandemic? This is inviting death . The BJP MLA has clearly stated that mismanagement of the government is responsible for deaths in GMC.
Last year the covid crisis were handled in a much systematic manner as Dr. Edwin Gomes who is the HOD of Medicine was heading the Covid management . Why is he not given the responsibility to handle the same again but rather a junior consultant Dr.Anar Khandeparkar of the same department is given to handle covid?
Olencio warns the government as relaxing restrictions for passengers entering our state will case further catastrophe as 3rd wave will take all young children, If Former Chief Minister of Goa Late Manohar Parrikar could impose “Entry Tax” from Rs 100 to rs1000 in all 5 entry points in Goa then why is the state government shying away from making PCR test mandatory.
This Government has been voted by the people of Goa for good governance but sadly it is the honrable High Court of Bombay which has swung in action to save Goa from major devastation which has clearly exposed the failure of the leadership in Goa. We appeal to the Honorable High Court of Bombay in Goa to take suo moto cognizance and put the system in place of gross negligence by the government and the Directorate of Health Services.
— By Olencio Simoes,Panaji