FC GOA XMAS TREAT FOR CHILDREN!

It was festive cheers for children at the Salvador do Mundo Panchayat football ground on December 24, 2021 when FC Goa in association with Forca Goa Foundation, celebrated Christmas in which more than 60 children accompanied by their parents, participated in various fun evens including a football game which gave away lots of prizes. Santa made his presence felt on the football grounds with more gifts and treats. FC Goa moved to Salvador do Mundo last season to make the Panchayat football grounds it base for first team activities. The evening’s festivities continued l late into the night as they were followed by the FC Goa vs Odisha FC match — screened for the audience on a giant screen.

PIRATES WORKS DEPARTMENT

THE criminal negligence of the PWD clearly knows no bounds with the latest evidence that raw sewerage is being released into the sea from one of its treatment plants. The recent allegations of hefty bribes accepted for allotment of PWD posts, though shocking, were sadly taken in stride by most citizens.
Goans don’t realise that with climate change, substandard infrastructure is not just a weak link, it is a death sentence for the collective. In Goa thieves are often beaten up by locals for stealing even a small amount, but elected officials are pardoned for repeated offenses that rob the exchequer of hundreds of crore.
Goa’s death roads have resulted in a shocking fatality rate, maimed countless breadwinners and crushed families with a financial burden that accompanies accidents. Dug up roads, unscientific camber, unmarked speed breakers, potholes and non-existent drainage cause woes throughout the year. Though Goa receives abundant rainfall, potable water shortages are a weekly occurrence but people only notice it when it hits their constituency. The less said about purity of the water piped to our homes, schools and fields the better, with the honourable CM announcing stagnant water from mining pits would soon be used for irrigation.
Tauktae barely brushed us but almost all of Goa suffered blackouts for days on end, compounding the ruthless blows of Covid-19.
This neo-colonial style injustice has to end now. Before the next elections, citizens, taxpayers, true stakeholders of democracy, cannot suffer another five years of illiterate, incompetent and morally bankrupt PWD “princes.” Awarding tenders to the lowest bidder has to end now, there are accredited companies like Tata consultancy that do not compromise on quality or lifesaving ethics.
The military construction services would be handy too, there was talk about roping in an IIT to investigate why the tarmac of the Atal Setu was so easily damaged. It is shocking that erstwhile Goan adherence to “caiado” (law) is missing from the ministry, as is the Gandhian cornerstone – “Do not take as much as a pin from your workplace.”
–By Chris Fernandes, Miramar

WHO IS MIS-USING FUNDS?
THE Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the centre has reportedly denied the renewal of FCRA licence of Saint Mother Teresa’s foundation Missionaries of Charity group (an organisation which is today spread across 139 countries and which looks after refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor and homeless besides victims of floods, epidemics and famine) for not meeting eligibility conditions under FCRA 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules (FCRR) 2011.
It may be noted that the Sangh Parivar-controlled BJP government at the Centre has been making all out efforts to selectively malign the image of this world famous charity group, despite knowing fully well that this charity institution has been tirelessly serving people across faiths for years around the globe.
This same government has been mischievously sending persons of its right wing organizations to fabricated bogus complaints of child trafficking and forcible religious conversions against Mother Theresa’s homes, at police stations in mostly BJP-ruled states of India.
The BJP government talks of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” but instead selectively tries to halt the work of charitable NGOs! It should also not allow its own controversial right wing militant outfits like the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, etc, to receive funds/donations from abroad – for these organisations are currently openly misusing the funds to spread communal terror and dividing Indians on religious lines in the name of pseudo-nationalism. Jai Hind!
— Jerry Fernandes, Saligao

REPEAL AFSPA
AFTER the Nagaland incident recently there has been a demand for the repeal of the AFSPA Act. The Central government has constituted a committee in this regard. The firing squad is at the centre of the Nagaland case. Committee should think from the point of view of the soldiers also. Because they have followed the intelligence they got.
If the soldiers had called to stop the vehicle, if the vehicle had stopped, then there would have been no firing at that time. Firing had to be done because the car had fled. However, the soldiers are being blamed. Even if the soldiers had not followed the information received they would have been guilty. Meaning that from both sides soldiers would have been guilty.
No one speaks clearly about how the soldiers should have done their duty in this complex dilemma. It is very easy to drive a goat by sitting on a camel. But it is for the soldiers to decide what to do in which situation. Leaving verbal bubbles in that situation like in political parties does not work. Why did soldiers have to speak the language of weapons?
The Nagaland Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to withdraw the crucial law, AFSPA. This is shocking. If tomorrow the law in that area is repealed and the insurgents take over, the soldiers will stand as a shield to protect civilians. Then there will be political leaders demanding “We need more security because our lives are in danger.” At that time they will not remember the safety of the people!
A committee constituted by the Centre to study withdrawal of AFSPA is reported to give in recommendations within 45 days. Although this incident is from Nagaland, let’s hope it does not contain recommendations that negatively impact the morale of soldiers everywhere. Unlike Kashmir, the language of bombs and bullets is not spoken in this region. That’s why the soldiers here do not need weapons. Instead they may be given sticks like the police.
Because the repeal of the AFSPA law means taking out the teeth and nails of a tiger and sending it on a hunt! Why do we have to take away the rights of soldiers by taking back the law? Whether it is Parliament House or Rajya Sabha or Legislative bhavan of the country, there is a ruckus in the Legislative Council over many topics.
Because of this a huge financial loss of public money continues. A law should be made in this regard immediately. Till date it has not been taken seriously. Loss of life is valuable, financial loss is priceless.
While considering the AFSPA Act on Nagaland it may be noted that soldiers are deployed in many sensitive border areas of the country like Kashmir too. They should not feel that because of what happened in Nagaland it can happen to them tomorrow. AFSPA is also applicable in Kashmir. If there is a demand to repeal the law in the case of Nagaland and in Kashmir and there are fierce demonstrations against the law, then how will soldiers protect the borders of the country?
— Engineer Jayesh Rane, Mumbai