SNAKES & LADDERS
THE best news about the new budget is that there is no increase in personal income tax. However, come the next monsoon skip using imported umbrellas – for customs duty on them has been increased! While chargers and cameras for mobile phones have become cheaper, speakers, head phones, earphones have become more expensive. Hearing aids have become cheaper but x-ray machines more expensive. Real diamonds have become cheaper but artificial jewellery more expensive. Farming tools and asafoetida (hing) have become cheaper.
OUR WEALTHY POLITICIANS
THE Aam Aadmi party’s chief ministerial candidate from the Bahujan Samaj, Amit Palekar, has a fancy Maserati Coupe costing Rs2.25-Rs 2.51 crore. This advocate is not exactly poor although he says he has put in a lot of hard work to go places and recently, he had to sell off his Maserati Coupe. Amit Palekar’s neat worth according to the details in his affidavit is Rs11.4 crore. Interestingly, the majority of our 301 candidates in the election fray are crorepati several times over. Michael Lobo has overtaken Babush Monserrate in the list of richest candidates with a declared income of Rs84.38 crore. Michael’s wife Delilah has assets worth Rs7.16 crore. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s income has tripled since 2017 from Rs2.37 crore to Rs7.15 crore. Babush has declared assets of Rs40.40 crore together with his wife Jennifer. TMC president Kiran Kandolkar has declared his worth at Rs5.13 crore. Utpal Parrikar has declared assets of Rs8.84 crore. Junior Vishwajit Rane has admitted to assets worth Rs16.36 crore.
OXYGEN SHORTFALL AGAIN!
HISTORY repeats itself. It would appear that the oxygen plants at various government hospitals including the GMC have not been functioning for the last month or so. This may be the cause of the large number of deaths we are witnessing even though the positivity rate is falling. Advocate General Devidas Pangam has virtually admitted that seven of the eight pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen plants were not functioning owing to the non-availability of the pressure gauge. Absurdly, the shortage of liquified medical oxygen (LMO) is due to non-payment of dues to suppliers!
SENIOR CITIZENS DON’T VOTE!
THE alarming increase in deaths during the third wave in January is making many senior citizens wonder if they should go out to exercise their franchise and vote for their favourite candidate on February 14. Senior citizens with co-morbidities are particularly vulnerable to fatalities. Due to covid fears many seniors have even stopped stepping out of their home to go for a walk. There are 30,000 voters aged 80 and above and 6,000 persons with disability in Goa. They have the option of seeking postal ballot. In the case of a postal ballot, polling officers will visit those who have registered to enable them to exercise their franchise. The entire process will be videographed.
BAN ON LIQUOR CURBS have been imposed on the transportation and sale of liquor during the polling period coming in. No liquor may be transported from one place to another within the state of Goa during this period. Maximum quantity of liquor that may be carried is three quarters of Indian-made foreign liquor or foreign liquor. In the case of beer, one is permitted to carry six bottles and 750ml of country liquor like feni. This restrictions will remain in force from February 12 to February 15 and on March 10. All liquor shops and restaurants stocking liquor may not serve liquor and are limited to serving food only. Restaurant owners are required to put up a board prominently saying that no liquor will be served or consumed on the premises.