WE CANNOT REMAIN SILENT SPECTATORS: Many women and human rights organisations and citizens groups are coming together to express their solidarity with the people of Manipur, who suffered revengeful brutal lynchings, sexual abuse, rape of women, killings and loss of their homes in the last 75 days plus, plus…(l to r) Lisa Pires, Vanaja Josephine of Domestic Workers Union, Maria Angelika D’Souza of Saat Aangan, advocate Albertina Almeida and Anita Kanekar. A letter protesting against the injustice in Manipur has been signed by 200 plus signatories and is being posted to Prime Minister, Home Minister and other authorities seeking action in restoring peace and harmony in the violence-torn north-eastern state. Says Albertina Almeida, “We are concerned and cannot remain silent spectators, we condemn the use of women’s bodies to settle scores in Manipal with the State police as witness.” With the alleged State-blessed atrocities in Manipur both Central and Manipur governments only make a mockery of “Beti Padao, Beti Bachao” promotion schemes to uplift women’s status in India. The BJP government must not just talk the talk but also walk the talk, otherwise it’s just hypocritical governance.
DESTROYING PORTUGUESE LEGACY!
THE ornate, impressive churches built by the Portuguese were a mix of various architectural genres such as Gothic, Baroque, Norman, Corinthian as well as other Renaissance era architectural forms, can be seen at the UN World Heritage Site in Old Goa, as well as in general in the churches and chapels all over Goa. Especially the various altars depict intricate carvings which are unlikely to be emulated. These monuments still bear witness to the opulent and resplendent works of art that Portuguese contributed to Goa.
While the bigger churches and monuments are “protected” many smaller churches have lost their unique features with modernisation, expanding population and other commercial factors coming into play. Money is the new God for most.
The Portuguese gifted us our Civil Code which placed Goa in the unique position of having uniform rules regardless of religion, etc. Unfortunately, there is no more excellent crime control. Under the Portuguese law and order situation was very well maintained. It was so strict that the crime rate was very low. It is something the present administration could try to emulate!
During the Portuguese regime people at night used to sleep with their doors and windows open even in the dark of night — there were no burglaries taking place and the police network had a tight grip on law and order which used to send shivers down the spines of anyone wanting to break the law. Today staying safe from robbers, cheats, online scammers, etc, has become more a matter of luck and prayer. It’s hard to find even one person who has not had the misfortune of losing money or worse through some bad elements. ‘
How many of these crimes are resolved by our guardians of law and order? In my personal experience citizens don’t even bother to complain to the police unless they need some record to submit to insurance or for new documents.
Unlike today when land grabbing is the order of the day, during the Portuguese regime the Communidades were functioning for the good of all the shareholders and yearly dividend of the profit earned was distributed as “ZONN” to each and every shareholder. Today we have at least 300 cases of illegal land grabbing with the falsification of documents that has soured the image of Goa – once known for honesty and integrity as far as the land ownership was concerned.
Our water bodies of rivers, lakes, ponds, wells, rivulets as well as the springs of old were totally unpolluted. The springs were famous for not only potable water but also for their health-giving medicinal properties – they attracted visitors from far and near with their beauty of crystal clear water. Recently, in Goa 46 fresh water springs were destroyed atop the Mopa plateau to make way for the construction of another airport for the small state of Goa! Airport is more important than a perennial source of potable water!
In the Goa of old the traditional forms of livelihoods were maintained such that the indigenous people had their own forms of arts and crafts, and other traditional occupations. These have now become mostly exotic and rare specialisations as the last generation that actually used these as part of daily life have passed away. Now we have to trust a few valiant sons of the soil who are trying to save remnants of a Goan legacy without much support of the government – which doesn’t give a damn unless dollar signs are printed all over the end products.
To give an example of the engineering expertise of the Portuguese regime, it may be stressed that for 451 years — roads, bridges and forts at various places that were built by the Portuguese engineers, endured and many of these still stand today to testify to the skilled integrity of the Portuguese workmanship. Minimal maintenance is all that was required.
Today, grandiose plans are doomed to fail for they are steeped in corrupt, careless administration. Witness the collapse of the Kala Academy, Goa’s latest disgrace in capital city Panaji! Panjim which was the capital city in the later history of Portuguese rule had a very impressive underground network of a drainage system – unfortunately, later on it was destroyed to make way for the construction of buildings without any planning or intelligence.
Panaji had no incidents of flooding during the Portuguese regime. Even when the quantum of rainfall was high — unlike now when several areas in the capital city are submerged in at least a foot of water with even one heavy shower!
The Portuguese used to run what was then called “Casa do Povo,” meaning “home of the poor people” – here those who were destitute and abandoned would get food and shelter. Taking care of its weakest citizens is the hallmark of an advanced society. Is it any wonder that we are taking huge steps backward in this aspect?
The present dispensation which is performing so pathetically should take a leaf from the Portuguese style of governance and emulate the good aspects, instead of criticizing and letting everything go downhill!
–Stephan Dias, Dona Paula
CRACKDOWN NEEDED!
IT should be the firm resolve and always the endeavour of the authorities to ensure that no illegal construction is allowed anywhere. It would have been so nice if our villages and cities were all well planned in accordance with the planning rules.
Today we find people being inconvenienced due to illegal construction activity mushrooming in their neighbourhood. It would be proper to ensure that all the required infrastructure is in place before allowing new constructions. This would make sure that the residents live in peace without any fights and friction in the neighbourhood.
The authorities should always exercise zero tolerance to any development or construction that does not meet the full planning regulations and once approved, the ongoing development must be inspected to ensure that it is completed to the standards and the approved plan.
Illegal constructions and those that do not follow the correct planning regulations and standards are clearly counterproductive. They are a health and environmental risk that puts undue pressures on our already poor infrastructure, our roads, our scarce and unreliable water and electricity resources, garbage collection and recycling facilities. They are an eyesore and place a needless burden on the people of the State.
It is about time that the mindset of the authorities is single-mindedly geared towards ensuring that we have only legal, sustainable development that will benefit present and future generations — with all illegalities swiftly facing the full force of the law!
— Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
DISMISS MANIPUR CM!
PRIME Minister Modi should dismiss the Biren N Singh-led BJP government immediately for miserably failing to stop the ethnic violence in Manipur. A no-confidence motion moved by the Congress against the BJP has been admitted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, setting the stage for a showdown between the Opposition and treasury benches over Manipur and other burning issues.
Congress and its allies have been insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement over the tragedy unfolding in Manipur in Parliament. Unfortunately, Modi has been simply refusing to make any clarification under one pretext or another known only to him.
Modi did issue a small statement condemning what has happened in Manipur outside Parliament to assuage the nationwide outrage over the horrific video which had gone viral (it depicted two Manipuri women being paraded naked/gang raped by a large mob in Manipur). However, the PM has not uttered a single word against Chief Minister of Manipur Biren N Singh in the BJP-led government currently ruling that state. However, Modi dragged in the names of non-BJP ruled states like Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc, to somehow distract/misguide everyone attention from the carnage in Manipur.
With this kind of casual arrogance it looks like the PM is just not interested in protecting/giving justice to women (especially in states like Manipur). Due to this attitude his much publicised “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign (launched by his government eight years back) is turning out to be a big joke on the country.
If PM Modi wants to prove himself a real sincere/honest world-class leader/show that he is damn serious in taking his another much hyped/publicised slogan of “Sabke Saath, Sabka Vikas” (hope this slogan too is not another jumla-cum-bhakwaas) forward, then he should dismiss the Biren N Singh government immediately for not doing anything to stop the ethnic violence in Manipur happening for over two months. President’s Rule should be imposed to restore the rule of law and peace in the strife-torn state. Hope better sense prevails. Jai Hind!
— Jerry Fernandes, Saligao