Easy to cheat
The recent multi-crore investment scam involving several depositors who have been cheated by a reputed forex company in South Goa through the issue of post-dated cheques which bounced later, should serve to highlight how easy it has become these days to cheat people and get away easily without stringent punishment. Victims of such cases are usually the ones who cannot afford to fight their case in court. Those who choose to fight in court must be prepared to incur heavy legal expenses during the years of litigation. They should consider themselves lucky if they win and get their dues back in full. The accused often declares himself insolvent after losing the case, and due to the leniency of the law, the offence is usually compounded after a mutually agreed sum is paid. There is also no compulsion to pay the interest accrued over the years which the accused has been enjoying. Several persons have been duped due to cheque bouncing and unless we have a strict law in place the number of such cases will keep mounting.
A F Nazareth, Porvorim
Prepared for drought?
The present drought conditions faced in several parts of the country have been rightly declared as a natural disaster under the Disaster Management Act by the central government and money is being released from the national and state disaster funds. Over 25 percent of India’s population is reportedly hit by drought, with a staggering 33 crore, or more than a quarter of the county’s population, being in the grip of drought. The worst hit state is reportedly UP where 9.88 crore people are affected due to rain deficit in as many as 50 districts. Goa may not be facing a drought-like situation but it is true that in several cities and villages, specially, in Mormugao district there is a shortage of water. People have mostly being relying on the water tankers for their daily water needs. Taps in the district have run dry for a several days and when the water does flow through the taps there are complaints of the water being muddy. Every drop of water counts and hence we need to make minimal use of the precious commodity. If the South West monsoon is delayed in the state as a result of the global warming, Goa could well face a drought-like situation. The question to be asked is whether the government is prepared to tackle it if (God forbid) such a situation does arise in the state.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Don’t gag ministers
If the BJP is so bent on issuing gag orders for their ministers, lest they will end up sounding like the Congress, they should rewrite the rules of politics. Why should ministers not speak their mind, especially if they are not happy with the ruling of their government? While I am for the current status of the MoI issue, and firmly detest organisations like BBSM, who are ruining the future of our children under the pretext of preserving culture, I do not agree with stifling dissent. The BJP are losing credibility as a political party with such gag orders and decisions.
Amey Kurtakar, Margao
