Mindset change
This with reference to the editorial ‘Banking on clean India’ (The Goan Everyday, Dec. 18). World Bank’s approval of a 1.5 billion dollar loan to India towards the ‘Swachh Bharat Campaign’ is both a shot in the arm and a morale booster for the ambitious campaign undertaken to clean up the country. It is unfortunate though, that even after a year of the implementation of the clean-up drive and the construction of a crore public toilets in the country, over 500 million people in rural areas still choose to defecate in the open. The country’s garbage problems still remain unsolved even as tons of garbage keeps accumulating in public places, as if it were a law of nature. Poverty is no excuse to condone the filth and dirt around because there are poorer countries that are relatively cleaner. The notion of dirt is probably the ostensible reason for this vexing problem plaguing the nation. The only solution remaining then is, as your editorial has rightly pointed out, is a change of people’s mindset by educating them about civic issues and public hygiene.
A F Nazareth, Porvorim
Educate the mind
Today’s educational system has completely failed to produce better human beings. This is because it lacks important areas of life science “ health, yoga and morality. If the science of health and yoga is introduced in the curriculum, it will certainly solve most of the problems in life. Yoga plays a vital role in regularizing our respiration, circulation, digestion, elimination and metabolism. It calms the mind and brings balance and harmony to life. It stimulates the nervous system and prevents obesity and insomnia. It gives us strength to face obstacles and makes the mind firm and steady. It dispels restlessness, unsteadiness and mental and physical weakness. Therefore, this subject should be introduced in the curriculum at least up to the higher primary level. Education boards of various states should consider this while framing a new education policy.
Vijaysinh Ajgaonkar, Assonora
Taxed out
Across the world governments are cracking down on minor tax offenders while letting the bigger offenders continue to operate the way they do. This results in money being siphoned out of the country and into tax havens like the Cayman Islands and many others places. From India, money is sent to Swiss bank accounts or even to the Middle East via conduits. Tax dodging is the realm of the big earners and even though the Swiss authorities are revealing names, nothing seems to come of it. Every year, we from the middle class have to face an increase in taxes on essential commodities. Some necessities are still taxed as luxuries. Over and above that we have to pay massive amounts on tax because we can’t afford to invest the way we would like to. On the otherside, the rich get away with not paying tax. How is this even right? The government needs to crack down harder on the bigger tax offenders and give us smaller folk some breathing space.
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
