Work out details before implementing schemes
So much of time and public money was wasted on SAVY (Swarnajayanti Aarogya Vima Yojana) scheme floated by the previous government. Two months after it was brought into force, I visited an empanelled hospital, but was disappointed to learn that the receptionist did not have a clue of the scheme. After many phone calls and long wait, a Savy hospital member informed that it only entitles me for an operation up to Rs 80,000 for some procedures and that I would have to bear the cost for initial investigation, tests and admission.
Before the elections we heard about DDSSY (Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana) biometric cards being distributed to 3 lakh people, with 11 empanelled hospitals and United India Insurance Company liaising with them for patients entitlements under grade A, B and C. The scheme is supposed to be implemented from 15 August 2016. Most residents in Porvorim do not have a clue of where the forms are to be collected, details of procedures, private empanelled hospitals and whether they have agreed to government rates etc.
Now, with this sort of half-baked scheme coming again, besides jeopardizing people's lives, I hope all details are worked out before its implementation and people informed via the DAVP (Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity)/Information Directorate where these biometric cards are to be made so that there is no further waste of money, time and effort and there is a workable scheme with transparency and accountability.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim -------------
Repair roads
During the past two weeks, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and his colleagues have been busy crisscrossing the length and breadth of Goa distributing of all things, LED bulbs! Have they no better work to do? With the outbreak of the monsoon, the pathetic condition of the roads has been exposed.
Most of the repair works have been shoddy and superficial. In Margao, motorists have to cope with roads that had been dug up for sewerage works and only partly repaired.
Instead of wasting time doing what govt departments should do. Parsekar & Co should visit every nook and corner of Goa and get the roads properly repaired. People's anger is mounting and could boomerang against the ruling party at the elections if their grievances are not addressed quickly.
Albert Colaco, Nuvem
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Kolkata pilgrimage
Pope Francis will declare Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata a saint at the Vatican on September 4. The date was announced on 15 March during an "ordinary public consistory," a meeting of the pope, cardinals and promoters of sainthood causes that formally ends the sainthood process. Like her Beatification, the cause for Mother Teresa’s canonisation was on the fast track for several reasons. Many Goans will be proceeding to Rome to witness the historic and divine occasion. Incidentally churches in Goa will be holding several programmes associated with the life of the ‘Saint of the Gutters’. However, there would be several Goans who would not be able to make it to Rome for the canonisation ceremony but would want to be in Kolkata where Mother Teresa worked among the poor and the down-trodden all her life. The church authorities in Goa could make travel arrangements for people who would want to make a pilgrimage to Kolkata to be present there for this historic and divine event. Those people interested to make the pilgrimage to Kolkata could go in groups just as tours are organised to the Holy land.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
