MOI in mother tongue
In Goa, for the past five years, the medium of instruction has become a hot topic. People are misguided by a handful of learned persons and organisations to believe that English can ensure a bright future for children. Can English safeguard the culture of the state and the country? Can English improve the IQof the student? Brain development takes place between 0-8 years and the mother tongue is the better medium of instruction. This is the belief and recommendation of UNESCO and many academic scholars, doctors and scientists. What is the medium of instruction in the world’s advanced countries like China, Germany, Japan, France and others? The MOi has to be decided by academicians and not politicians. The government should take a decision on MOI based on the advice of the academic council propounded in the Right to Education Act and the principles laid down by UNESCO.
Rajendra Bhobe, Panaji
Waste problems
The garbage problem in Goa is getting worse by the month and though everyone points fingers at the government, no one seems to introspect and wonder why, we, the biggest creators of this issue, are absolved of any fault. Garbage has to be attended to by the community. We have garbage collection drives in most cities, even though Vasco has none for the past month. Panchayats too need to start collecting segregated garbage. If villages, institutions, establishments and colonies start to treat their own wet waste and collecting dry waste properly, there will be no need for much discussion on this issue.
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
Odd-even in Goa?
Goan roads are virtually turning into death-traps. Deaths due to road accidents is a major concern in the state and the latest data shows a 15% rise in accident deaths this year as the first two months of the year saw as many as 59 deaths on the road. There are several reasons for the rise of road fatalities but one of the prime reason is the ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads. Drastic remedial measures need to be in place to arrest this increase in the number of road accidents many of which lead to fatalities. Needless to say that the vast number of vehicles on the Goan roads also lead to air pollution. It is pertinent to note that the odd-even project adopted by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi has been very successful in reducing the number of vehicles on the roads on any given day. The scheme of allowing odd and even numbers on alternate days on the roads has achieved rich dividends as this has tackled the smog in New Delhi which was declared as the world’s most polluted city by the World Health Organization. The odd-even concept could be tried out as a pilot project with vehicles being allowed to run only on alternate days. If the initiative meets with success then it could be made a permanent feature in the state.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
