Utter hypocrisy
It is ridiculous on the part of the Bharatiya Bhasa Suraksha Manch (BBSM) to threaten the government’s decision to provide grants to English medium primary schools or else they would work against the BJP in the 2017 assembly election. As Goa State Assembly Elections are fast approaching. BBSM and MGP leaders have reverted to flogging its favourite deadhorse “ English by calling it a foreign language, in order to deny the innocent children, the Government of Goa’s grants being given to English medium primary schools. Such statements from leaders have proved their disrespect for the freedom of democracy.
In a democratic India, the parents have a right to decide the future of their children in the language of their choice. The parents of children studying in English Medium primary schools have already given their consent to the government, that they fully support Konkani language, the mother tongue as a compulsory subject to be taught till higher secondary school level to their children. Most of BBSM leaders have their children and grandchildren studying in English Medium Schools, from the primary school level and one prominent BBSM leader runs his own school private English medium school. Is this not hypocrisy?
Melson F M Louis, Margao
Organic loos
Twenty eco-friendly’ organic toilets have been provided by the government under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for the benefit of the devotees who visited the Shirgaon Zatra of Devi Lairai. This was a move in the right direction as thousands of devotees from all over Goa and the neighbouring states come for this popular Zatra. An organic or a composting toilet is a type of dry toilet that uses a predominantly aerobic processing system by composting or managed aerobic decomposition. These toilets generally use little to no water and may be used as an alternative to flush toilets. Thousands of people visit Old Goa on December 3, as also the Vasco Saptah. People in large number also gather at food festivals and other festivals and functions being held in Panaji. Organic toilets are suitable in places where there is not proper water supply. If possible all the public toilets in the state could even be turned into organic toilets. Such a step will go a long way in keeping Goa clean.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Missing letter boxes
Sometime back the postal authorities in Ponda had dismantled rusted and worn-out letter boxes situated in different locations. However it is rather disturbing to note that alternate letter boxes have not yet been installed at the concerned spots till date. In the absence of these letter boxes, innocent customers are confronted with great inconvenience and trouble. They have no other alternative but to visit the main post-office situated in the vicinity of the old bus-stand for dropping their important letters. Senior citizens remain to be the worst sufferers. With a view to provide efficient service to public at large it would be appropriate for the higher officials at the postal department in Ponda to re-install the missing letter-boxes at above spots on priority basis.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
