Proper investigation
Goans actively participate in public life and share their views and concerns through various fora. This is a great virtue of Goan society. At the same time, caution has to be exercised that some of these activities do not end up catering to our craving for sensations and creating the "We are being cheated" phobia. Investigations on the death of Fr Bismarque's death are a case in point. There is no doubt that he was a highly respected and loved person. It is right that we ask that a proper investigation is carried out regarding his death. However, it appears that at least a section of the protesters are not just demanding justice but are convinced that it is a murder and will be happy only if it is so. This is an unjustifiable attitude. These are the opportunities that many politicians prey upon. The police and the government are the unfortunate scapegoats.
Seshagiri Raghu Kumar, Dona Paula
Using toilets
It is reported that the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is planning to build 62 new toilets to curb the menace of open defecation. The problem of open defecation in cities and rural areas is something which needs to be tackled on a war footing by both Central and State governments if the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign is to become a reality. According to reports , over one crore toilets have already been built in the country after the ‘Clean India’ campaign was launched last year--- the target being 12 crore by 2019. Shockingly, the survey conducted by the’ National Sample Survey Office’ (NSSO) has revealed that less than 50 percent of these toilets is being used, as people still prefer going to the fields. The reason being woeful shortage of water and poor maintenance of these toilets which render them unusable. In view of the scarcity of water in Panaji city, it is important for the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to make sure that sufficient and uninterrupted supply of water is made available for public sanitation, before undertaking to build additional toilets, lest we find ourselves in a similar situation.
A F Nazareth, Porvorim
Too sensitive
These days, it’s obvious that we are not just an intolerant country but a very sensitive one too. People read a headline of a story and assume that it’s the bottomline. Without reading the finer points, they agitate and shout from the rooftops. In the case of Aamir Khan, they have abused him and his wife, threatened him, uninstalled apps of brands that he endorses and vilified him through racist and religious statements. All the while, no one stopped to realise that this is exactly what he was talking about. In Goa too, we have this problem. One lady speaks out about the Fr Bismarque case and she is called names and her reputation is torn apart. It says a lot about who we are as people when this rabid mob mentality takes over. So much for being tolerant and secular.
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
