Air worthy certificate for older travellers?
It was commendable on the part of the pilot of Air India to return to base after flying for more than 2 hours on the long- haul flight from Delhi to New York, after a passenger fell seriously ill and needed immediate medical attention. Notwithstanding the inconvenience and delay to other passengers, it was an excellent example of sensitivity and humanitarian concern for a passenger in distress , especially the senior citizens. It also serves as a morale- booster to the sagging image of the national carrier in the face of its internal strife and fierce international competition in the aviation sector. However, to minimise or avoid such emergency- like medical situations in the future. it would best if Air India takes precautionary measures by insisting on a no objection medical certificate to travel from a recognised medical practitioner for passengers in the age group of 40 years and above, prior to booking them on long- haul flights of 12 hours and above. We already have rules for pregnant women, so why not for long- haul passengers.
A F Nazareth, Porvorim
Clean corridors
The drive to remove the beggars who squat along the corridors of the Mormugao Municipal building in Vasco has not yielded any results. Two months after they were driven out, the beggars are back. These beggars pose an ugly sight for the hundreds of citizens who visit the Vasco Municipality. These beggars who are dressed in filthy clothes have their meals along the corridors and thereby litter the place. Some even urinate in the corridors and inside the municipal building during the night. The civic body is responsible for keeping the city clean. However if its own backyard is not kept clean, it does not speak well of the civic body. A better way to keep these beggars away from the place would be to fence the entire corridor of the Mormugao Municipal Council building with iron grills with a gate installed at the entrance of the building for the visitors to enter, Such a step will also stop the beggars from occupying the inside of the building during the night.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
No space
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a parking space in Panaji, especially from around 10 am to 7pm, which is when most of us want to head to town for some work or the other. Now people have started to park their bikes and cars in all the wrong places and spaces. The other day I noticed a few cars on the footpath and even bikes parked in between cars. A poor couple couldn’t even move the bike out of the way to open the car door because the bike handle was locked. Is there any solution in sight for Panaji? The authorities need to act now.
Bhushan Kamar, Miramar
