Cost of free tickets at U17 FIFA WC? Empty seats
While it may have been a good initiative to make free tickets available at various sports clubs and academies for their respective players and staff, the sad reality is that they have found very little to no takers.
Those incharge have even urged people to take more tickets due to the low demand. For a State that bleeds football, the abysmally low attendance at the Fatorda stadium has given it an embarrassing look. Ironically, many locals have complained about being unable to acquire tickets only to find thousands of empty seats on broadcast or through photos posted online.
Organisers have been accused of distributing tickets to MLAs and GFA members, which when combined with poor marketing strategies has resulted in the below par attendance. Many locals are upset upon missing the opportunity to witness a tournament of international repute.
Sports Minister Govind Gaude and Sports Authority of Goa will have to work on such issues after already fumbling the ball with regards to the National Games.
Until then, Gaude and other officials need to step in and make sure that tickets are available hassle-free to the public for the upcoming quarter and semi-final games at Fatorda Stadium.
Warren Menezes, Vasco
Shrinking income amid inflationary environment
With the state-owned oil companies mindlessly increasing the prices of petrol and diesel on daily basis, causing the prices of essential commodities to rise, affecting the common man.
As some in the country struggle to feed themselves even once a day, the current government is busy is diverting their attention from real issues to mandir and masjid issues. I want to ask the state and Central government whether this issues can fill the stomach of the poor and the underprivileged.
The Indian economy is mainly based on savings of common man. The government wants to make it a borrowing economy like in the west. Both government and RBI are obsessed with low interest rates to promote borrowing.
As the government revenue are buoyant, additional excise duties levied on petrol and diesel have to be withdrawn immediately. Otherwise, a Sri Lanka like turmoil could erupt in India. Only time will tell.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Real issues of Goans being ignored
Merely getting elected or “purchasing” an elected MLA from another party does not ensure quality or knowledge. Yes, after purchasing other parties it ensures power to bypass laws.
The BJP government has increased the electricity tariff adding an additional amount to pay for street light maintenance. The BJP government has no authority to change the tariff. This authority lies with the JERC- Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the State of Goa and UT.
Has the change been done by the JERC? Yes, we are asking AAP/RGP? Do you know what is happening? Why is AAP not contacting their Delhi counterparts? Both APP and RGP, when it comes to problems faced by Goans, are looking to buy ice-cream in the hardware shops. They remain silent on so many issues enforced by the BJP.
That is why new parties entering Goa must start at the grassroots: the Panchayats. AAP and RGP are compromising and fooling Goans.
R Fernandes, Margao
Degradation of our Goa is livid
It comes as no surprise that our State has been adjudged the last in Political Justice. Over the years, Goa has become a laboratory for every possible political experiment showing the nation the ways and means to circumvent the Anti-Defection law, with political turncoats seen at its very hilt.
The law needs to be further reinforced to plug the prevailing loopholes in order to deter the evil of MPs and MLAs from merrily hopping across parties motivated by the lure of office and monetary gains. This law has not been successful in preventing corruption by way of horse-trading as the grey areas in the Act continue to be exploited by unscrupulous politicians.
Ethics should always be an integral part of politics and citizens should expect ethical behavior from the political leadership. Lawmakers have a fundamental and moral duty to lead by example and must never be law breakers or abuse the trust that people have vested in them. Authentic leadership can only be practiced through ethical governance.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Helpline mostly in Hindi
Helplines are of immense service to save our time and energy. Since the last few years we are able to contact toll-free or helpline numbers of service providers and vendors to sort out a variety of issues related to banking, purchases, insurances, travel, hospitalities, need for technicians and much more. When we dial a toll-free number (mostly 1-800-xxx), an automated voice would tell us that to speak with the customer-care executive we can opt for Hindi or English by pressing number 1 or 2.
Funnily, in many helpline numbers even if we choose to talk in ‘English’ the executives tend to speak in Hindi! If we ask them to speak in English, they want us to speak in Hindi!
Firstly, if the executive is hell bent on conversing in Hindi then what is the point in us selecting the language options?
Secondly, if the callers do not know Hindi, then how will their problems be resolved? The helplines of companies that have this issue need to check and rectify these problems.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
