Disparity in house tax between Goa, other States
It is surprising to learn that in villages of Raijhola (Ganjam district, Odisha) and its other parts and in Bihar, villagers pay house tax ranging from just Rs 2 to Rs 10 per year to their local panchayat offices. Yet, in Goa, residents are forced to pay house taxes amounting to thousands of rupees, as if Goa is a separate country. Are the village panchayat laws different for Goa compared...
Colva p'yat should act to safeguard water resources
Gram Sabha resolutions were passed in Feb 2026 to stop issuing any more permissions to swimming pools and more than 3 residential units for commercial sales. This was with reference to the particular threat of water scarcity issues which Colva village residents are projected to face in the near future....
Status of Marathi and Goa’s identity under scrutiny
Former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar has once again demanded official language status for Marathi in Goa, citing his own justifications at a meeting in Vasco last Saturday. Konkani is Goa’s official language and a central part of its identity. Although Marathi is used by sections of the Hindu community...
Do curbs on mobile use in trains restrict freedom?
The Indian Railways has reportedly issued an advisory prohibiting passengers from playing music, watching videos aloud, making loud phone calls on speaker mode or using disturbing ringtones in trains and railway premises. On one hand, it aims to restore a peaceful environment enjoyed by all travellers, especially in enclosed AC...
Indian democracy left dangerously weakened
I think it is time each one of us stood up and spoke out. Blaming Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, left to his own devices, misses the bigger picture. The buck stops with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Since 2014, India has witnessed demonetisation, the Rafale controversy, Pegasus, the Delhi...
