Department’s circular on school speakers misses the mark
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has, earlier this week, introduced a sweeping new protocol. Schools across the State must now obtain prior written approval before inviting any external speaker, activist or organisation onto their campuses. Institutions are expected to submit detailed speaker profiles, transcripts or drafts of th
Rethink safety for socially isolated senior citizens
The Elderline helpline service, meant to serve as a lifeline for senior citizens, has repeatedly become inaccessible because of an ill-conceived system that routed local calls to Delhi
Ease of doing business must not come at the cost of accountability
NITI Aayog’s latest report, Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector, may be speaking the language of economic reform and ease of doing business. On paper, these recommendations sound progressive, but when applied to Goa’s tourism ecosystem, there is a ‘blind spot’ that exposes a disconnect between policy theory and...
ONOE consultations in Goa vitiated by bias, prejudice
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty–Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, more popularly known as ‘One Nation, One Election’, was down in the state over the weekend. The committee met with representatives of the main political parties, including Chief...
ID cards for Goan fish sellers: The other side
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement to introduce identity cards for Goan fish sellers appears to be a strong statement in favour of protecting local livelihoods. By making eligibility contingent on a 15-year residency certificate and traditional ties to the trade, the State government has sought to project itself as a...
