Protect Your Child
R de B FERNANDES, Margao.

Despite the ever-increasing number of crimes against children Goans are still taking it easy. We need to do the following immediately:

Principals: Many teachers are innocent of the things that are being done today. Hence the Principals should speak individually to the teachers and apprise them of the acts of crime against children. Next they should collectively meet all the teachers and discuss how to protect the children. The next step would be to meet with all the parents and again discuss the same. They should then arrive at how to discuss the same with students of different classes.

Parents: They should take up the same with their children and also with their neighbours especially the labour class.

Panchayats / Municipalities: The Panjim market especially next to Navtara restaurant is a virtual den of undesirables. One must now think twice before leaving their children alone in the vicinity. These unemployed people are constantly watching the people around and are bound to take advantage of the trusting nature of Goans. Authorities should stop all these roadside stalls as they are potential dens for undesirable characters. Let’s face it. The Police are inept and cannot monitor these places. Do you want your panchayat to earn these few rupees at the cost of your kids?

Tourism dependent People: The world is an ocean of tourists. You can decide which type of tourists you want. So we should entertain and promote tourism in such a way that our children and women are safe. Just because some say “Tourists come for sex or child sex” does not make it a fact. We have to be cautious and choose the type of tourism we want.

Fourth Estate
AS Prabhu, Moira - Bardez.

The Goan press today has been the preserve of our politicians and the government who have manipulated the press to toe their line. So much so the society as a whole does not have any place or in other words the press has shown scant concern to the woes of the public who are at the mercy of goondas and thugs who rule the State. The press has not lived upto the expectations of public and has failed to inculcate values in the society.

The press is partisan and has been muzzled and blackmailed by the government in power which is a big blow for our democratic system of governance.

After Legislature, Judiciary and the Executive the press which is known as the ‘fourth estate’ is one of the strong pillars of our democracy and has a vital and effective role to make democracy vibrant.

The public is at the receiving ends and the press more often than not glorifies the government to the detriment of civil society. Public grievances are put on the back burner. One newspaper which played a key role for sometime to confront the political establishment has been totally immobilized and today it has become spineless.

What is the role of the Goa Union of Journalists? Is it only to protect their self interest and have they no obligation to society? This question which is of paramount importance should be addressed on a war footing.

Policy on IT
Narendra Kamat, Mapusa.

LOTS OF I.T. industries are planning to come to Goa for setting up Hardware and Software firms. But since Goa does not have an I.T. Policy, they are shying away. Though the Chief Minister is interested in these industries due to employment problem, subordinate authorities do not seem to be co-operating with him. What happened to E-governance? Goa is far behind. The government with much fanfare had appointed an I.T. Advisor with a heavy pay packet, plus perks. What is he doing to help bring more Industries to Goa? Similarly, another officer from New Delhi was appointed the Director of I.T. He has also failed miserably, although he is in Goa for so many years. We have been told that he was given extension on two occasions. Are Goans not capable of holding the post of Director of I.T?

Why are people from outside Goa required to hold the posts of Advisor (IT) and Director (IT), when we have capable Goans?

These Officers from outside are coming to Goa and then try to absorb themselves in government service the way it happened soon after Liberation. Parrikar should do something positive for Goans before it is too late.

I therefore request the government of Goa , to formulate an I.T. policy as fast as possible to solve the acute unemployment problem facing Goa.

Approach road
Dr. Ms. Caroline D’Souza, and Residents of Aldona, Aldona.

The new bridge across river Aldona, a tributary of Mandovi between Aldona and Corjuem, is nearing completion but a controversy surrounds the approach road.

This new bridge was commissioned in March 2003. Since there is no approach road to the bridge we were apprehensive regarding the alignment of the approach road to the bridge. We the residents of the village of Aldona singly and severally approached the Panchayat for the layout of the approach road. We were surprised that the panchayat neither had the said layout plan nor it was informed about the commencing of the bridge.

We approached several other authorities who carried out site inspections of the area who promised to comply with our wishes for proper development. The present road alignment is not consistent with our requirements and will lead to untold hardship to the vehicular travelers, students, and residents. We foresee innumerable accidents.

We therefore strongly demand that the work on the approach road be stopped immediately.

The concerned officials should conduct site inspection of the approach road and hear our grievances. They should display the approach roads layout and designs for the scrutiny of the public.

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