Effective democracy
On my return to Goa, my attention was drawn to the‘People’s Edit’ titled ‘ Kicking out Goa’s Kleptocracy’ by Yatin Kakodkar(Herald April 1, 2012). Kakodkar’s piece makes eminent sense, especially his differentiation between ‘Electoral Democracy’ and ‘Effective Democracy’. In this context, I quote Jawaharlal Nehru’s statement on the aims and objects of the Constitution on Friday, December 13, 1946 “Wherein all power and authority of Sovereign Independent India, its constituent parts and organs of government, are derived from the people.”
Effective democracy is basically structuring all governmental work and the main organs of government in accordance with Part III of the constitution which is an explicit recognition of the Sovereignty of the citizen within the Rule of Law.
From that vital standpoint, Sujay Gupta’s piece ‘… Parrikar is on the road to rock stardom’ in the same issue is too sycophantic and disrespectful of the electoral verdict of the people of Goa of March 2012. Manohar Parrikar has indeed a great opportunity to correct the wrongs of the Digambar Kamat government. All of us, especially the Goans must wish him well and also hope that he will uphold the spirit and essence of the People’s verdict.
Dr. Vishvanath Pai Panandiker, Margao
Foreign performers
I am a Goan musician, Besides working in the studio, I perform all over the State and country. Over the years, I have observed that many starred resorts, shacks and smaller restaurants have foreigners performing as musicians. This I am afraid, is at the cost of Goan musicians being forced to sit at home. Recently, a Russian event Company who organised a music festival had the audacity to approach a few Goan musicians to perform for free, while they paid foreigners musicians performing. It is equally shocking that many five starred resorts in Salcette and Bardez have been promoting scantily clad Phillipinos, Russians, Germans etc., as musicians, more for their exposure rather than their ability as musicians. What needs to be checked immediately by the authorities is , whether or not these performers have a licence to perform at these resorts, while keeping in mind the fact that when we Goans perform abroad, we are asked for a work permit, as well as a licence to perform. Shouldn't the same then apply to our State and Country? Our Chief Minister should immediately depute somebody to look into the matter, or his fellow Goan musicians will be rendered jobless unless or until they too agree to shed their clothing, contradictory to our culture.
Jonathan Rodrigues, Saligao
Fulfil your promises
My hearty congratulations to Manohar Parrikar on becoming the new CM of Goa. Manohar Parrikar has ridden back on a wave of glory, after getting a clear mandate which is in his favour. But he should realize that he has stepped into a mess left by the earlier government which needs proper cleaning which might take a long time. I hope our CM fulfils all the promises he made to the Goan electorate - from the scrapping of the regional plan to the establishing of the Lokayukta. The BJP government should see that all scamsters, illegal miners and fraudsters are probed and punished, and thereby recover all that is looted from Goa and its people. I request The CM and other cabinet members to seriously pursue the long standing demand of Special Status to Goa, so that its land, environment, culture and prized identity is well preserved. .As for the MoI, it should be according to the choice of the parents. Last but not the least, I request the CM to keep the ideology of Hindutva, out of State governance and take all the people, from all the religions, together, in one stride, towards progress and development.
Ashlon Anjelo Fernandes, Nuvem
Computer teacher
I was working as a computer teacher for five years - four years on contract basis with Vision India from 2006-2010, and the fifth year with the Education Department also on contract basis. For the last academic year I was not considered for employment as I did not undergo the training course for computer teachers. The truth is that I was not considered for the course allegedly because I was overage. For the academic year 2010-11, I was given the contract when I expressed willingness to undergo the training when it starts again. But for the academic year 2011-12 I was left with no job I do hope the new Education Minister will consider my predicament and regularize my services as a computer teacher.
Alex Fernandes, Pomburpa
Best administrator
Hats off to our Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his fabulous budget proposals for the financial year 2012-2013. He has kept all the promises made during the election campaign. He has created history and did something the previous Congress government failed to do. I always assumed that Mr.Parrikar was good orator and best administrator. I remembered once during his election campaign at Poinguinim he promised to give water connection to all without NOC from the land owners, and he introduced a scheme under Health Act 1985 and powers were vested to the concerned Health Officer. I was .the first person in Goa to get water connection under this scheme. Thereafter the order issued to me by the Health Officer from Chinchinim was circulated and thousands of people benefited. Similarly I request the Hon'ble Chief Minister to introduce similar schemes to provide roads to all the houses without NOC from land owners. Goa needs a Chief Minister like Manohar Parikar to keep all sections of people happy.
Marcos Alemao, via email
Great actor
The decision to honour Soumitra Chatterjee with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award has delighted connoisseurs of Indian films. The films made by Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Goutam Ghose, Rituparno Ghose and Aparna Sen bear testimony to Chatterjee’s genius. His historic bond with Satyajit Ray ensured as many as 14 classics which delighted lovers of cinema worldwide. Chatterjee excelled not only in so-called parallel or art-house productions; but his work, glamour, popularity and success as a romantic commercial star in the history of Bengali cinema is second only to Uttam Kumar. Like a truly great actor of international calibre, Chatterjee was gifted, and could to smoothly mould himself into any character and portray them with utmost conviction. How can his heart-rending roles as a swimming coach fighting against vested interests(Koni), a frustrated husband in midst of matrimonial discord(Saat Pake Bandha) or a middle-class teacher under constant threat of goons (Atanka), which are treasures of Indian cinema, be forgotten? Since Chatterjee is the last person to rest on his laurels, we are confident that he will continue the good work and entertain us with his craft and creativity.
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata
