Good move
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has once again proved that he is the boss with the final say and overnight revoking of conversion of 80,000 sqm of land in his Sanquelim constituency. Probably it is a late realisation of how Section 39A has, and is being misused by the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP). For the Opposition parties and MLA Viresh Borkar from St Andre constituency, it is thumbs up and a victory sign for their tireless efforts, fast undertaken and vehement protests that are now bearing fruit. We hope to see some more revoking of approvals of lakhs of square metres of eco-sensitive land in other constituencies as well.
A F Nazareth, Alto Porvorim
Clashes involving tourists
Goa, long celebrated for its hospitality, now finds itself grappling with a troubling pattern of rising tensions between locals and domestic tourists. Recent incidents have once again brought this issue into sharp focus. In one instance in Mapusa, a local resident was allegedly assaulted following a minor parking dispute involving tourists. In another case, a shack owner faced licence suspension and workers were detained after a Bengaluru tourist was reportedly attacked for resting on a beach bed reserved for paying customers. Such conflicts are no longer one-sided. For decades, Goa has embraced the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava,’ which translates to the belief that guests are akin to God. However, hospitality cannot mean silent acceptance of disrespect, nor should it justify aggression. Shack owners and local workers increasingly report instances of verbal abuse, refusal to pay bills, intimidation and unruly behaviour from a section of domestic tourists. At the same time, violence or retaliation from locals cannot be condoned. Safeguarding Goa’s reputation as a tourist destination is critical. Any form of aggression risks damaging the very industry that sustains thousands of livelihoods. There is a need for balance and accountability on both sides. Tourists must recognise that visiting a place does not entitle them to disregard the local norms, exploit services or demean those who serve them. Equally, locals and business owners must rely on lawful channels to address disputes rather than resorting to confrontation. Mutual courtesy should define the relationship.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Government schools
This is with reference to the news report published in this daily (NT March 27) that nearly 25% of government primary schools in Goa closed in the last 10 years. It is a sad situation indeed. The reasons for the decline in enrolment in government primary schools such as migration to urban areas or parents preferring aided or unaided schools, etc call not just for some serious introspection but to take necessary corrective action. Why is it that parents prefer private schools even though they find it extremely difficult to bear the expenses? It is apparently due to better quality of education, perhaps. All state governments, in fact, should lay more emphasis on education and ensure that the government schools are in a position to compete with the private schools. It is the future of the children that is at stake.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Beyond conflict zone
The ongoing West Asia crisis has begun to affect tourism in Goa though the impact is mainly indirect through flight disruptions, cancellations and economic uncertainty. For Goa, the stakes are high. Tourism supports thousands of livelihoods – from hotel workers and taxi operators to shack owners and small traders along the coast. Any prolonged downturn in tourist arrivals could, therefore, translate into reduced income for the state and economic hardship for many families. The Goa government and the tourism industry must mitigate losses and sustain domestic tourism while waiting for international travel to stabilise. Ultimately, the difficulties facing Goa’s tourism industry underline a larger truth: wars rarely remain confined to the battlefield. Their economic and social consequences travel far beyond the conflict zone.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Holidays galore
Perhaps few countries have as many public holidays as India. There approximately are 21 public holidays in 2026, including or excluding state-specific holidays. In March alone, there are five government holidays. Countries like Nepal and Myanmar may “rank” alongside India in the sheer number of general holidays. The mind-boggling number of holidays, obviously to appease every religion in the country, hampers efficiency and productivity. In this regard, the Supreme Court’s observation that the fundamental right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution does not encompass the right to seek a holiday for a specific religious occasion is most welcome. Article 25 speaks about the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health. Freedom of religion is not absolute and it should not interfere in the free flow or continuity of work culture. The top court has made an impactful observation that the country’s people already enjoy a host of holidays based on religious beliefs.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
