Protect women
Barely a week after the sexual assault on an 83-year-old woman from Nuvem came another shocking incident of a 70-year-old woman being sexually assaulted in Margao. A fortnight ago, it was the case of a 13-year-old girl, who was abducted and repeatedly raped in a hotel in Rajasthan by 32 men. The situation is grim not only in Goa but also in others parts of the country. We brag a lot about women empowerment and equality but what are we doing about their safety? Hardly a day passes without the rape of a teenager or school-going children. Parents feel terrified to send their children out of house without adequate protection. And now, even elderly women are being attacked. What then is the solution to this deep-seated malaise of sexual perversion and utter disregard for morals and the law? Have our animal instincts got the better of us?
A F Nazareth, Alto Porvorim
Mesmerising Messi
People say that it is simply out of this world for Lionel Messi to be still playing at this level of skill at the age of 39 or 40. People watch him on television and think they understand how good he is, but when a player is actually on the football pitch against him, it is totally different. He is very quick on the pitch. The opponents think they have got him, and then he suddenly changes direction, glides away like a ghost and suddenly he has vanished. It is almost impossible to get close enough to make a clean challenge. The way he controls the ball is honestly alien, it feels like it is glued to his feet. Every touch has a purpose, every movement creates space and he always seems three steps ahead of everyone else. We have never seen a player aged 40 move with so much intelligence and composure. Most players slow down but Messi has found another way to dominate the game. He does not waste energy, he controls the tempo. To make a long story short, he is the new god of football…apologies to Pele, Maradona and Fontaine.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Infrastructure projects
This has reference to the editorial ‘Design flaws’ (NT July 17) on the new fish market in Vasco. It was informative and hard-hitting. It is sad to see how poorly infrastructure projects are planned in our country, be it in Goa or Mumbai. One presumes that civic bodies in our country have top, intelligent personnel to plan such projects, but the reality seems something else. One of the reasons is that the individuals planning such projects are out of touch with the ground realities. One needs to put himself in the shoes of the man in the street to know what he is going through. Coming back to the drainage issue, it is a serious problem and should be tackled carefully, not just in the market but on the whole. Just for comparison, one must look at the centuries-old drainage systems designed by the British in cities like Mumbai. It is not only the present drainage systems on the whole, but other infrastructure projects also need to be reviewed carefully before making them functional.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Preserving livelihoods
The proposed redevelopment of the iconic Dona Paula jetty by the Goa tourism department has generated concern among the 76 local families that have been running stalls at the site for decades. While the project promises to improve infrastructure and enhance the tourist experience, it must not come at the cost of the livelihoods of those who have made Dona Paula a vibrant destination since 1985. For over forty years, these vendors have served visitors with food, handicrafts, souvenirs and other local products. Their businesses are more than a source of income. Many of the stall owners are women, who support their families through these small enterprises. The vendors have demanded a written assurance from the government that their temporary stalls will be replaced with permanent shops once the redevelopment is completed. Unfortunately, no such guarantee has been provided. This has led to fears that the new commercial spaces may be auctioned to the highest bidders, opening the door for outside businesses to take over. Infrastructure projects are meant to improve lives, not displace those who have contributed to the identity and economy of a place for generations. A written commitment would not only protect local livelihoods but also build public trust in the redevelopment process. The tourism department must ensure that progress does not come at the expense of justice. Redevelopment and livelihood protection can and should mean preserving both, the charm of Dona Paula and the dignity of its local vendors.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
