Managing housing societies in Goa
When Goa’s co-operative housing societies came into existence in the late 1980s, bye-laws set managing committee (MC/EC) terms to three years. Subsequent changes extended elected terms to five years—a duration far too long for managing societies efficiently. Over five years, committees become complacent, comfortable, and prone to exploiting system loopholes, while monotony and boredom inevitably set in. While some passive residents remain indifferent, active members eager to contribute serious efforts to society welfare are denied a chance. Meanwhile, restless residents grow fidgety under prolonged, uninspired governance. A five-year stint breeds autocracy and stagnation instead of productive management. The Minister for Co-operative Societies must consider amending the bye-laws and convincing the government to revert to the original three-year term for managing committees. This simple change will restore accountability, encourage fresh participation, and ensure better governance for all housing societies.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Ecological crisis
Agitation against mega housing projects and hill flattening is crucial. Destroying hills threatens natural water reservoirs, worsening water scarcity in this era of unplanned concretisation. Garbage management is a burning, neglected issue. Despite charging Rs 900, panchayats fail to tackle it. In Bela Vista, Corlim, migrants and villagers dump waste at road junctions at night. Stray dogs scatter kitchen waste, while broken booze bottles line the roads. Despite citizens sending photos of offenders to the panch concerned, no fines are imposed as a deterrent. Motorcyclists even cross village limits to dump trash. Concretisation without proper waste management risks an imminent epidemic. The government and panchayats must stop turning a blind eye and prioritise systematic, long-term garbage collection before innocent lives are lost.
Diomedes R Pereira, Corlim
In honour of teachers
September 5 is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India, a special day dedicated to honouring the noble profession of teaching and expressing our gratitude to those who have guided and inspired us. Teachers play an important role in shaping not only the lives of individual students but also the society and nation as a whole. Teachers’ Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a great teacher, philosopher, scholar, and former president of India. Teachers do much more than teach lessons from textbooks. They help children develop discipline, confidence, values, and a sense of responsibility. Their responsibility is not merely to prepare students to earn a decent living, but also to become good human beings and responsible citizens of our great nation. The knowledge, values, and principles imparted by teachers remain with us throughout our lives. Teachers deserve a high and respected place in society.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
No peace in sight
In a strange world, an autocratic revanchist in Russia eyeing lost territorial revenge and a global cop seeking to stop a country in the world’s most restive region from arming itself with nuclear weapons are holding the global economy to ransom. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly projected himself as the leader capable of ending the conflict, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown little urgency in accepting a settlement that does not serve Moscow’s strategic interests. Despite repeated diplomatic initiatives, the war continues, without a mandate. Interestingly, many world leaders are talking about the impact of wars and the need to stop it. However, they are unable to bring any pressure on the two to stop the wars and leave the world in peace. It seems to matter little to Trump and Putin about the suffering of their own people. Both must recognise that there is no military victory worth an endless war. Trump should use American influence to press Moscow and Kyiv towards a credible, enforceable settlement rather than merely another round of talks. Putin must understand that peace cannot be built on permanent territorial expansion.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Virtue of giving
September 5 is observed as International Day of Charity to honour Mother Theresa on her birth anniversary. Nothing can be a better definition of charity than kindness towards the deprived. Generosity to fellow humans does not simply mean making a “donation”; it is more about making a “difference”. The sea will not be poor if it loses some water. Similarly, nobody has become poor by giving. “A bone to the dog is not charity; charity is the bone shared with the dog,” said American poet Maya Angelou. International charity encompasses all in one, and here charity means active involvement of all stakeholders on a wider base. International charity has a broad customer base to supply essential commodities to nations on one platform.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
