Sinner, the winner
Jannik Sinner has proved his mettle once again by becoming the first player of his country to win successive All England cups. With two Australian Open and one US Open titles under his belt, Sinner has proved big time that he is a tough nut to crack on grass as well. German Alexander Zverev learnt it the hard way on Sunday night and went down fighting in four gruelling sets though he appeared to be struggling with a knee issue following a fall. After coming up trumps at the US Open in September 2024, Sinner seemed destined for bigger things, as he was virtually on a roll from early part of that year notwithstanding the loss to Alcaraz at the French Open. Regardless of the unfortunate doping scandal and a tennis player’s famous Achilles heel – injury – Sinner has come back every time he was considered down and out.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Indian citizenship
A month ago, an official of the Ministry of External Affairs set the cat among the pigeons by stating that passport is not a proof of Indian citizenship, as it facilitates only travel. If so, when permission is repatriated for some reasons, why is s/he sent back to India, as technically that person is not an Indian citizen? Most of us have one or more of these cards: Aadhaar (as proof of identity), ration (to obtain subsidised food by those eligible for it), Permanent Account Number or PAN (for tax purposes) and driving licence (permission to drive). The most contradictory one is the voter’s card, which facilitates us to participate in the electoral process. This card is required by those who offer themselves as candidates and by others to exercise their franchise. As per the definition and usages, the above-mentioned various cards do not reflect the citizenship of 1.47 billion people. If so, are ‘non-Indians’ in the fray in elections? And who are those people casting their votes in India? The central government and the Election Commission of India must clarify and set to rest the perplexing problem as to who is an ‘Indian citizen,’ and the most authentic document needed to prove one’s citizenship.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Environmental health
India ranks second from the lowest, 176, in this year’s Environment Performance Index (EPI), a global index that rates countries based on indicators pertaining to environmental health, ecosystem vitality and mitigating climate change. India has an overall EPI score of 22.46 (on a range of 0 to 100). In contrast, the best performing country, Estonia, has an EPI score of 74.79. India also had the lowest regional ranking (eight), among eight south Asian countries. The last EPI (in 2024) ranked India at 176 among 180 countries. Previously, EPI 2022 ranked India at 180, at the very bottom. This ranking had prompted the Indian government to issue a statement a few days later claiming that the Index was based on “surmises and unscientific methods”.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Protecting frogs
Salcete has reportedly recorded no cases of frog poaching this monsoon, with the forest department attributing the achievement to intensified surveillance and enforcement. However, the absence of poaching cases should not automatically be interpreted as a sign that frog populations are healthy. A more troubling possibility is that there are simply far fewer frogs left to poach. While poaching has long been identified as a threat, habitat destruction and environmental degradation are proving to be even more devastating. Across Salcete and other parts of Goa, wetlands and paddy fields are steadily disappearing under land-filling and real estate development. Several agricultural fields have been converted into settlement zones. Equally alarming is the increasing pollution of our water bodies. Contaminated ponds and fields not only affect the survival of frogs but also reduce their breeding success. Frogs play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. They help control insect populations by feeding on mosquitoes and their larvae, thereby naturally reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. They also form an essential link in the food chain, serving as prey for birds, snakes and other wildlife. Today, that familiar sound of frogs croaking at the onset of monsoon has become increasingly rare. Protecting frogs requires much more than preventing poaching. Wetlands and paddy fields must be preserved rather than sacrificed for indiscriminate development. Pollution of rivers, ponds and agricultural land must be controlled through stricter enforcement of environmental regulations. Farmers should avoid the unnecessary use of harmful chemicals.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
