Co-operative reforms
With reference to the editorial ‘Co-op challenges’ (NT, August 18, 2026), I would like to say that Goa’s co-operative sector faces severe problems. While strong regulation is essential, enforcement remains selective; politically connected societies escape scrutiny while others are targeted. Audits play a vital role in the functioning of any financial institution. But excessive workloads prevent auditors from providing meaningful guidance. Shareholder apathy further enables mismanagement; this has left 42 per cent of Goa’s co-operative societies non-functional. Moreover profit should not be the primary metric of financial health, as balance sheets can be manipulated. Instead, liquidity and cash flow must be prioritised. At present, deposits of up to Rs 5 lakh in a co-operative bank are covered by deposit insurance. However, over 30 per cent of Mapusa Urban Co-operative Bank depositors remain unpaid despite deposit insurance, reportedly due to RBI rules. To restore public confidence, state and central governments must amend relevant rules immediately. Depositors with locked funds should be repaid right away with simple interest. Co-operative societies must prioritise genuine public service over profit.
Ravindra Fogueri, Mapusa
Deadly hoardings
The collapse of a portion of a huge hoarding onto a motorcyclist near Dabolim airport should serve as a wake-up call for Goa. The incident could easily have ended in a fatality if not for the helmet he was wearing. While outdoor advertising is a legitimate commercial activity, a poorly designed, inadequately supported or improperly maintained hoarding can turn into a dangerous structure capable of causing serious injury or death. The authorities need to treat the Dabolim incident as a warning and undertake a comprehensive safety audit of roadside hoardings. The audit should examine the structural condition of the hoarding, the quality and strength of its supporting framework, the foundation, corrosion, anchoring and overall stability. Hoardings that are found to be unsafe should be removed without delay. There is also a need to ensure that hoardings are designed and installed scientifically. The authorities need to maintain a database of large advertisement structures.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Electoral manipulation
The state government appears intent on altering electoral equations to its advantage. The proposed ST reservations in Assembly constituencies raise concerns that incumbent MLAs will be displaced, with rumours revolving around Velim seat. Electoral politics increasingly favours money power. Parties frequently field “winnable” candidates who can finance expensive campaigns, run dummy candidates to split votes, or induce withdrawals—sidelining capable, honest, and deserving public servants. When candidates spend massive sums to win, the temptation to recover those expenses fuels a vicious cycle of corruption. Democracy must not become an exclusive arena for those who can splurge wealth. Do voters ever get a fair choice of a clean candidate dedicated to public service? Reservations must serve true social justice, not become an instrument to manipulate elections.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
Patriotic hypocrisy
Since coming to power, BJP politicians and supporters have aggressively promoted Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana. But do they understand or practise their central messages? Vande Mataram calls for devotion to our motherland, national unity, and fearless resistance against oppression. Jana Gana Mana celebrates unity in diversity and India’s pluralism. Centre’s actions sharply contradict both: Environmental destruction directly dishonours our sacred, nurturing motherland; Communal governance undermines national unity and our pluralistic identity and targeting critics and activists via prolonged imprisonment without trial destroys the ideal of resisting oppression. I urge BJP leaders and supporters to truly practise the ideals enshrined in Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, rather than using them as political weapons to brand opponents as anti-national.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Digital addiction
When was the last time you sat quietly for ten minutes without reaching for your phone? For most of us, picking up our smartphones first thing in the morning and during every brief pause has become an automatic reflex. We use screens to escape boredom, stress, or silence. However, our brains were never designed for this endless stream of videos, alerts, and notifications. Each interaction triggers a small dopamine release, neurologically conditioning us to crave continuous micro-rewards. Social media platforms are deliberately engineered by behavioural scientists to capture our attention. While we may feel exhausted from our daily routines, the truth is that our minds never get genuine rest. Real mental rest requires stillness—the exact state smartphones prevent us from experiencing.
Diomedes R Pereira, Corlim
