LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Go for 76-day fishing ban

The annual 61-day fishing ban in Goa will come into effect from June 1 and will extend till July 31. During this period, mechanised fishing is prohibited along the sea coast and territorial waters of the state. The annual ban aims to facilitate sufficient time for fish breeding along the state’s coastal belt, throughout the spawning season. It prevents fishermen from risking their lives in the choppy monsoon seas. Traditional fishermen are exempt from the fishing ban. Citing Gujarat’s 76-day fishing ban as an example, Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has demanded an extended ban period of 90 days, as numerous illegal activities take place at sea. A 90-day fishing ban period will mean that marine life is not exploited for petty gains. The fishing ban needs to be strictly enforced. There needs to be a complete ban on LED lighting and bull trawling. During the fishing ban period fishermen need to be compensated by the government considering the economic impact the ban can have on their livelihoods.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Save traditional occupations

This is with reference to the news report ‘Thrust on traditional occupations to boost local livelihoods (NT, May 30, 2025). The government’s move is a step in the right direction. Traditional occupations have taken a heavy beating due to the modern lifestyle and erratic weather conditions. Today paddy fields for instance, in Goa and Mumbai have been fallow, and are being converted for other uses. There are so many other traditional occupations which the younger generation is just not inclined to learn because it does not suit them.  One can only hope that traditional occupations and modern occupations can co-exist. Is it impossible?

Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai

‘Soaring’ Indian economy

India has just outperformed Japan to become the fourth  largest economy in the world. What does this mean for you and me? Nothing. The millionaires have become billionaires and   lakhpatis have become crorepatis. You and I are still where we were. And 800 million people continue to get free rations, while nearly 90 per cent of the workforce   continue to work in the unorganised sector with no benefits at all. And that is the real story of India’s economy. Try to understand the plight of the unorganised workers and their families. What has the fourth largest economy tag done for them? The per person GDP of Japan is 11 times more than the per person GDP of India.  In simple words, the average Japanese is several times richer than the average Indian. There are, for example, 660 cars for every 1 000 persons in Japan. In comparison, there are only   33 cars for every 1,000 Indians! But there is also a good side to our economy. India ranks third in purchasing power parity (PPP) in the world. In simple words, the purchasing power of the rupee in India is very high in comparison to other currencies. A bunch of palaak vegetable in the Calangute market costs around Rs 10. But same bunch of palaak costs the equivalent of Rs 100 in a Canadian mall. So Indians are somewhat better placed than other countries provided we earn a decent and regular income. Unfortunately, we do not have a minimum wage like the West. And we do not say a word about this gross inequality and injustice, because it suits us. The bottom line is that we need growth at the bottom of the ladder.

Robert Castellino, Calangute

Beyond profit motive

Paul Newman, the legendary Hollywood actor and philanthropist, wanted to create a social impact beyond his film career. When he developed his famous homemade salad dressing recipe, he co-founded Newman’s Own, a charity-driven food brand. Instead of seeking personal profit, Newman pledged to donate 100 per cent of all profits to nonprofit organisations and charitable causes worldwide. This unique business model combined corporate social responsibility with business success, inspiring millions. Over the years, Newman’s Own has donated over $600 million to support children’s charities, community development, and disaster relief efforts. Newman’s Own is a shining example of how a for-profit company can create real-world impact by prioritising philanthropy and sustainability. Paul Newman showed that social entrepreneurship can change lives while building a powerful brand legacy.

Misha, Varca

The passage of life

Rose Girone, oldest survivor of the Holocaust, who passed away aged 113 a few months ago, used to often assert “Aren’t we lucky”. The assertion used to come despite the dispatch of her husband to the German concentration camp of Buchenwald in 1938 when she was eight months pregnant and thereafter somehow securing a passage to Shanghai and getting compelled to live in a bathroom for seven years in a Jewish ghetto and finally settling in the US to bring up her daughter through valiant struggle of life by knitting and wherever she could seek shelter through rent! This is called embracing life with impeccable positivity, perseverance and ‘never say die’ attitude! Girone was indeed an epitome of the adage “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata