LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Messy road work

The work on the flyover at Porvorim has been going on since August 2024. At present, the work on the pillars is almost complete. The condition of the road, especially from JMJ Hospital stop to Porvorim Church, is horrible. I have my residential house on the main road opposite Galaxy Residency, Wadakade. For the last seven months, we have undergone tremendous hardship in the form of very high dust pollution and narrowing of the main highway road. We at least thought that the rains would bring some respite from dust pollution and removal of blocks on the highway since the pillar work has been completed. But on the contrary, our sufferings have increased as the road from Mapusa-Panaji side is not yet hot-mix carpeted, which could have been easily done. This has resulted in thick sticky mud mixed with chemicals entering our premises during downpour. Due to the mud, we are unable to move inside our premises or manoeuvre our vehicles. Also, the work on water drainage is proceeding at a snail’s pace.

Dr Anant S Ramani, Porvorim

Double standards on nukes

US President Donald Trump urged people in Tehran to evacuate the city “immediately,” warning once again that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Trump said, “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and a waste of human life,” Trump wrote. “Simply stated, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.” What’s the point of striking deals with Iran when you won’t hold Pakistan accountable for running a nuclear supermarket on the international black market? It’s hypocritical to expect nonproliferation from one while turning a blind eye to the other just because of strategic convenience. Actually, like Israel, Trump wants another biting dog (Pakistan) in South Asia to have American control over the region to curb India’s progress to a level where India can challenge America’s global interests and leadership. Moreover, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s best friend Trump is asking Iran to evacuate Tehran and not asking for any ceasefire from Israel. But when it came to Pakistan, he immediately asked India for a ceasefire deal. Though a few hours after his announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Trump leaving the G7 summit a day prior as a positive sign, saying that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is a top priority. But Trump dismissed Macron’s claim that he was returning to Washington to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, adding that the French leader was “wrong” in how he described the exit. As I believe, bombing in Tehran is not going to solve the problem. Evacuation of 10 million people from Tehran is just not possible.

Bidyut K. Chatterjee, Faridabad

Rehabilitate beggars

Witnessing some beggars in wheelchairs in a handicapped state along the Mapusa road, it seems those were forced to beg as a created profession. So I thought to divert the government’s attention to this fact. Article 23 of the Indian Constitution prohibits “begging” and other forms of forced labour, effectively outlawing practices like begging if they involve exploitation or coercion. This article ensures that no one is subjected to forced labor or any form of trafficking, including for the purpose of begging. Any violation of this prohibition is considered an offense punishable by law. The article also extends to other forms of forced labor and trafficking, making it a comprehensive safeguard against exploitation. Article 23 is part of the broader framework of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution, which are designed to protect individual liberties and ensure social justice. Article 23 is often read in conjunction with Articles 39(e) and (f) of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which emphasise the state’s responsibility to protect citizens from exploitation and material abandonment. The question is: who is going to rehabilitate those beggars and punish offenders?

Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora

Incorporate yoga
into daily routine

A properly done yoga rejuvenates the mind and body and keeps diseases away. The ‘International Day of Yoga’ (IDY) came into being on June 21, 2015. Recently, the Ministry of Ayush announced the ‘Impact Assessment of a Decade of International Day of Yoga: Survey Findings’ to assess people’s response to the IDY since its inception. More than 30,000 households across 34 states and union territories were covered under the survey. 11.2 percent of the respondents reportedly practiced yoga consistently, and 13.4 percent did so occasionally. Thirty-six percent of the people surveyed, who suffered from chronic health disorders like diabetes and hypertension, included yoga in their overall management strategy. Over 40 percent of the people covered had incorporated yoga into their daily routine. Fitness improvement and stress reduction were two positive changes. IDY also served to instill a sense of health awareness among the people.

Ganapathi Bhat, Akola