Flawed residency rule
The recent clarification by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the state legislative assembly—that a 30-year residency is mandatory to apply for plots under the Goa Housing Board—is deeply concerning. While the intention may be to ensure that only ‘locals’ benefit, this criterion raises serious questions. Does living in Goa for 30 years automatically make someone a local or Goan? Can anyone simply move to Goa, wait for three decades, and then qualify for a government-allotted plot—effectively being treated as a Goan? If so, what does this mean for ethnic Goans, whose roots go back generations? With Goa’s limited land resources, can we afford to be this generous to non-Goans? What future remains for our children if policies like these dilute the rights of the native population? The government must reconsider this approach. A more meaningful cut-off would be linked to Goa’s Liberation in 1961. This policy risks systematically displacing ethnic Goans. It must be opposed firmly and urgently.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Social malaise
It is alarming to learn that drugs have infiltrated schools in North Goa’s coastal belt—a sign of a deeper societal issue. In today’s nuclear family setup, many parents, busy with work, spend minimal time with their children. This disconnect is worsened by the absence of grandparents, who once played a crucial role in nurturing values and emotional maturity. There is a growing misconception that schools alone are responsible for shaping children during school hours, or that parenting can be done through gadgets. This misguided belief has contributed to a lack of emotional support and guidance at home. Parents and media—through glamourised portrayals in advertisements and films—must take primary responsibility for the growing drug problem among the youth. While there is much discussion about sex education, little attention is paid to psychological grooming and emotional development, which are equally vital. Our education system also places excessive emphasis on exams, ignoring the emotional and behavioural well-being of students.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Ignominious exit
The abrupt and unceremonious resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice-President should serve as a warning to the BJP’s allies and supporters. His departure, without even a formal farewell, reflects how quickly the ruling party can discard even its most loyal aides once they step out of line. Dhankhar, once a staunch supporter of the BJP, acted in a highly partisan manner as Governor of West Bengal—frequently clashing with the state government—allegedly to gain favour with Delhi. His reward was the vice-presidency, where he continued to function more like a BJP spokesperson than a neutral Rajya Sabha Chairman. However, when Dhankhar began to show signs of independence—such as urging dialogue with protesting farmers and accepting an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma signed solely by Opposition MPs—it appears his relationship with the party soured. Is this how the second highest constitutional authority in the country should be treated? It’s a moment of reckoning for leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, who should carefully reflect on the fate of Dhankhar.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Let Bal Rath move on
In 2008, the directorate of social welfare initiated the Bal Rath bus scheme in Goa to cater to schools that had significant number of SC and ST students. In 2012-13, the scheme was transferred to the directorate of education and several other related initiatives viz., Indira Bal Rath, Suvarna Bal Rath and Gomant Bal Rath were amalgamated into the broader Bal Rath scheme so as to cover more schools including aided ones. In the ongoing assembly, the Chief Minister informed that there are no plans to replace the old buses. He has stuck to the decision taken in the monsoon assembly of July 2024. This is in contrast to the time when there was a plan to replace the buses that were just five-year-old, though they were well-maintained. This was puzzling as austerity measures were in place and private buses older than 15 years were in service! Considering the fact that most of the buses may be more than 15-year-old or nearing the timeline, the government could scrap and substitute these with new ones. The children may be at risk if they commute in old Bal Rath buses which may not be well-maintained and contribute to air pollution. Hence, the government could also increase the number of buses for the children who reside in the hinterlands.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Munificent gesture
I appreciate the Sawant government’s move to increase salary and bestow other benefits upon daily wage workers engaged by the government. But the government has overlooked those who have been working on contract basis for it; some of these contractual employees have been working for more than 20 years. Will the Chief Minister look into the problems of the government’s contractual employees?
Gurudas Sawal, Porvorim
