Champion of the earth
The passing of Dr Madhav Gadgil marks the loss of a towering figure in Indian ecology and academic research. A pioneer in shaping India’s conservation policies, Dr Gadgil was honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and the UNEP Champion of the Earth Award (2024). Renowned for his seminal work on the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, Dr Gadgil chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (2011). The landmark Gadgil Report recommended declaring the entire hill range an ‘ecologically sensitive area’, with bans on mining, quarrying, industries, and large-scale energy projects. Though his bold proposals faced resistance from governments, industries, and local communities, the veteran environmentalist remained steadfast in advocating environmental protection. His decades-long research promoted community-driven conservation, safeguarded marginalised groups, and influenced national policy. By bridging science with society and raising awareness of ecological threats, Dr Gadgil became a true ‘champion of the earth’.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Discipline in govt offices
The state government has directed heads of departments to ensure that government employees stop engaging in birthday celebrations and farewell parties during office hours and maintain proper decorum, discipline and punctuality while discharging official duties. This ban has been imposed since such personal gatherings amount to the misuse of office time and space and such behaviour amounts to conduct unbecoming of a government servant, thus attracting disciplinary action. Heads of departments are tasked with enforcing this rule and ensuring discipline within their teams. This is a good move by the government for several reasons. It will ensure better use of public time. Government office hours are meant for delivering public services. Birthday and farewell celebrations, though well-intentioned, often disrupt workflow, delay files, and reduce productivity. The move reflects a renewed focus on professionalism, efficiency, and the responsible use of public resources. Even small celebrations often use government space, electricity, stationery, and sometimes official vehicles. The decision ensures that taxpayer-funded infrastructure is used strictly for official purposes. The ban helps reinforce discipline and decorum, promoting a culture where work takes priority over informal gatherings during official hours. However, it is not about discouraging camaraderie but about setting the right priorities.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Cracking the whip
The state government has directed heads of departments to ensure that government employees stop engaging in birthday celebrations and farewell parties during office hours and maintain proper decorum, discipline and punctuality while discharging duties. Sounds like a very good decision. Employees often indulge in serious misconduct—arriving drunk on duty, wasting time on TV clips, movies, music videos, endless chats, mobile games, and even playing cards or carrom inside offices. Such practices, sometimes tolerated by senior officers, undermine decorum and productivity while employees continue to draw full salaries. The government must take firm action against these habitual offenders to prevent offices from degenerating into places of idling and gossip, ensuring that public institutions function with dignity and efficiency.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Charter for saving Goa
India today faces deep polarisation, with lofty slogans of inclusivity clashing against the realities of majoritarian governance. Against this backdrop, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement—“Lokank zai tench ami kortole”—came after a massive public meeting convened by former chief justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello, who came out with a 10-point people’s charter to protect Goa from becoming a polluted concrete jungle. The movement, led by Justice Rebello and supported by intellectuals, activists, NGOs, and the youth, highlights the alarming deterioration of democracy and constitutional order. It emphasises that religion should unite, not divide, and that India’s true strength lies in its diverse fabric. Ultimately, the government’s actions, not words, will determine whether this unity and environmental protection can be preserved.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Neo-engineering technique!
The photograph depicting a wide crack in the parapet wall along the Mandovi river promenade tied with ropes made our day! (NT, January 6, 2026). Some intelligent person/s has come with a neo-technique to address such challenging civil engineering problems. The method should be globally patented. A master class could be conducted by the person/s who came up with the brilliant idea to address the knotty issue of repairing the wall in the traditional way. This ‘tying with ropes’ method could have benefited to save the crumbling Kala Academy instead of having spent more than Rs 50 crore only on renovation.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
