Volunteers are assets
Even as ‘International Volunteer Day’ is observed on December 4, it goes without saying that a nation is immensely benefitted by the potential, utility and strength of a volunteer, who can make a great difference to people in agony. Volunteers, for socioeconomic development, are key cogs who persevere towards building resilient communities. Society demands commitment, schedule and time of a volunteer, and passion, integrity, reality are virtues a volunteer aims to imbibe. If one takes into account the whopping 70% informal participation of workers in the cause of volunteerism, the esteem with which the service is held can be deciphered. Poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation and gender inequality are areas that can enormously gain from enthusiastic volunteers. Why volunteerism is not considered for salary most of the time? The question itself seems a cliche but as a thinker said “volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless but because they are priceless”.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Rehabilitating Omkar
The elephant Omkar has reportedly once again returned to Goa after a gap of 60 days and has continued to destroy plantations causing significant damage to crops, uprooting coconut saplings and banana plantations. The elephant has also damaged two-wheelers and cars parked in Uguem village creating panic among the residents. It is learnt that students did not go to school for the last two days after they spotted the elephant on the way. The locals fear that the tusker could also attack people, leading to possible loss of life. They have urged the state government to relocate the animal back to its habitat. Officials of the Goa forest department had reportedly discussed the matter with Karnataka counterparts and had decided to seek the help of trained Kumki elephants and a team of wildlife experts to capture and relocate Omkar to designated elephant camp but the operation was not successful. It is pertinent to note that ‘Vantara’ is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre located within the Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery complex. It is a passion project of Anant Ambani and is managed by Reliance Foundation. Spanning over 3,000 acres, Vantara serves as a global rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre with focus on providing care for the animals and has over 200 elephants. The rescue and rehabilitation centre has rescued numerous elephants from various backgrounds. These elephants are given a permanent home at Vantara, where they live chain-free in a natural environment and receive specialised medical care for injuries and ailments caused by their past suffering. The Goa government could try to get in touch with officials of Vantara and see whether Omkar could be shifted to this animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Legendary bookstore
The legendary ‘Fakir Chand Book Store’ in Delhi’s Khan Market is considered to be the oldest bookshop and almost has a heritage status. It opened in 1931 in Peshawar (Pakistan) and after the Partition it found home in Khan Market, Delhi in 1951.The store is currently managed by the fourth generation of the Bahmi family and is nearly 100 years old. A unique feature of the shop is that the books are not stacked in order by titles, but in a random arrangement. They say people do not find books, books find them. Its quaint old world style and outdoor greenery are the centre of attraction for booklovers. Reminds you of an era long gone where people actually read instead of being glued to screens 24×7.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Democracy at crossroads
Afraid of facing the Opposition, which was expected to come fully armed with many crucial issues like the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the Delhi blast and the unprecedented pollution in Delhi to attack the ruling government and demand discussions, the BJP-led government has restricted the tenure of both the Houses of Parliament to 19 days with just 15 sittings. As expected, the first day lapsed without transacting any business, as the government refused to discuss SIR in the Parliament. However, as usual, the government is ready to pass many bills without any discussions, after tactfully paving the way for the exit of the Opposition members from both the Houses, by stubbornly refusing to accede to their demand to take up the above headgoing issues for discussion. In the circumstances, one really wonders whether we are living in a democratic country or under a dictatorial regime.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
