Stray dogs in govt hospitals
It was horrifying to read that in a district hospital in Madhya Pradesh, stray dogs were seen carrying the remains of a newborn (NT March 16). This was the second incident in three days. Now the police and authorities have woken up to check CCTV cameras, gather information and records of babies delivered in the hospital in the past week and launch a thorough investigation. A case of too little, too late? In the past, stray dogs have been noticed to roam in the corridors of Goa Medical College and Hospital. We talk about increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to trillions of rupees, and construct sleek highways, bridges, flyovers, specialty hospitals, educational institutions etc but when it comes to the basic amenities and safety, the authorities seem to be cutting corners and the budget for the upkeep. What is the point of checking CCTV cameras when stray dogs loiter, bite or carry away newborns in hospitals? There is no sense in analysing the footages and wringing fingers in despair after an incident. Besides installing CCTV cameras, it would be worthwhile to carry out fencing and appoint security guards at crucial places. These steps will provide jobs and also help to keep away the stray dogs rather than watching and capturing them on cameras and the images getting deleted after a few days.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
SHGs at airports
Airports in India usually have atrociously priced food items owing to the extremely high rentals the outlets have to pay to the concessonaire. A small cup of tea will set you back by Rs 190, a pav bhaji plate by Rs 450 and a vegetarian thali by Rs 700. Many middle-class passengers find this fare unaffordable. To tackle this, the government must reserve some kiosks for self-help groups (SHGs) of women at nominal rent so that basic meals and snacks can be provided to flyers at reasonable rates. The high volume of footfall will ensure that such outlets are profitable and the passengers too will stand to benefit. It will be a win-win situation for all. I would like to request the government to consider this proposal seriously.
Misha, Varca
Regional identities
The issue of parliamentary constituency delimitation has sparked significant debate, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Both the states have voiced strong opposition to what they term a “unilateral move” by the central government to redraw constituency boundaries. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have united, extending mutual support for a conference organised by Tamil Nadu to address this contentious issue. The proposed delimitation exercise, which aims to adjust Lok Sabha constituencies based on population, has raised concerns among the southern states. They argue that such measures disproportionately favour the northern states with higher population growth, potentially reducing the political representation of southern states that have successfully implemented population control measures. This has been perceived as a threat to the principles of democracy and federalism. Adding to the tension is the central government’s push for the National Education Policy (NEP) and its three-language formula, which has been met with resistance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The formula mandates the inclusion of Hindi alongside regional languages and English, a move seen by many as an attempt to impose Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states. Tamil Nadu, in particular, has historically adhered to a two-language policy and refused to implement the NEP, citing concerns over linguistic and cultural autonomy. The central government’s decision to withhold funds under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for non-compliance with NEP provisions has further escalated the conflict. The language debate is not new. India, as a multilingual and multicultural society, has grappled with the question of linguistic identity since independence. While Hindi and English are official languages, the imposition of Hindi has often been resisted by states like Tamil Nadu, which view such moves as undermining their linguistic heritage. Linking federal funds to compliance with language policies has been criticised as unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of cooperative federalism. Even Goa has faced its share of language-related agitation. The Konkani language movement in the 1980s highlighted the need for linguistic preservation and autonomy. Eventually, Konkani was recognised as the official language of Goa, with schools given the choice to select their medium of instruction and include Konkani as an optional subject. The state’s policy set a precedent for linguistic inclusivity, ensuring that educational institutions could accommodate diverse linguistic preferences. The challenges faced by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other non-Hindi-speaking states underscore the importance of respecting regional identities in a federal structure. In a diverse nation like India, every state must have the autonomy to adopt language and education policies that reflect its unique cultural and linguistic heritage.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
