Pre-marriage counselling
The Chief Minister’s suggestion to introduce pre-marriage counselling is indeed apt in today’s world where man seems to have lost his sanity. Man has even surpassed the barbarism or cruelty displayed by animals. In fact, animals can be put to shame by man’s acts of barbarism like chopping a human into a hundred smaller pieces. It is time man was put on a leash. Pre-marriage counselling could certainly help to a certain extent in resolving marital conflicts. People need to understand the virtues like faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty, tolerance, understanding, patience, morality, etc., which may have been imbibed in us in our younger days. And I think this applies to people even in politics where they need to understand what is loyalty and faithfulness towards the citizens of our country. Perhaps counselling in politics would also go a long way in preventing chaos in the country.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Protecting tiger
‘Global Tiger Awareness Day’ is observed across the world on July 29. The number of tigers in India stood at a ‘staggering’ 3,682 as of 2022. India, with 70% of the global tiger population, is considered the ‘safest’ place for the big cat. However, as many as 178 tigers reportedly succumbed to various causes between 2019 and 2023 according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that is doing its best to protect the big cats. It should be made known that any tiger death is attributed to poaching unless proved otherwise. Though the number of tigers in reserves has stabilised over the years, their death outside the reserves is a cause for anxiety. Lacunae in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 led to the refined Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Act, 2006 that has clear provisions on tiger conservation. An eye on the international tiger trade is a must and it is apt that India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh have a coordinated system to tackle this, including a joint census to keep a track on the number of big cats.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Insuring mega events
The upcoming Damodar Saptah in Vasco will reportedly be insured for the first time in 126 years. In the process, Mormugao Municipal Council has become the first civic body in the state to provide insurance coverage for a festival within its jurisdiction. It is learnt that the decision was arrived at as a safety measure, especially in the light of tragedies like stampede during the Lairai Jatra, which claimed six lives and left dozens injured. As per statistics, 79% of stampedes in India have occurred during religious events due to poor crowd control and crowd estimation. Tragedies due to stampedes end up in compensation having to be paid to the kith and kin of those who lost their lives as well as those injured. In Goa, huge crowds are seen at fairs that come up during the feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa and Holy Spirit feast in Margao besides numerous jatras held across the state. Hence, there is a need for an insurance cover to be in place for the feasts and festivals for probable stampedes. As several food stalls come up at fairs and use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) gas for cooking, there is also a need to have fire insurance coverage in place. All civic bodies in the state need to follow in the footsteps of Mormugao Municipal Council and provide insurance coverage for the festivals celebrated in their jurisdiction. It would also be in the fitness of things for the government to make insurance coverage mandatory for major festivals and events, where huge crowds are expected.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
On migration
Migration is a global phenomenon that has existed since time immemorial. Human beings move from one part of a country to another or from one part of the world to another. This happens for a variety of reasons. The most important reasons are undoubtedly a quest for a better economic future and increased safety coupled with peace of mind brought about by adherence to the rule of law. Just like humans, birds and animals too migrate regularly every year, whether in keeping with the changing weather patterns or in search of better pastures. To uproot oneself and to restart life in a foreign land is no mean feat and requires a great deal of soul-searching, thought, purpose and planning. Perhaps those who opt to take such a far-reaching move are forced to do so, as they do not see the light at the end of their tunnel. Migrating elsewhere may give them the chance to escape the red tape, bureaucracy, stagnation and corruption they encounter and to fully utilise their skills and experience in their new chosen land. Many have been migrating over the decades for similar reasons and have largely managed to carve a reasonable living with varied success and have not looked back.
Aires Rodrigues, London
