Accommodation
to retired politicians
India’s Vice President has resigned and has to vacate the official residence within a month. The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is busy finding a suitable accommodation. As a former VP, he is entitled to a Type VIII bungalow, the highest category, in Lutyens’ bungalow zone in Delhi where former VPs Hamid Ansari and M Venkaiah Naidu reside. Providing official accommodation is mandatory to serving politicians but is it necessary to give them housing after retirement or when they lose the elections? The government seems to be generous to a fault in the former aspect and irrespective of the party in power. Politicians who may have threat concerns could be given security but not accommodation. V S Naipaul’s protagonist Mr Biswas was not successful in finding a suitable house, but our retired and resigned politicians definitely get one and that too in posh localities! India follows the Westminster-style parliamentary system but when it comes to post-retirement benefits, our ministers do not follow their Western counterparts. The former USA presidents find their own place to stay and jobs to do after completing their terms. Joe Biden travelled by a local train to his house in Delaware after laying down office as VP on January 20, 2017. Former USA president Barack Obama is busy with his foundation, writing books and global engagements. In 2025, the former British prime minister Rishi Sunak joined as a senior advisor in Goldman Sachs, his previous employer; and to teach at Oxford and Stanford. Can our politicians take a leaf out of these people?
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Empty rhetoric
The Home Minister recently thundered at the Congress on the floor of the House as to why were wars during their era stopped without taking back Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir? For good measure he added that BJP will not rest till they annex PoK and that they were prepared to give their life for it. He had to eat crow, as Operation Sindoor was aborted without PoK in our bag. The Defence Minister had made a contradictory statement sometime back that attacking Pakistan militarily or getting back ‘our’ land was never the objective of the recent skirmish. If that was not the objective, then why was it not the objective? If you accuse others of stopping short from annihilating the enemy, then why did you conduct yourself likewise especially when you claimed that Pakistan was on its knees begging for a ceasefire? Should India not have delivered the killer punch given that the adversary was tottering on the verge of defeat?
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Protective gear
According to a recent report based on data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), nearly 45 children die due to road accidents everyday in India. Children and adolescents account for 10% of road crash deaths. The crying need of the hour is protective gears for children, especially for those boys and girls commuting with their parents on scooters and motorcycles. In 2022, by amending Rule 138 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, the Road Transport and Highway Ministry had made it mandatory for all children between nine months and four years of age to sport helmets and safety harness on two-wheelers. The safety harness was expected to attach the child to the driver of the two-wheeler through a strap. It was said that violation of the rule would attract punitive action and cancellation of vehicle licence for three months. Despite the amendment, nothing seems to have happened on the ground. Children riding pillion with their parents, sandwiched in between, or standing in front of either parent at wheels, is disturbing as well as dangerous.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Change of name
In Goa, changing one’s name or surname is governed by the Goa Change of Name and Surname Act, 1990, and its associated rules by applying to the Registrar. The Goa Change of Name and Surname (Amendment) Act, 2022, has shifted the authority for name changes from the Registrar to the Judiciary. This amendment also restricts the ability to change names to those with Goan origin. Probably the change of name rule in Goa was primarily adopted with good intent in order to change the spelling of the names that have a Portuguese origin like ‘Xencor’ to ‘Shankar’, ‘Camotim’ to ‘Kamat’ etc. Many women adopt their husband’s surname, signifying a new identity. This practice can be viewed as a symbol of unity and commitment. The amendment aims to address concerns about misuse of the original Act, particularly regarding the acquisition of Goan surnames. There were allegations that people were changing names to fraudulently claim benefits under government schemes or to purchase land. There could be fugitives and criminals resorting to change of name to escape from the long hand of law. Change of surname could also point to a change of religion. It can give a person an entirely new identity. There needs to be a crackdown to prevent the misuse of Goan surnames.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
