LPG delivery
Use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders for cooking is ubiquitous since piped natural gas (PNG) has not reached all the areas in the country. Even if PNG is available, safer and cheaper than LPG, yet many people still prefer to utilise gas cylinders. It is a sorry sight to see the delivery man lifting and hauling the cylinders to different floors, especially in buildings that have no elevators or where the elevators are non-functional, under maintenance or replacement. Many consumers may be tipping the delivery man, but not all would be kindhearted. Hence, the gas agencies throughout the country could charge a uniformly extra rate for delivery to different floors in buildings where elevators are absent or have problems. This collected amount would be paid to the delivery persons for their back-breaking task of carrying the cylinders up and down several floors.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem, Goa
Hockey victory
India began slowly only to gain momentum as the tournament progressed to lift the Hockey Asia Cup for the fourth time in Bihar’s Rajgir. This was exemplified by the way the team thrashed China 7-0 in the semis and literally crushed defending champions South Korea 4-1 in the decider on Sunday. No player can be singled out for the team’s triumph in the finals but Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas shone and scored. This was India’s first Asia Cup win in eight years and, more importantly, they have directly qualified for the World Cup in 2026. The beauty of India’s game on Sunday lay in its domination affront. Not once did Harmanpreet and his boys allow leeway for the South Koreans to bounce back. Although the two finalists had played out a 2-2 draw in the Super-4, India was far superior to South Korea in the finals, thanks to the brilliant opening goal by Sukhjeet Singh after which the team never looked back. Under coach Craig Fulton, the team has blossomed into a formidable unit that can thump any team on its day.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Students’ struggles
The five unnatural deaths of young students at BITS Pilani campus in Goa has brought to the fore various difficulties the student community of today pursuing higher studies faces. These include peer pressure, health neglect, academic pressure among other factors. But one factor that may be overlooked is isolation and staying away from family for long periods of time leading to loneliness. After school, as students take admission in various institutions across the country, they have to adjust to a different lifestyle as they stay in hostel. There could be several students who find it difficult to get accustomed to living away from their family and in an entirely different atmosphere, as they have to follow the hostel rules. This period of adjustment can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and isolation as they find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. Though there is a ban on ragging, such activities could be taking place on the sly within the four walls of the hostel room. Sharing rooms and common spaces with others can lead to a lack of personal space, making it difficult to find solitude when needed. Students may struggle to adjust to a new environment, food and rules, which can be emotionally challenging and contribute to isolation. If feelings of sadness or loneliness are severe or persistent, it is important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional, as medication might be helpful for clinical depression. However, unlike in the past, students living in hostels can now be in touch with their families back home through video calls on their mobile phones or Skype on the laptop. Parents need to see to it that they are in contact with their wards on a regular basis.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Donation coupons
Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav or the community celebrations ended last Saturday and so was the declaration of the lottery/donation coupon results. I live in Mapusa and I had purchased a coupon of Rs 200. The lottery coupon price was increased this year. After seeing the results of various community Ganesh celebration lotteries in this newspaper on Sunday, I noticed that the Mapusa city celebration committee had kept only a total of 11 prizes against the lottery coupons when compared to several other community Ganesh celebrations in smaller places across the state. Why are the prizes in Mapusa so less in quantity, with six being the main ones and only five in consolation. Lotteries or donation coupons of many other community celebrations had a total of at least 15-20 prizes. Population of Mapusa is definitely more compared to the other smaller towns, and with an increase in the coupon price, and the number of coupons sold, I think the committee concerned can definitely increase the number of prizes. Hopefully next year, we will see some changes in Mapusa.
Rashmi Sopan, Mapusa
