LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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Civic Protests for A Valid CauseTHE children who demonstrated at the CCP offices in relation to the garbage dumped near their schools and who upturned buckets of garbage on the mayor’s desk should not be subject to disciplinary action. At most, the children and the schools involved should be let off with a warning. The reason for this is simple. Apart from general education that schools impart to their students, they should be taught the principles of civics. In fact the schools involved in the demonstration should be complimented for exposing their students to a live experiment of civic protest and for a valid cause. It has been the case all along that common citizens, school and college students etc have always been cowed down by government institutions and its machinery. In this context any action against the students and schools involved in the above incidents will be seen as something that goes against the grain of our society. The CCP authorities and the mayor in question are deserving of the insult since did they not think of the effects on the residential homes in the Mala area and the schools located there before deciding to dump the garbage there? It is a warning to all in the administration of Goa that they should be watchful and ensure that they act in the best interests of the people otherwise the common people – even students – will rise to the occasion.

GOA is regarded as one of the leading states in the country as far as football is concerned and has, over the years, given great players for the national teams. It is the most loved sport among Goans. People flock to see football matches even if it is at the village level. It is indeed embarrassing that the capital city of the state does not possess a football ground, leave alone a full-fledged stadium. All football matches involving out-station teams are held either at the Fatorda Stadium at Margao, the Tilak Maidan in Vasco or Duler grounds in Mapusa. The only football ground in the capital city, the Campal ground is non-functional. Why cant the government come up with a football ground in the city of Panaji or it’s suburbs? Are there no football-lovers in the capital?

IN the greater interest of cricket, the BCCI needs to show magnanimity and by not condoning players who join the ICL ranks. These young players who had a slim chance of making it to the nation squad, quite naturally opted for the cash-rich ICL, putting financial security before their career in cricket. The larger interest of cricket will be better served if these players are rehabilitated into the national mainstream of cricket. After all, the BCCI must acknowledge, even grudgingly, that had it not been for the creation of the ICL, the IPL would doubtfully have seen the light of day.

THIS is in reference to the news report titled ‘Semana de Cultura Portuguesa not to support quincentenary celebrations’ (NT, November 14). The above referred to news report states that as part of the festival, a magazine ‘Semana de Cultura Goa 2008’ was released, which included an article by Pratima Kamat. I wish to categorically state that I have not contributed any article to the magazine referred to in this news report.