Street Light Needed
CONSEQUENT to the news item cum photograph appearing in Navhind Times (March 25), showing a street light hanging precariously at the Customs House Panaji, the Electricity Department has removed the same. The said street light was placed in view of alleged anti-social activities in the lane near the Customs House. While the need for a permanent lamp post in the lane is an imperative necessity. The light in its present condition helped curb crime, burglaries, murders, open urination etc which the cover of darkness would only facilitate.
JOE D’SOUZA, Panaji
Indo-Pak Relations
APROPOS the editorial, ‘US doublespeak’ (NT, March 26), it is not amusing for any student of politics, who is acquainted with US foreign policy since long. However, regardless of whether US supplies nuclear power plants to Pakistan, it is quite a paradoxical whether Pakistan has an honest and sincere will to curb terrorism against India. Nonetheless, it is interesting to learn that the USA has so far denied that it wants to mediate to solve the Kashmir issue and it has been advising Pakistan to negotiate bilaterally with India. Let us only hope that wisdom prevails and relations between India and Pakistan improve.
MUKUND KAMAT, Ribandar
Pension Scheme for Seamen
THE 47th National Maritime Day will be celebrated on April 5, 2010 in all major and minor ports of India. Every year, the National Maritime Day committee focuses people’s attention on shipping safety, protection of marine environment and welfare of seafarers. Presently, retired seamen and widows of ex-seamen are paid an ex-gratia monetary assistance of Rs 200 from the National Union of Seafarers of India Welfare fund. Retired Indian seamen have also been struggling to get their demand for a pension benefit scheme recognised by the Government of India. In most of the Indian Shipping companies, the seamen were given a call to report back for duty, after six to nine months stay without any pay. Seafarers are known as the unofficial ambassadors of their country and they proudly serve the Indian flagship companies sailing across the seven seas. The Goan Retired Seamen’s Welfare Association should organise a morcha in the port town of Vasco on April 5, to create awareness among the people regarding their long pending demand for a pension scheme, in order to meet their financial needs. Keeping in mind the hardships faced by retired seamen, the International Transport Workers Federation and the National Union of Seafarers of India should have an amicable agreement with the Union Minister for Shipping and the Union Finance Minister of India to introduce the ‘Indian Seamen Pension scheme’ under which all retired seamen’s could receive their monthly pension.
MELSON F M LOUIS, Margao
Industry and Jobs
THERE is a big hue and cry asking for more industrial units in Goa in order to promise employment to the sons of the soil. Will the NGOs and the government and the people at large write to each and every industry and verify from them how many Goans have been given jobs? As far as my knowledge goes, 80 per cent of the jobs are held by non-Goans. Will the government please wake up?
SONAL PARODKAR, Navelim
