Sweepers as Paramedics in UP
A sweeper in UP stitched up a patient while the doctor, the chief medical superintendent of the government hospital, looked on.
The doctor justified this action saying that the surgical procedure was done under his supervision. If this argument is accepted, the services of all other personnel working in government hospitals in UP may be requisitioned for similar procedures during emergencies. The security personnel may be asked to double up as radiologists as they ‘scan’ CCTV footage all day long. The hospital ambulance drivers can be asked to attend to patients in the trauma and emergency wards as that is what they do all day long — attending to emergency calls. And the cooks in the hospital kitchen may even perform surgeries because of their competence in carving up dozens of chickens everyday. And to give them all a modicum of legitimacy they will be required to swear by the ‘Hippoquackic Oath’!
ROBERT CASTELLINO, Calangute
Unhygienic Food Stalls
WHENEVER there is a fair one sees several stalls selling food items coming up. Such stalls serve anything from Bhel Puri, Gobi Manchurian to sweet corn. It is seen that these food stalls do not maintain hygienic conditions while preparing these food stuff. This can spread various diseases among the people. It seems necessary to make it mandatory for these food stalls to obtain the licence from the concerned authorities to operate these food stalls. The licence should be prominently displayed at the stalls. The Food and Drugs Administration needs to keep a constant vigil on the food stalls that operate at the fairs that come up during various festivals and village feasts.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
Hike in Duty on Electrical Energy
ELECTRICITY bills for energy consumption in April, which were to be issued in June, have not been issued as there has been increase in duty on units of electrical energy with effect from June. Now, the bills will be issued for every two months, or perhaps more, putting burden on consumers for making payment in lump sum. What the power department should do is that it should issue the regular bills and the difference which would arise due to the duty hike can be claimed in subsequent bills without putting extra burden on consumers. I hope due care will be taken in not burdening the consumers.
SUSAN COTTA, Margao
Plant a Tree and Nurture It
SCHOOLS, colleges and other educational institutions are celebrating Vanamahotsav these days in Goa. Usually what happens is people plant tree saplings with much fanfare and then forget the planted saplings. Plants have to be nurtured and protected throughout their life. It is better to plant just one tree and nurture it regularly rather than planting hundreds of trees and neglecting them. But who will devote valuable time for this? Let us adopt at least one tree and take care of it throughout. Schools can do this by forming a group of student; each student can adopt a plant and take care of it throughout his/her studies in the school. That student, on passing out of the school, can be succeeded by another student from lower grade in taking care of the tree. Even a group of ten students in each school will make a great difference.
SNEHA P GAONKAR, Paroda
