Prevalence of Child Labour
THE Goa Government has finally realised the need to keep a check on the child labour prevalent in the state. It is understood that the Department of Women and Child Development, as per the provisions of the Goa Children’s Act, has formulated a plan of action to eradicate all forms of child labour in the state. It is true that child labour has become a disturbing trend in the state. It may be recalled that a domestic help was tortured in a house at Porvorim not so long ago. Many Goans prefer to bring domestic help, who are mostly minors, from neighbouring places like Karwar, Belgaum, Hubli, etc. While those employing minors in their homes should be punished as per the provision in the law, the parents or guardians who allow their minor children to be employed in the homes as domestic help should also be reprimanded. This will serve as deterrence to the parents as well.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco

Right to Freedom of Speech
WITH Valentines Day fast approaching, certainly many outfits are in the process of planning their moral policing missions. All Indian citizens have the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. The right to believe in any such day and celebrate it peacefully is the right of any citizen. In fact the right to free expression is the most potent weapon we have and we simply cannot surrender it. Culture is not something that is imposed on anyone but is something that is built by the society itself. Moreover it is the responsibility of a civilised society that we strongly and uncompromisingly prohibit any non-state organisation to impose any kind of ‘moral policing’ upon us. Globalisation has many opportunities to offer but at the same time it has several cultural implications as well. While we might say that a foreign culture is finding its way to India, we must also realise that our way of life and cultural heritage–from yoga to cashew feni–is finding a market abroad. Smart people grab opportunities while losers go after chest beating and violence. 
AKSHAR PRABHU DESAI, Canacona

Unity in Diversity
THIS is with reference to the news item ‘Unity in diversity holds the key to national integration’ (NT, February 4). RSS chief, Mr Mohan Bhagwat has only reiterated what Mr L K Advani had earlier stated in his speech about India’s unity in diversity in respect to language, faith, customs, etc, and India’s glorious tradition of integrating these diversities to bring about national unity in our multi-religious and multi-cultural country. Discrimination cannot be tolerated in any form, whether linguistic, regional or religious. Ours is a secular democracy, and it is the duty of every state government to uphold these constitutional values and provisions, and ensure that every Indian citizen has the right and freedom to reside and earn his/her livelihood in any part of the country, as well as practise and propagate his religion freely. Have we forgotten the pledge that our school children take every morning, viz: ‘India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters…To my country and people, I pledge my devotion. In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness.’
A F NAZARETH, Alto Porvorim

Deregulation of Fuel Prices   
AS if inflation and soaring costs have not already broken the back of the common man, a government panel recommendation on deregulation of fuel prices comes as a chiller for everyone! The news that LPG and other fuel prices are to be hiked is definitely a shocker, more so considering that in an effort to reach out to the man on the street, the UPA government in a moment of magnanimity, heady after their electoral triumph, had promised to alleviate the commoner’s problems vis-à-vis food, clothing and shelter. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and a near-to-invisible PDS that proposes to bring a much sought after succour to those below poverty line has wilfully or unintentionally dented these ambitious proposals severely. In the bargain, with his ‘kitchenomics’ gone awry and in a bid to make both ends meet, the common man finds himself with his back pushed to the wall. A cinema prologue had an apt translation for the term ‘aam admi’–the mango people. Mangoes are favoured for their succulence and discarded after they are sucked dry! For ages this has been the trend with politicians targeting the commoners for their gullibility. With food grains, pulses and other day-to-day utilities costing dearer by the day, it is extremely pathetic to watch our national leaders indulging in the game of passing-the-buck, with everyone shrinking away from morally owning up for the sorry state of affairs the nation finds itself in. Under the circumstances, one is forced to believe that the government would have us applaud the sagacity of the historically famous foolish utterance of eating cakes if bread is difficult to come by!            
PACHU MENON, Margao