Tag: corona

Popular Essays

“Don’t do politics”. But why not?

By ALBERTINA ALMEIDA

‘Physical distancing’ is one thing, and ‘social distancing’ plus ‘not crossing the Lakshman Rekha’ quite another. In all publicity or educational material around COVID 19, the word social distancing is used, and in Goa, the Chief Minister of Goa has repeatedly told us that ‘the Laxman Rekha should not be crossed’. (more…)

Popular Essays

Is One Pandemic not Enough?

By AMITA KANEKAR

What can you expect from a government that responds to a disaster by creating new disasters? Hard on the heels of the news that Covid19 had reached India, came the announcement of an unplanned but instant national lockdown, sending the well-to-do into a panic grabbing of all available provisions, and pushing millions of daily wage earners into horrific misery and desperation which the government, almost unbelievably, has done little to ameliorate even three weeks later. And then – to distract from its own mammoth failing – came the demonisation of the Tablighi programme, resulting in violent harassment, social boycotts and more deaths, this time targetting poor Muslims, on top of the general turmoil. (more…)

Popular Essays

The Importance of Public Systems

By DALE LUIS MENEZES

Widening roads and promoting the auto industry will not solve traffic hassles; but investing in reliable public transport will. Private schools won’t deliver a good education to all except if the public schools get a boost in infrastructure and better teaching methods. Clanging pots and pans won’t make a deadly pandemic go away; but having an efficient public healthcare system will, or at least mitigate dire circumstances. (more…)