WITH the Assembly polls just around the corner, it is more than likely that — with the delimitation of constituencies announced — various political parties in the state will face some new and stiff challenges even before campaigning starts.

IT IS true that Konkani tiatrs have a lot of catching up to do to match their counterparts in other states, if they desire to be as versatile as them. It is also true that they need funding to come up to a level. But one thing is sure, most of our artistes are hugely talented.

THE JUSTICE Shah Commission appointed to probe and report illegal mining in Goa has stirred a hornet’s nest.

WE Goans, thanks to the rampant corruption and evils unleashed particularly by the mining industry, face a heavy price in the blatant destruction of our environment and the serious consequences and ill effects that will plague Goa and our future generations.

THE ECHO of Anna Hazare’s clarion call to the nation has reverberated across India. The time to do something about corruption has arrived. While the world has been silently watching India’s crusade against corruption, we are ashamed to see scam after scam rock the country.

I REMEMBER Arpora as it was more than 20 years ago. It was one of the most beautiful villages in Goa. Paddy fields were green during the monsoon and golden yellow at harvest time. There were trees everywhere. The beautiful Arpora hill looked majestic. Over the years, however, migrants have invaded Arpora because of builders.

AS I read the news about the violence in Miramar, I felt that if choppers and knives were replaced with blazing guns, this act would have been straight from the famous Mario Puzo bestseller, The Godfather.

WITH ALL due respect to Anna Hazare and his team for their relentless effort for such a wonderful cause I would like to place my views before the public. I feel the Jan Lokpal bill is a symptomatic bill. This bill empowers the common man to take action after the crime has been committed. What about stopping the crime itself?

EFFORTS BY our Directorate of Health Services (DHS) to provide us with daily healthy tips are laudable. Yet, one-liners encapsulated in a coffee mug often run the risk of conveying inadequate information. I refer to the health tip provided by the DHS for the 14th instant which reads: “Early use of insulin can add flexibility and good control in the life of a person with diabetes.”

THE FANATICS of BBSM and political parties like the MGP and BJP are currently fighting to give equal official status for Marathi along with Konkani by misguiding Goans on the issue of MOI. Of course, today our tiny Goa might have gone on to become a separate state, but these are the same people who think that it is still an inseparable part of Maharashtra and whose culture and religion is totally dependent on Marathi and the culture of our neighbouring Maharashtrian state.