SINCE INDIA is a sovereign democratic state where all human beings are regarded equal and constitutionally provided with equal freedom, where does biased policy of reservation arise? Reservation on the basis of caste, class, colour, religion and gender is a big hurdle for national integration.

Every human being, irrespective of caste, class or gender, is born with a certain potential for a future career or goal. Everybody cannot be rulers, engineers or doctors, but we do not accept ourselves as we are. Most people aspire to achieve something they are incapable of. The proof is malfunction in every field or department. Money, caste, and religion are a deciding factor for everything in our country, which seems to be degenerating each day.

In the past, men were considered demigods. But in the 21st century of enlightenment, education, globalisation, acculturation, scientific and technological advancement, women seem to outshine men. But men being naturally chauvinistic are unable to treat women equally. They seem to inhibit every woman’s move towards arriving at greater social accessibility.

Women today must unite to fight the injustices created by men — the dowry system, forced abortion of a girl child and deprivation of education to a girl child.

However, reservation at all levels should be avoided as it opens doors to all sorts of problems. Let every man and woman prove his/her mettle to the electorate before s/he gets elected without letting gender or money be the deciding factor.

Efa Saldanha,
Cansaulim.

ANGRY STAFF

THIS is in reference to a news item appearing on all the newspapers dated March 5, 2010 with the headline “Pay scale parity issue - Govt panel to study cases”. The staff of the Secretariat and Civil Services Cadre is angry about the inclusion of Anupam Kishore on every committee. We also protest every appointment of Anupam, despite the presence of Goan officers. He currently holds posts as joint secretary (Debt Management), Director of PPP, Senior Officer in GSIDC besides OSD in the Directorate of Health Services, GMC, IPHB and so on. Are there no Goan officers to hold the above posts? The first three posts could have been filled on a regular basis by Civil Services Cadres, resulting in three vacancies and subsequently promotions in the Secretariat.

He has also been included in the committee to organise the National Games. Is it practically possible to hold so many portfolios? How can an officer of the Reserve Bank of India have enough expertise to hold all these positions?

Through this column, we request the Government of Goa to give preference to Goans so that we get more access to appointments and promotions.

V S Sardessai,
Convenor,
For Secretariat staff.

TERROR THREAT

IT would seem that intelligence agencies, with their elaborate network of informers, are working overtime to ensure that a 26/11 encore is not facilitated anywhere in the country due to any laxity on their part. But the shocking news report about a mock anti-terror drill that went haywire at the Surat airport in late February when an ATS inspector playing the role of an observer was shot twice in the abdomen from point-blank range by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, in contravention to all norms laid out during such exercises with regard to using live arms and ammunition, makes one have second thoughts about the seriousness of these work-outs aimed at gauging the response of the police at intricate moments.

A harried force at pressure to deliver, the intelligence officers have been effecting arrests and taking suspects into custody for the flimsiest of reasons. Nobody is charmed by this sudden turn-about in the efficiency levels of the cops. On the contrary, one needs to strongly sympathise with the guardians of the law who are so blatantly exploited by their political masters and are forced to bide their commands.

Expecting overnight results and making undue demands will only result in bungling in the primary stage which wouldn’t bode well for the security of the nation. Rather than fortifying the country’s defences against terror strikes that calls for more purposefulness, we have enacted so many legislations that serve to harass the general public. Somehow it is quite demeaning to have the police department thrust into the forefront, blamed for every debacle and criticised for their ineffectiveness, when the government — and the people who constitute it — can do nothing about it but, as a writer says, give press conferences and hide behind a façade of words.

Pachu Menon,
Margao.