AT SMRC’S VM SALGAOCAR HOSPITAL …AN INTERACTIVE TALK ON MAINTAINING HEALTHY SKIN AND HAIR:  To mark the occasion of National Handloom Day, SMRC’s V M Salgaocar Hospital in collaboration with Saree Speak, run by Vini Tandon Keni, successfully organized an interactive talk on maintaining healthy skin and hair by their expert dermatologist and cosmetologist Dr Preeti Savardekar, at Studio Saree Speak, Panaji, on August 8, 2023. Dr Preeti discussed how in a world of increasing stress and sedentary lifestyle, being health conscious  has become an utmost priority.  She shared innumerable  tips and prevention measures for maintaining the health of one’s skin and hair with the audience. Dr Preeti emphasized on how a healthy diet can improve overall physical and spiritual wellbeing, she also spoke about the benefits of micro-needling and chemical peel treatments available at SMRC’s Panjim Clinic at Salgaocar Centre and at the SMRC Hospital, Vasco. There was a Q&A and  Dr Preeti answered the queries as also distributed complimentary skin care products.

NON-GOAN BUS CONDUCTORS!

AS a resident of Saligao I wish to highlight the plight of passengers travelling by private bus to and from Mapusa and being treated rudely by non- Goan conductors – they are rude, uncultured and behave badly with passengers. Can anyone tell me why there are no more Goan bus conductors and drivers to run the bus services? Also Mapusa, Panjim, Margao and Calangute need to be redeveloped in an eco-friendly way by philanthropists willing to sponsor development – since the Goa government has no money for development of infrastructure.

The Mapusa market is desperately in need of tiling and sweepers are needed to keep it clean everyday. The private buses too need to be revamped as they are in a rickety bad shape. I am a regular traveller from Saligao to Mapusa. Take a look at the pay toilets in Mapusa which are in bad shape and need better maintenance and re-vamping in public and eco-friendly ways. The bus stand too needs to be tiled and kept clean every day by regular sweepers!

Stray dogs are a menace and dangerous and should be sterilized and reduced in number, they cause inconvenience and litter the market, a nauseating sight for commuters at the bus terminal. Is anybody interested in Goa and upgrading its public places if the government is not interested?

–Brunila De Souza,  Nigvaddo Saligao

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

UNIVERSALLY known as “man’s best friend” a dog has often turned saviour of many a human! It is no surprise therefore that a canine companion is seen by so many as a loyal soul mate, provider of happiness and joy, and source of good feeling and other health benefits, as shown by some modern medical research. And all this despite the irony of “a dog’s life” that humans generally abhor. 

And now, a new dimension may emerge alongside the string of other positives of the human-dog bond — that of good luck to the underdogs involved in litigations — if we are to take a cue from the Supreme Court’s decision to stay Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in that famed defamation case. Coincidence, or what? 

On his most recent private visit to Goa, Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi with a Jack Russell terrier puppy, just the day before the Supreme Court verdict. Jack Russell terriers are known for their intelligence and keen sense of smell and are a popular choice amongst dog lovers. Could all these attributes of a Jack Russell terrier pup have rubbed off on to humans and assured Rahul Gandhi of good luck in his tussle at the nation’s highest court?

In hindsight, and despite my bitter childhood experience of a very nasty Alsatian dog bite, I wonder if cultivating similar feelings for a pet dog might have brought some  much-needed luck in my life as well?

–Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TEN RUPEES NOTES

THE reluctance of the RBI to print Rs10 notes which is used by the common men in a big way is uncalled for. It may be stressed that the common men use in a big way this denomination for their daily purchases for necessary items, which cost just Rs10 each or less or has to be given as change. It should also to be noted that the Rs10 rupees coin which is being minted although lasting may eventually go out of circulation if the value of the metal used to mint this coin eventually becomes more than Rs10. It leads us to the fact that these coins are melted so that the metal value is made use of by the people who melt it, this cannot be curbed and Rs10 coin which is quite heavy weighing in grams  could shortly be worth more for the metal used than Rs10 and hence go out of circulation.

Also, the higher the number of Rs10 coins minted, the higher will be the shortage if melted for the value of the metal. The RBI should print Rs10 notes to avoid this acute shortage of Rs10 notes that is presently in circulation. Banks of all states and Union Territories in India should be immediately be replenished with Rs10 notes to streamline its circulation and they should also  replace torn and soiled notes.

–Stephan Dias, Dona Paula

DIVISIVE POLITICIANS IN GOA!

A FEW Shiv premi have lodged their own complaints at different police stations against Chicalim parish preist t Fr Bolmax Pereira (despite the said priest issuing his own statement and apologizing on this very same issue) for allegedly making some objectionable statements (reference the video clip which went viral on various social platforms including WhatsApp) through his sermon on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and for hurting the sentiments of all Goans in Goa.

What has Fr Bolmax really done wrong in Goa? Has he tried to instigate his followers or have just made a remark about Shivaji during his entire sermon in that particular video clip? Why are some individuals unnecessarily trying to make a big hue and cry over Fr Bolmax’s sermon in Goa? Doesn’t a Catholic priest has a fundamental right (just like so many priests from other religions who have joined politics and are currently sitting in a number of state assemblies, which includes Parliament) to speak on godly issues and  express his own personal opinion over a variety of issues (including politics)to his devotees in his own designated place of worship in Goa?  

Why are some politicians selectively trying to politicise Fr Bolmax’s sermon for no reason and making a big noise in Goa? Where were they when Subash Velingkar  openly said  St Francis Xavier is not a Goencho Saib at a press conference last year, nobody bothered to condemn him or lodge police complaints against him with the help of their own supporters (like they are doing today) for hurting the religious sentiments of all the Catholics in Goa? 

Some ruling politicians are deliberately trying to currently spread communal hatred in the state by selectively blowing-up Fr Bolmax’s sermon and adding some more fuel to this very small sensitive issue. May Goa be saved from such divisive third-grade politicians in Goa. Long live Goan unity and secular Goa! 

— Jerry Fernandes, Saligao

SOLIDARITY WITH MANIPUR

THIS is just to inform your readers that we — the Council for Social Justice & Peace along with the Working Committee of the Women’s Commission of the Archdiocese of Goa – organized a meeting to express our solidarity with the suffering people in Manipur at the Rosary School Hall in Navelim. Various participants included Mathew Almeida who explained the historical background of the issue in Manipur, while Adv Caroline Colaco shared her experiences during her recent visit to Manipur and the ground realities. John Shilshi IPS, a native of Manipur, shared real life stories of hope from both communities.

 

Adv Cleofato Coutinho spoke and said that apart from the law, political will is absent in Manipur to resolve the present conflict. There is a lack of statesmen who can resolve such situations. The meeting ended with the writing of a memorandum to be presented to the Prime Minister of India, Home Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Manipur, it was signed by more than 1,500 present for the meeting.  

–Fr Savio Fernandes, Panaji