Over the last many years Goa has been witnessing a huge rise in cancer cases which is partly attributed to the impure food we consume. Now more so in this COVID -19 pandemic, it is all the more important that we ensure that nothing we eat is adulterated, unhygienic or substandard.
Over the last few weeks we are seeing anything and everything being unauthorisedly sold by all and sundry anywhere and everywhere while the authorities are conveniently turning a nelson’s eye to all this illegal trade which should be a health concern to all. Even substandard and possibly formalin laced fish is being sold all over in private vehicles and along the roads. It is incumbent on the authorities to ensure that all food items are sold only at the markets and in the authorized shops. The Food & Drug Administration must wake up from its slumber and get its act together by cracking on this sale of adulterated food items to prevent a further rise in cancer and other ailments. It is imperative that the public in the interest of their own health should not patronize such road-side sales. It is futile to have a meaningful Lockdown to control the virus, without a stringent clampdown on consumer products that can cause more harm in more ways than the pandemic. This must be a time more than any other for the authorities to act firmly against unscrupulous traders that want to cash in on peoples’ vulnerability, frailty and fears and causing more harm than good even fatal in some instances. Deterrent action must also be taken against those misusing their office in the building society complexes for unduly advertising and promoting such unlawful and illegal sales for apparent selfish pecuniary benefits while prejudicing the health and well being of the residents. The famous proverb ‘Prevention is better than cure’ is important and applicable in our daily sphere of life. It teaches us to take preventive measures always in our life to get away from all sorts of dangers. Preventive measures help us to save our health, effort, time and money. Time the authorities exercised and strengthened without fear or favour the measures in place to safeguard all the people and the state. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com