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Goanetter Francis Rodrigues (Vasco/Toronto) book launch in
London, England @ the World Goa Day festivities on 15 Aug at 7pm
Details http://www.konkanisongbook.com
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Shri. Atanasio Joe Monserrate
Honorable Minister
Education, Technical Education, Archives and Archaeology, Government of Goa.
Honorable Member of Legislative Assembly, Taleigao
“CASA MONSERRATE”, Near Church Galli, Taleigao, Ilhas, Tiswadi, Goa – 403002
Office: 2452090, Residence: 2456303
Subject: Suggestions regarding precautionary measures to prevent the Swine Flu
pandemic.
Respected Shri. Monserrate,
As a citizen of your Constituency, which you have transformed miraculously
into, The Green Paradise in our entire Goa state, kindly first, accept my
heartfelt gratitude in your honor. Your hard work, vigor and immense attachment
towards your constituency’s citizens, be it beautification, planning and
development, civic administration as well as peace and security, has won you
laurels and admiration from all quarters.
Sir, I would like to humbly draw your attention towards the Global Natural
Catastrophe, a deadly pandemic, which is heading towards our Goa- Swine Flu,
and which ( when you receive this communication may have taken at least a few
dozen human lives in India) has already started showing dangerous signs of
spreading at an alarming pace.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Pune administration
which is the epicenter of this deadly virus in India is seriously planning to
virtually shutdown the city following the Mexican model resulting in an obvious
shift of the epicenter to the State of Goa because of its vulnerability. The
Mexican authorities, the origin point of the H1N1 virus, as you may be aware,
practically locked down the whole city economy to the check the spread of the
viral infection.
Thinking that Goa is safe as well as a tourist destination (and with adjacent
cities having shut their doors), it is quite likely that all unsuspecting
virus-infected tourists from nearby states will gate-crash into Goa to find
respite here. This will eventually pose a grave danger to the life and economy
of this state, converting it ultimately into the second epicenter of the Swine-
Flu Pandemic. Panaji, being the capital city of Goa (you can imagine) will
naturally be the worst affected city by this phenomenon in India. National
Institute of Virology (NIV) has now declared this virus as airborne!!!
You may be aware that the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that as
time passes and considering the sanitation measures prevailing in Indian
sub-continent, at least 33 % of Indian population will be affected with this
deadly pandemic.
It is beyond any doubt that, the civic administration of the city of Panaji
under your able guidance and inspiration is taking all possible precautionary
measures to tackle this pandemic to prevent as many human casualties as
possible.
To this end, I would also like to draw your kind attention towards some
additional measures suggested in our traditional scientific texts of Ayurveda,
which our City Administration can endeavor to check the spread of this deadly
virus.
In Ayurveda, health ailments like swine flu are attributed to weakened immunity
such that the body cannot withstand the attack of disease causing germs.
Ayurveda, as always, believes in strengthening the body system to fight and win
the battle against H1N1 Virus. This is done by prescribing various digestive
fire strengthening herbs such as Guduchi (Gulvel), Tulsi (Holy Basil),
Sahadevi, Neem (Indian Margosa Tree), Shunthi (ginger), Pippali (pepper) etc.
Once the digestive fire is corrected, medicines such as Triphala, Rasna, Eranda
and Guggulu can be prescribed to relieve the symptoms.
India’s revered yoga guru Baba Ramdev has suggested that Tulsi (Shyam or
Krishna variety) and Giloi (Tinospora Cordifoli or Gulvel in Konkani) could
help prevent the Swine Flu menace.
I wish to suggest to the Corporation of the City of Panaji to undertake certain
environmentally friendly measures which will directly ensure the health of the
citizens
and prevent them from falling prey to the deadly H1N1 virus:
The measures I seek to suggest are as follows:
1. The civic administration can provide Gulvel branches and Tulsi plants,
respectively to Panjimites ‘free of cost' to safeguard them from Swine Flu.
2. Gulvel branches and Tulsi plants & leaves may be given to all the
Councillors to distribute among the residents of their respective areas. Even
collection centres can be setup at certain prime locations for the convenience
of the people.
3. The corporation may also distribute these plants among the staff members.
The CCP may undertake appropriate measures for planting Gulvel and Tulsi plants
in Panaji.
4. Special kiosks may be setup to serve Gulvel and Tulsi Tea to the citizens at
the Corporation headquarters in Panaji town, Schools and Colleges (before they
are asked or forced to close down), Panaji Bustand, City Courts, Panaji Market,
Taleigao Market, Miramar beach (during morning/evening jogging hours) and at
one central place each in all the wards of the Corporation.
5. All the dedicated workers of your party and social organizations in the city
may be appealed to provide voluntary service taking into consideration, the
seriousness of this pandemic. I am sure your word would be honoured by all
those concerned for the welfare of the city of Panaji. Leading Ayurveda
Practitioners, if invited, will take it as an honor to help in supervising this
process and provide their expertise.
6. Sir, I am sure all Corporate Houses and other Business establishments will
extend their generous support in any and all the manner, in this social
awareness campaign, in accordance with their Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) policy. A Donation Appeal can be made to them to procure these plants and
cover the expenditure thereafter in this extensive campaign.
7. An extensive campaign of distributing free surgical facemasks (three
layered), may be undertaken by the civic administration at all public places
within the city limits, sponsored by the Corporate Houses. Facemasks may be
provided to all the municipal staff to create awareness among the citizens.
8. The CCP may also take necessary measures for providing N95 masks for serious
patients of Swine Flu.
9. Free Medical Checkup camps may be organized in association with the major
private hospitals to supervise and check the spread of the infection. Free
distribution of preventive medicines (Allopathic and Ayurveda) may be
undertaken in these camps. Promotional Literature and T-shirts can be
distributed in Panaji City appealing to the citizens to take all possible
precautionary measures. Flax Banners may be exhibited in all the wards of the
Corporation to spread awareness.
10. A CCP Control Room may be set up to provide assistance to the citizens 24 x
7 x 365. Honorable MLA’s office may also appoint an OSD (with land / cell phone
lines) to directly attend to all distress calls related to H1N1 virus spread.
11. Quarantine Centres may be established at all the surface transport entry
and exit points of the city with the police and hospital authorities pressed
into service in order to prevent and check the influx of H1N1 virus affected
victims into the city of Panaji.
12. Our NGO IndologyGoa can organize workshops / seminars by experts in
Allopathy and Ayurveda for corporate houses, bankers, teachers, business
people, student bodies, political and social organizations and the general
public at the Taleigao Recreation Center with logistic support from the Panaji
civic administration and the Education Ministry of the Government of Goa (of
which you hold the Cabinet portfolio). As you may be well aware, this would be
a purely academic initiative on the part of the Department of Education. Our
NGO will not seek any organizational monetary benefits in this campaign.
Sir, under your esteemed leadership and guidance, the City of Panaji can be
made a model city for the rest of the nation in tackling this deadly pandemic.
The New Delhi Government has already begun some measures similar to the ones
suggested above.
I am aware that technically this comes under the health department purview, but
being the Leader of Panaji Administration, you can always undertake this
campaign independently as a facet of your popular leadership characteristic.
I am confidant that a leader of your stature will take this matter as a ‘Top
Priority’ and issue immediate directives to the concerned departments to
organize this campaign in the City of Panaji.
Thanking you beforehand, in anticipation.
Yours truly,
Anjali Mohan Rao
Chairperson,
August 13, 2009
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Dr.Anjali Mohan Rao,
Chairperson
Indology Goa
GIRIVAR, Opp.Dhempe College, Miramar Beach, Post-Caranzalem, City-Panaji, Goa
403002 INDIA
Phone: 0091-832-2462195 Cellphone: 0091-9422057786
Shrikant Vinayak Barve
Convener: We Love Ayurved
9403175973
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