WEEKEND UPDATES

TRIBUTE AT MARTYRS MEMORIAL

IT was 78th Independence day and Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant hoisted the tricolour and laid a wreath to pay tribute to freedom fighters at the Martyrs Memorial at Patradevi, Pernem, on August 15, 2024. He extended his greetings on Independence Day and said the  Patradevi Martyrs Memorial will be inaugurated before December 19, 2024. Reflecting on the importance of honouring freedom fighters, the CM emphasized the significance of remembering their contributions. He cited the memorial built of freedom fighters Hirve Guruji and Sheshnath Wadekar, activists of the Goa Liberation War by this government, “We need to respect and remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Karnail Singh Benipal for Goa’s independence in 1955.” The CM said he had personally visited the house of Karnail Singh Benipal to pay his respects to his courageous wife. 

 Speaking further, the CM shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated numerous avenues with his focus on innovation, renewable energy, and entrepreneurship including encouraging young people to take advantage of these opportunities. Over the last five years, over Rs30,000 crore have been invested on infrastructure. The Union government would provide more Rs30,000 crore for forthcoming infrastructure projects over the next five years, and he urged youths to take full advantage of this opportunity and help to make Vikasit Bharat 2047. He praised the students of Bal Bhavan in Chandel for their patriotic songs and said the overall development of Pernem constituency has started. Sustainable development will be accomplished by environmental preservation to avert disasters, he concluded.

The CM reviewed the Guard of Honour from police contingents on the occasion. Present were Minister of State for Ministry of Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Y. Naik, local MLA Pernem Pravin Arlekar, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, together with President of the Goa Daman and Diu Freedom Fighters Association Rohidas Ragunath Naik Desai, who shared the dias on the occasion, also paid floral tributes at the Martyrs Memorial. Other dignitaries: Sarpanch of VP Torshe  Swati Toraskar, ZP members, District Magistrate, North, Dr Sneha Gitte, SP North, Deputy Collector & SDO, Pernem and Deputy Superintendent of Police.

INDIA TURNS 78!

I WAS born on July 4, 1947 — one month before India became independent on August 15, 1947. Seventy-eight years is a very brief moment in the history of a nation. India is a very young democracy compared to the United Kingdom and the United States. India is still a vibrant democracy where every citizen enjoys freedom from hate and freedom from fear. Let us uphold the tradition of a secular, democratic India and the tradition of Goa for communal harmony. Let us say no to a Hindutva Goa and proclaim the unity of all religions — of Hindus, Muslims and Catholic. Let us celebrate both Saibinn and Mangeshi. Let us recapture the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite Sahir Ludhianvi prayer “Ishwar Allah tero naam, sabko sanmati de Bhagwan…saara jag teri santaan, ees dharti par basnewalleh, sab hai tere godh ke paale…koi neech na, koi mahaan, sabko sanmati de Bhagwan…”

(Contributed by Rajan Narayan)

NO SILVER FOR VINESH

FINALLY after long deliberation the Paris Olympic Arbitration Court has dismissed the appeal of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat against her disqualification. Phogat had appealed for the silver medal after she had reached the finals in the 50kg wrestling category event in the Paris Olympics. The POAC has not given any reason for dismissing the appeal.

MAINTAIN HEALTH, SAYS CM

IN order to maintain our health we are required to adopt the best practices of hygiene and cleanliness, said Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant,  after launching a ”Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Future” program at a function held at the Sharda English High School, Bazarwada, Marcela, on August 15, 2024.

The Goa CSR Authority, in association with Shri Mahakal Education & Charitable Trust (SMEC Trust) and Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd together organized an oral health awareness session and dental check-up for schoolchildren studying from stardards 1 to 8 in all Goan schools, at the Sharda English High School, Bazarwada, Marcela. 

The CM appreciated Colgate-Palmolive’s initiative to partner with the government in launching the oral health, hygiene education program covering around two lakh students across Goa. This program, he said, would teach the students about the importance of oral hygiene.
Managing Director & CEO–Colgate Palmolive Prabha Narsimhan in turn said the company was happy to partner with the government in conducting the “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” program.

During the implementation of the project  schools will receive oral health awareness sessions and dental kits. Goa has 1,240 schools and each student will get a kit containing essential items to encourage them to maintain good dental habits. The CM also  released a book ”Teachers Guide, Oral Health” and launched a video. Present at the function were Jt CEO CSR and Director DPSE Vijay Saxena, IAS,
Jt Director  Dept-I & B Ganraj Morajkar, Advisor-CSR  Hitesh Goel, Chairman of  Shri Mahakal Education & Charitable Trust (SMEC Trust)   Avdhoot Timble, Trustee-Bharat Cares Trust Bhomik Shah, Headmistress- Sharada  English High School Ranjita Redkar  and other invitees.

GOA TIGER SANCTUARY

A FRESH survey has indicated that there are at least ten tigers and 40 leopards in the Western Ghats of Goa. This includes the sanctuaries of Bhagwan Mahavir, Mhadei Wildlife and   Netravali which have a common corridor running through them.

There have been several tiger sightings in Goa. Many of these were in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. Vishwajit Rane is opposed to a tiger sanctuary in Goa as it will affect the mining companies. The wildlife sanctuaries of Goa’s Western Ghats will also be  affected if the Mhadei river is diverted by Karnataka.

NO MALE CATTLE!

THE Union Minister for Animal Husbandry SP Singh Baghel has strangely called for birth control of male cattle. Singh wants medical intervention to ensure that 90% of the calves are female. The minister claims that unlike cows, bulls are a threat to the agricultural crops.

This is absurd as you cannot have calf without a male bull. There has to be a right proportion of calves and bulls. We are reminded of how a resident of Caranzalem, Arun Baba Naik, was threatened by bulls, which are a common sight on Panjim streets, particularly also in Taleigao.

The street bulls get into a fight easily and this bulls apparently get aggressive because Arun Baba Naik was wearing a red t-shirt. When he went home he asked ChatGPT why bulls reacted to the color red? AI insisted that there was no connection between bulls and the color red. The bulls threatened Arun Baba Naik because they smelled that he naturally intelligent, although they did not have the benefit of AI. Laugh, please.

(Contributed by Rajan Narayan) 

`CM HELPLINE’ NUMBER IS 9319!

NOW let’s see how useful this will be. On the country’s 78th Independence Day Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawanta launched an interesting “CM Helpline” which promises will be responsive, accountable and bring about transparency in administration. According to the CM this is to pursue excellence in governance to benefit all citizens. The grievances of the general public will be redressed in a time bound manner.

The CM Helpline was launched on August 15 in the presence of Principal Secretary-Finance Dr V Candavelou, IAS and Secretary-Public Grievances Sarpreet Singh Gill (IAS ) at GST Bhavan at Altinho. It is the  Directorate of Public Grievances which deals with grievances received from the general public through letters, emails, online, CPGRAMS, PGRS, Whatsapp, telephone, grievances related to “Hello Goenkar” and grievances forwarded from the Office of the Governor, Office of the Chief Minister, Office of the Chief Secretary, Office of the Secretary(PG), etc.

To accomplish the  objective of grievance redressal the “CM Helpline” is now a Call Center for registering and resolving grievances of common citizens in a time bound manner. Citizens with issues regarding government services or any officials may call on a single number for logging complaints related to the various departments.

Make a note of this: the CM Helpline number is 9319 and will be in operation from Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Check it out, have fun, don’t cry! The CM is your friend, not enemy.

There’s a clarification: Presently the seven departments have been envisaged for the helpline,  namely Goa Police Department, Electricity Department,  Department Of Water Resources, Directorate Of Social Welfare,  Directorate Of Women and Child Development,  Directorate Of Health Services,  Public Works Department,  etc. With the new facility the general public will a response and updates within 72 hours. The CM praised the staff of the Public Grievances Department for their initiative in public interest.        

Director-Public Grievances Prasad Volvoikar welcomed everyone at the function and in his  introductory remarks said the Public Grievances Department has jurisdiction over entire Goa,  for the purpose of receipt co-ordination and monitoring of  grievances arising out of the functioning of the various government organizations. It also coordinates with Central government departments in case, any resident of Goa is having any grievances against Central government departments/organizations. He assured that the department intends to pursue excellence in governance with the CM Helpline.   DGP Goa Alok Kumar IPS, Director DPSE  Vijay Saxena, Director Public Grievance Prasad Volvoikar, Director WRD  Pramod Badami, Director Social Welfare Ajit Panchwadkar and other HoDs were present at the function.

GOVERNOR HOSTS RECEPTION

GOVERNOR of Goa PS Sreedharan Pillai hosted a home reception for dignitaries at New Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula on the occasion of the country’s 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. The occasions saw interaction with important personalities and amongst those who attended and exchanged greetings at the reception were Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, spouse of CM Sulakshana Sawant, spouse of the governor Rita Sreedharan Pillai; Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, Minister for Law & Judiciary-Environment Aleixo Sequeira,  Member of Parliament-Rajya Sabha Sadanand Shet Tanavade, MLAs Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Deviya V Rane, former MP-Rajya Sabha Luizinho Faleiro,  former MP-Lok Sabha Francisco Sardinha, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS, police officials; IPS, Secretary to Governor MRM Rao, IAS, Sneha Gitte, IAS, Collector, North, Asvin Chandru A, IAS Collector, South Goa, Harilal Menon, Vice Chancellor, Goa University, Sanjeev C Gauns Dessai, Add Secretary to Governor, secretaries, under secretaries to the government, HODs of various government departments, industrialists, sports personalities, prominent citizens and social workers amongst others.

 This year the Raj Bhavan has decided to stand with the people of Wayanad in Kerala and decided to donate Rs6 lakh to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund by bringing down the expenditure of this year’s Independence Day at home reception.

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