BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: Two of the four abductors who were still at large in the kidnapping of a Vasco youth were finally arrested at Pirna-Verna, and also, the body of the 47-year-old driver Sudan Dabhale (not Sham Dhale as reported) from Ucassaim, Mapusa recovered from the bushes in Consua in a highly decomposed state.
The strong police force that had been keeping round the clock vigil at Canaguinim, Betul and Verna for past two days met with success when the two absconding abductors -- Suraj Kumar Jha from Bihar and Imid Ali from Assam came back to their place where they resided at Pirna-Verna by public transport.
The police are yet to recover the country pistol used by the accused to fire at the police on Friday.
Ali confessed to have hiring a Maruti van from Mapusa stand on July 17. He also confessed to killing the driver Sudan Dabhale with a knife, which is also yet to be recovered.
The deceased’s relatives have identified his body.
A total of 80 policemen and 60 personnel from the Reserve Police Battalion along with top police officers had cordoned off the area at Canaguinim where the accused had disappeared into thick vegetation. While one was nabbed on Friday and another the next day, the police had managed to rescue the youth from Vasco Sayad Ayaz at Rajbag - Cabo de Ram.
According to the accused, as per police details, they escaped from Canaguinim -Betul at 11.30 pm on Saturday walked to a bus stop and later at 6 am on Sunday boarded a bus to come to Margao. While constables Hirulal Naik and Ajit Rane posted at the rented room at Pirna arrested Jha at 9.30 am on Sunday, PSIs Sushant Gawas, Jivbha Dalvi and team arrested Ali who was seen at bus stand Verna church was nabbed while trying to escape near Verna police quarters at 1.45 pm.
Shrinivas, a hardware engineer, is said to have planned the kidnapping of Ayaz who he says was responsible for his “girlfriend” breaking up with him. Shrinivas who was working as system administrator with a private firm is known to have befriended the victim and three of his friends while residing at Vasco. The accused also is learnt to have met the girl he befriended in 2008. The accused Shrinivas is also said to have been unemployed since last few months and is said to have met the three other accused working in housekeeping department at a firm in Verna industrial state and shared a room with them.
Ayaz was kidnapped on Thursday night at Chicalim while he was coming back from his work in Panjim. Srinivas had paid Jha Rs 15,000 a week earlier for purchase of a country made pistol. Meanwhile, Mapusa DySP Sammy Tavarves along with Mapusa PI Manjunath Desai interrogated the accused and also took possession of the decomposed body, which has been sent to the Goa Medical College Hospital, Bambolim for post mortem. South Goa SP Allan de Sa, Verna PI Prabhudesai and Sagar Eoskar are also interrogating the arrested duo.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Helmets alone will not solve the problem: Aires Rodrigues
Social activist Adv Aires Rodrigues in an interview with NILESH KHANDEPARKAR wants e government to examine the entire gamut of issue relating to fatal road accidents even as he feels helmets alone will not solve the problem.
GT: The government plans to make headgear (helmets) compulsory on all Goan roads. Please comment.
Adv Aires (AA): I am not against helmets per se. But the government needs to take care of other things as well. Helmets alone will not solve the problem. In 2001, former Transport Minister Pandurang Raut constituted a Committee, which, after hearing all the sides agreed to two exceptions: One, for persons driving two wheelers not exceeding a speed of 40 kms and two, persons driving motorcycles in Municipal areas.
Coming to the Motor Vehicles Act, although it is central Act, the state government can make exemptions. In 2005, the issue surfaced again when former Transport Minister Pandurang Madkaikar tried to withdraw these exemptions. The issue was debated in the Assembly and a House Committee was appointed. Although the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for both the driver and the pillion to wear helmets, Madkaikar exempted the pillion and enforced the rule only on highways. It is a matter of shame that government accepts on its website that bad roads is one of the causes for rising fatalities on Goan roads. The road must be made safe, the focus should be to minimise accidents so that two wheelers, pedestrians and cyclists are also saved.
GT: How do you feel the government needs to handle this problem?
AA: Get to the root of the problem or else people will continue to die. For instance, traffic signals on arterial city roads are not working. The NRRI study had identifed 200 accident-prone spots out of which 70 were labelled as most dangerous. The report is there but nothing is done. The roads are also infested with cattle, stray dogs. I am not opposed to helmets per se but other things (like the aforesaid) should happen. The common causes of maximum accidents are buses and trucks. Among the buses, KTC is labelled as a giant killer. The punishment in such cases must be made more deterrent. Alcohol consumption by truck drivers is on the increase and accidents often happen after sunset. Despite this, the traffic police close shop after sunset. Helmets will help only if the rest is taken care of.
The government will have to have the will and the consistency. If the government had conducted proper research in 2001, then why it needed to dig out this issue in 2005 and now in 2009?
GT: So why do you think the government has dug out this issue now?
AA: There appears to be a nexus between helmet manufacturing lobby and the authorities. The whole issue is linked to corruption. If the government was sincere, then why did it not do anything to check the 200 accident-prone zones as indicated by NRRI? There needs to be a better co-ordination between police, RTO and the PWD for betterment of roads. The target should be to reduce the number of accidents.
GT: Do you feel fines are not acting as a deterrent enough for instilling fear in the minds of errant drivers?
AA: Drunken drivers do not sit for even an hour in jail. They are fined either Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. On the other hand, 90% of the motorcycle pilots operate within the city and very low rate of fatal accidents, almost negligible, is reported among them.
GT: But helmets are being made compulsory in neighbouring states like Delhi, Maharashtra...
AA: Nobody opposes helmets. But the government is fooling the people by saying that fatalities have reduced. Bad roads are the cause. Death of pedestrians (17 in 2008) is very high.
GT: In case this rule is enforced, how do you see the situation unfolding in the near future?
AA Aires: Enforcing this rule in cities will be a hassle. For instance, take the sheer numbers of people travelling from say Margao to Panjim. They park their two-wheelers at the bus stand. Now, they will have to carry their helmets all the way to Panjim. In Delhi, there are compartments at the bus stands where two-wheeler riders can store their helmets. In Panjim city, maximum speeding by young two-wheeler riders occurs on the Miramar-DonaPoula sector. The police needs to clamp down on them, seize their bikes and embarass them. Otherwise, road accidents in cities are negligible.
GT: What is your future course of action in case the government proceeds to implement this rule?
AA: Although Motor Vehicles Act is a central piece of legislation, the state government is empowered to incorporate some exemptions only after convincing the Court of its necessity. The exemptions of helmets can be for pillion riders and within city limits. I have never been against helmets, but rest of the things need to be done.
GT: The government plans to make headgear (helmets) compulsory on all Goan roads. Please comment.
Adv Aires (AA): I am not against helmets per se. But the government needs to take care of other things as well. Helmets alone will not solve the problem. In 2001, former Transport Minister Pandurang Raut constituted a Committee, which, after hearing all the sides agreed to two exceptions: One, for persons driving two wheelers not exceeding a speed of 40 kms and two, persons driving motorcycles in Municipal areas.
Coming to the Motor Vehicles Act, although it is central Act, the state government can make exemptions. In 2005, the issue surfaced again when former Transport Minister Pandurang Madkaikar tried to withdraw these exemptions. The issue was debated in the Assembly and a House Committee was appointed. Although the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for both the driver and the pillion to wear helmets, Madkaikar exempted the pillion and enforced the rule only on highways. It is a matter of shame that government accepts on its website that bad roads is one of the causes for rising fatalities on Goan roads. The road must be made safe, the focus should be to minimise accidents so that two wheelers, pedestrians and cyclists are also saved.
GT: How do you feel the government needs to handle this problem?
AA: Get to the root of the problem or else people will continue to die. For instance, traffic signals on arterial city roads are not working. The NRRI study had identifed 200 accident-prone spots out of which 70 were labelled as most dangerous. The report is there but nothing is done. The roads are also infested with cattle, stray dogs. I am not opposed to helmets per se but other things (like the aforesaid) should happen. The common causes of maximum accidents are buses and trucks. Among the buses, KTC is labelled as a giant killer. The punishment in such cases must be made more deterrent. Alcohol consumption by truck drivers is on the increase and accidents often happen after sunset. Despite this, the traffic police close shop after sunset. Helmets will help only if the rest is taken care of.
The government will have to have the will and the consistency. If the government had conducted proper research in 2001, then why it needed to dig out this issue in 2005 and now in 2009?
GT: So why do you think the government has dug out this issue now?
AA: There appears to be a nexus between helmet manufacturing lobby and the authorities. The whole issue is linked to corruption. If the government was sincere, then why did it not do anything to check the 200 accident-prone zones as indicated by NRRI? There needs to be a better co-ordination between police, RTO and the PWD for betterment of roads. The target should be to reduce the number of accidents.
GT: Do you feel fines are not acting as a deterrent enough for instilling fear in the minds of errant drivers?
AA: Drunken drivers do not sit for even an hour in jail. They are fined either Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. On the other hand, 90% of the motorcycle pilots operate within the city and very low rate of fatal accidents, almost negligible, is reported among them.
GT: But helmets are being made compulsory in neighbouring states like Delhi, Maharashtra...
AA: Nobody opposes helmets. But the government is fooling the people by saying that fatalities have reduced. Bad roads are the cause. Death of pedestrians (17 in 2008) is very high.
GT: In case this rule is enforced, how do you see the situation unfolding in the near future?
AA Aires: Enforcing this rule in cities will be a hassle. For instance, take the sheer numbers of people travelling from say Margao to Panjim. They park their two-wheelers at the bus stand. Now, they will have to carry their helmets all the way to Panjim. In Delhi, there are compartments at the bus stands where two-wheeler riders can store their helmets. In Panjim city, maximum speeding by young two-wheeler riders occurs on the Miramar-DonaPoula sector. The police needs to clamp down on them, seize their bikes and embarass them. Otherwise, road accidents in cities are negligible.
GT: What is your future course of action in case the government proceeds to implement this rule?
AA: Although Motor Vehicles Act is a central piece of legislation, the state government is empowered to incorporate some exemptions only after convincing the Court of its necessity. The exemptions of helmets can be for pillion riders and within city limits. I have never been against helmets, but rest of the things need to be done.
Fishermen gear up for fishing season
Khariwada jetty repairs commence; fishermen upbeat, expect good catch
BY JOAQUIM GRACIAS
VASCO: The repair works of the Khariwada-Vasco fishing jetty taken up by the Murmugao Port Trust (MPT) is on a war footing as the fishing ban will to an come to end on July 31 and the jetty shall be hub of activity from July 28.
Simon Pereira, president of Goa Fishing Boats Owners Association (GFBOA) informed that, due to the intervention by the Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'souza and the Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao the repairs at the Khariwado jetty a long pending demand from the fishing community were taken up by the MPT.
Incidentally the MPT is demanding to shift the fishing jetty from its present location as it is a security threat to the port.
However the locations proposed by the MPT authorities have either not been favoured by the local fishermen or objected by the residents from location identified.
Pereira said that the GFBOA had been demanding repairs of the jetty as it was in a dilapidated condition and caused damage to boats. Hopefully the repairs shall be completed by July 28 as requested by the association.
Ronny D'souza, special advisor to GFBOA stated that the repairs being carried were temporary and shall be not of much benefit to the users of the jetty.
Pereira and Ronny also felt that the MPT should bring about a long time solution and construct a permanent jetty on a location beneficial to the fishermen, that too on mutual agreement of the fishermen and the MPT.
Pereira claimed that it has been a long pending dream of the fishing community.
Pereira and Ronny stated that while the necessary repairs and machine overhauling of boats has been carried and are ready to sail for fishing on August 1, the activity for loading nets, filling tanks with diesel, stocking ration and water for crew shall commence hopefully on July 28 as boat owners face a major problem of crew not arriving on time.
The crew comes from Orissa, Andra Pradesh, Jarkandh and Karnataka. Every boat owner is anxiously waiting for arrival of the crew as some members of the crew move in search of greener pastures.
"Unless the crew arrives the work cannot begin and hopefully we expect the crew to arrive by July 28" , says Pereira.
He further said that the owners of the boats face yet anther problem to fill various verification forms for fresh crew as the process is tedious.
He added that the owners of boats are vigilant and shall not compromise on the nation's security.
The association and boat owners are co-operating with the police and other authorities and the Fisheries Department has been requested by the association to issue Identity Cards to the crew while boats owners are advised to file verification forms with the police.
Pereira also added that, last year the fish catch was average and that this year they expect a good catch. There has been good monsoons and the storm in the sea helps in breeding fish.
The decline in fish has been the cause due of the fishing ban which not been implemented strictly as done this year. Ronny also agreed with Pereira that fishing ban needs to be implemented in spirit and that the decline in fish has also been due to the tsunami.
Fish should be allowed to breed and not killed, expressed Pereira who also claimed that coal and mining residue from MPT washed in the sea settles at the sea bed and effects breeding of fish.
We all are optimistic to have a good catch of solar shrimps at the beginning, mackerels later and in September bigger fishes, added GFBOA president.
A total of 400 trawlers are said to be operating from the Khariwada jetty of which 250 are Pursuiene boats with 30 workers and other fishing boats which require 5 workers on board.
The trawlers are taken all the way to Zuari river and anchored at Rachol, as the conditions at Khariwada during monsoon are not to anchor. However a few boats requiring major repairs are anchored at Khariwado in the monsoons.
Boat owners contacted expressed that the Fisheries Department has issued ban on issuing new licence for trawlers however there is no such ban for canoes which helps some non fishermen get into fishing activities by acquiring canoes with motor licences.
BY JOAQUIM GRACIAS
VASCO: The repair works of the Khariwada-Vasco fishing jetty taken up by the Murmugao Port Trust (MPT) is on a war footing as the fishing ban will to an come to end on July 31 and the jetty shall be hub of activity from July 28.
Simon Pereira, president of Goa Fishing Boats Owners Association (GFBOA) informed that, due to the intervention by the Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'souza and the Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao the repairs at the Khariwado jetty a long pending demand from the fishing community were taken up by the MPT.
Incidentally the MPT is demanding to shift the fishing jetty from its present location as it is a security threat to the port.
However the locations proposed by the MPT authorities have either not been favoured by the local fishermen or objected by the residents from location identified.
Pereira said that the GFBOA had been demanding repairs of the jetty as it was in a dilapidated condition and caused damage to boats. Hopefully the repairs shall be completed by July 28 as requested by the association.
Ronny D'souza, special advisor to GFBOA stated that the repairs being carried were temporary and shall be not of much benefit to the users of the jetty.
Pereira and Ronny also felt that the MPT should bring about a long time solution and construct a permanent jetty on a location beneficial to the fishermen, that too on mutual agreement of the fishermen and the MPT.
Pereira claimed that it has been a long pending dream of the fishing community.
Pereira and Ronny stated that while the necessary repairs and machine overhauling of boats has been carried and are ready to sail for fishing on August 1, the activity for loading nets, filling tanks with diesel, stocking ration and water for crew shall commence hopefully on July 28 as boat owners face a major problem of crew not arriving on time.
The crew comes from Orissa, Andra Pradesh, Jarkandh and Karnataka. Every boat owner is anxiously waiting for arrival of the crew as some members of the crew move in search of greener pastures.
"Unless the crew arrives the work cannot begin and hopefully we expect the crew to arrive by July 28" , says Pereira.
He further said that the owners of the boats face yet anther problem to fill various verification forms for fresh crew as the process is tedious.
He added that the owners of boats are vigilant and shall not compromise on the nation's security.
The association and boat owners are co-operating with the police and other authorities and the Fisheries Department has been requested by the association to issue Identity Cards to the crew while boats owners are advised to file verification forms with the police.
Pereira also added that, last year the fish catch was average and that this year they expect a good catch. There has been good monsoons and the storm in the sea helps in breeding fish.
The decline in fish has been the cause due of the fishing ban which not been implemented strictly as done this year. Ronny also agreed with Pereira that fishing ban needs to be implemented in spirit and that the decline in fish has also been due to the tsunami.
Fish should be allowed to breed and not killed, expressed Pereira who also claimed that coal and mining residue from MPT washed in the sea settles at the sea bed and effects breeding of fish.
We all are optimistic to have a good catch of solar shrimps at the beginning, mackerels later and in September bigger fishes, added GFBOA president.
A total of 400 trawlers are said to be operating from the Khariwada jetty of which 250 are Pursuiene boats with 30 workers and other fishing boats which require 5 workers on board.
The trawlers are taken all the way to Zuari river and anchored at Rachol, as the conditions at Khariwada during monsoon are not to anchor. However a few boats requiring major repairs are anchored at Khariwado in the monsoons.
Boat owners contacted expressed that the Fisheries Department has issued ban on issuing new licence for trawlers however there is no such ban for canoes which helps some non fishermen get into fishing activities by acquiring canoes with motor licences.
Advocate arrested for ‘raping wife’
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: A high profile criminal lawyer’s son was embroiled in a rape case, after his wife accused him of sexually assaulting her even before they were married on pretext of giving her a good job. She also accused him of forcefully marrying her.
The Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) arrested advocate Yogesh Sawant as per the complaint letter of his 19-year-old wife on Saturday. The police said that the advocate lured her after promising her a good job with a fat salary, outside Goa.
“He took her to Mumbai and Pune on pretext of giving her a good job with an annual income of Rs three lakh. She previously worked in an insurance company.
He spiked her food thereafter and had sexual intercourse with her,” informed a reliable top official quoting the complaint letter.
The girl also told the police, that he married her against her will in a temple at Ratnagiri. “He made her to sign a letter, which apparently is a marriage certificate,” added the source.
It is learnt the alleged accused, a resident of Verem had earlier on July 22, lodged a missing complaint of his wife at Mapusa police station.
It was believed that she reportedly escaped from his house with the help of her friends and informed her family members to lodge a police complaint later.
Sawant was arrested and subsequently admitted to Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital at Bambolim after he complaint of poor health.
He was booked under sections 376 (rape), 496 (false marriage) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of Indian Penal Code. PSI Paresh Navelkar is investigating the case.
PANJIM: A high profile criminal lawyer’s son was embroiled in a rape case, after his wife accused him of sexually assaulting her even before they were married on pretext of giving her a good job. She also accused him of forcefully marrying her.
The Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) arrested advocate Yogesh Sawant as per the complaint letter of his 19-year-old wife on Saturday. The police said that the advocate lured her after promising her a good job with a fat salary, outside Goa.
“He took her to Mumbai and Pune on pretext of giving her a good job with an annual income of Rs three lakh. She previously worked in an insurance company.
He spiked her food thereafter and had sexual intercourse with her,” informed a reliable top official quoting the complaint letter.
The girl also told the police, that he married her against her will in a temple at Ratnagiri. “He made her to sign a letter, which apparently is a marriage certificate,” added the source.
It is learnt the alleged accused, a resident of Verem had earlier on July 22, lodged a missing complaint of his wife at Mapusa police station.
It was believed that she reportedly escaped from his house with the help of her friends and informed her family members to lodge a police complaint later.
Sawant was arrested and subsequently admitted to Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital at Bambolim after he complaint of poor health.
He was booked under sections 376 (rape), 496 (false marriage) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of Indian Penal Code. PSI Paresh Navelkar is investigating the case.
‘New market complex is the fountain of corruption’
From deficit budget to putting on hold the VIth Pay panel's recommendations, Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) is in the eye of storm for its plunge into the financial pit. CCP corporator Adv Avinash Bhosle in a chat with ARTI DAS lambasts the corporation for giving birth to innumerable scams while suggesting a few solutions to come out of the mess.
What according to you is the reason for this mess in CCP?
The CCP has inherited the mess. The fiscal indiscipline is there right from the time when the Corporation came into existence in 2006. The current commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues who was also the commissioner tried to put in place the administrative deformities. But, within six months he was transferred. I believe if he had to sustain for a year or two then we wouldn’t have suffered this mess. He was instrumental in making Panjim bin free and tackle to our garbage issues. He was in a position to bring in total solution to it.
Who is to be blamed for it?
The elected 30 corporators are not directly elected based on political parties. But, they look into it as a party politics. There is groupism and have failed to draw a line. There’s no constructive criticism happening there. Even opposition is equally responsible for it. There’s no stringent action taken when any scam is brought to light. Thus, it gives rise to more scams.
What are the major scams?
The new market complex is the fountain of corruption. There are lot of irregularities in allotment of sopos for the vendors. They are made into shops. There should be special enquiry on this market itself. Till today CCP cannot have agreement with vendors as technically it is with GSIDC.
What you to say about the whole issue of Sixth pay commission?
This decision was taken by the corporators in December 2008 but they failed to give any brief or notes on it. No one knew about its financial implications. That time it was only me who raised this question. They were not even aware that they had to pay the arrears from the year 2006.
What could be the solution?
The major source of income for CCP is from collection of house tax, commercial tax, construction licenses and all. They should work on getting this amount, as there is around arrears of Rs 5 crore or so on house tax alone. Also they are not utilising government grants. Like under tourism ministry Rs 1.5 crore was given for the upgradation of the municipal garden and Rs 5 crore for the Mala lake. But still no work is done on that.
Are you hopeful that new Commissioner would do the needful? And do you also feel the need for judicial enquiry?
The administrative enquiry is a welcome step and I hope that he could work on that direction. To have a judicial enquiry then it should not linger for long and punish the guilty as and when things come to light.
What according to you is the reason for this mess in CCP?
The CCP has inherited the mess. The fiscal indiscipline is there right from the time when the Corporation came into existence in 2006. The current commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues who was also the commissioner tried to put in place the administrative deformities. But, within six months he was transferred. I believe if he had to sustain for a year or two then we wouldn’t have suffered this mess. He was instrumental in making Panjim bin free and tackle to our garbage issues. He was in a position to bring in total solution to it.
Who is to be blamed for it?
The elected 30 corporators are not directly elected based on political parties. But, they look into it as a party politics. There is groupism and have failed to draw a line. There’s no constructive criticism happening there. Even opposition is equally responsible for it. There’s no stringent action taken when any scam is brought to light. Thus, it gives rise to more scams.
What are the major scams?
The new market complex is the fountain of corruption. There are lot of irregularities in allotment of sopos for the vendors. They are made into shops. There should be special enquiry on this market itself. Till today CCP cannot have agreement with vendors as technically it is with GSIDC.
What you to say about the whole issue of Sixth pay commission?
This decision was taken by the corporators in December 2008 but they failed to give any brief or notes on it. No one knew about its financial implications. That time it was only me who raised this question. They were not even aware that they had to pay the arrears from the year 2006.
What could be the solution?
The major source of income for CCP is from collection of house tax, commercial tax, construction licenses and all. They should work on getting this amount, as there is around arrears of Rs 5 crore or so on house tax alone. Also they are not utilising government grants. Like under tourism ministry Rs 1.5 crore was given for the upgradation of the municipal garden and Rs 5 crore for the Mala lake. But still no work is done on that.
Are you hopeful that new Commissioner would do the needful? And do you also feel the need for judicial enquiry?
The administrative enquiry is a welcome step and I hope that he could work on that direction. To have a judicial enquiry then it should not linger for long and punish the guilty as and when things come to light.
Maid tormented, one held
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Three members of Pednekar family, residing in a colony at Porvorim were arrested for allegedly employing a minor girl for domestic help and assaulting her, often. The incident came to light when Mapusa police noticed a girl moving around their jurisdiction a couple of days back.
“She escaped from her owner's house at Alto-Porvorim since members beat her several times on various occasions. The NGO was called upon and a police complaint was lodged against the members of the family who employed the minor girl,” police sources told GT.
Upon complaint by the Save Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - India Director Audrey Pinto, the Porvorim police booked an offence under sections 324 (injuring flesh) read with 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and 7 C, 8 (2) and 9 of Goa Children’s Act, 2003 (employing minor for domestic help) against Shubam alias Audumber Pednekar, his wife Meenaxi and sister-in-law Tina.
While, Shubham was arrested the other two are yet to be apprehended, until last evening. Meanwhile, the 10-year-old girl was admitted to a government hospital and undergoing treatment for burn injuries and bruises on her body. She was attacked with flat steel spoons and cable wires, ever since she was employed some six months back, according to Porvorim police.
It was learnt the girl, who hails from Cuttack probably had no family back home and was also not in a position to give her statement to the police till last night. She was however questioned soon after a complaint was lodged and registered on Saturday night until wee hours of Sunday.
PANJIM: Three members of Pednekar family, residing in a colony at Porvorim were arrested for allegedly employing a minor girl for domestic help and assaulting her, often. The incident came to light when Mapusa police noticed a girl moving around their jurisdiction a couple of days back.
“She escaped from her owner's house at Alto-Porvorim since members beat her several times on various occasions. The NGO was called upon and a police complaint was lodged against the members of the family who employed the minor girl,” police sources told GT.
Upon complaint by the Save Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - India Director Audrey Pinto, the Porvorim police booked an offence under sections 324 (injuring flesh) read with 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and 7 C, 8 (2) and 9 of Goa Children’s Act, 2003 (employing minor for domestic help) against Shubam alias Audumber Pednekar, his wife Meenaxi and sister-in-law Tina.
While, Shubham was arrested the other two are yet to be apprehended, until last evening. Meanwhile, the 10-year-old girl was admitted to a government hospital and undergoing treatment for burn injuries and bruises on her body. She was attacked with flat steel spoons and cable wires, ever since she was employed some six months back, according to Porvorim police.
It was learnt the girl, who hails from Cuttack probably had no family back home and was also not in a position to give her statement to the police till last night. She was however questioned soon after a complaint was lodged and registered on Saturday night until wee hours of Sunday.
Romi Lipi Action Front hails government decision
GT NEWSROOM: Romi Lipi Action Front, a voice of all section of Goans, fully agrees with the Goa government in giving recognition to all the 3 languages Konkani, English and Marathi, as mediums of instruction in the schools of Goa, stated a press note issued by its convenor Wilmix Wilson Mazarello
“We say, it is the right of every Goan parent, to decide, in which language their child/ ward should be educated. This right of the parents, cannot be usurped by any other authority,” he stated.
The forum also believes that Konkani , English or Marathi should get equal grants to all in equal measures.
Wilson also pressed that Konkani Language in the Roman Script should get its rightful place in the Official Language Act and those wishing to learn Konkani in the Roman Script, from Std V onwards, should be given the option to do so.
He reteiterated that, “we can still keep Konkani and our Goan culture alive, without depriving our children of the vast growth opportunities available to them globally.”
“We say, it is the right of every Goan parent, to decide, in which language their child/ ward should be educated. This right of the parents, cannot be usurped by any other authority,” he stated.
The forum also believes that Konkani , English or Marathi should get equal grants to all in equal measures.
Wilson also pressed that Konkani Language in the Roman Script should get its rightful place in the Official Language Act and those wishing to learn Konkani in the Roman Script, from Std V onwards, should be given the option to do so.
He reteiterated that, “we can still keep Konkani and our Goan culture alive, without depriving our children of the vast growth opportunities available to them globally.”
2 more, Siolkars want panchayat wards increased to 11
BY A GT CORRESPONDENT
SIOLIM: The gram sabha of the Marna-Siolim panchayat demanded that the panchayat wards be increased to eleven from the current nine.
The gram sabha was presided over by sarpanch Sylvester Fernandes.
Panchas Rita Victor Fernandes, Rita D'Cruz, Freddy Fernandes, Savita Govekar and Sachin Kambli were present. The report of the minutes of the earlier gram sabha was read out and the same was approved. One of the members tabled a resolution demanding increase in number of panchayat wards.
The panchayat at present comprises of nine wards. He demanded that Marna be divided into two wards.
Similarly, the people wanted that Bamanwada which has a huge population be divided. The members present supported the resolution and was unanimously adopted.
Later, the Siolim Nagrik Kriti Samiti submitted various proposals regarding developmental works.
Samiti president Amrut Agarvadekar grilled the sarpanch for failure to undertake the work of a road from Rai-Siolim to the Siolim market.
He also questioned as to when the streetlights will be provided on the Ganesh Mandir to the Siolim bridge.
There was heated debate on the issue of failure to take up the widening of the road from the Siolim bridge to Gude.
Colva gram sabha cries foul, Aquem meeting adjourned
Villagers from Colva panchayat at the gram sabha held on Sunday demanded that the panchayat authorities inspect the building project at Sernabatim to check irregularities.
The said project had been inspected by Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes and secretary for issuing an 'Ocupancy Certificate' although members of the gram sabha had demanded earlier that there were a number of irregularities which should be inspected.
The gram sabha members also alleged that the panchayat had failed to take in consideration the suggestions made by the village level committee appointed in preparation of the Regional Plan 2021.
Meanwhile, the Aquem Baixo gram sabha chaired by deputy sarpanch Sunita Naik had to be adjourned as sarpanch Agnelo Dias could not attend the meeting as he was out of station but the gram sabha members demanded that the same be adjourned.
SIOLIM: The gram sabha of the Marna-Siolim panchayat demanded that the panchayat wards be increased to eleven from the current nine.
The gram sabha was presided over by sarpanch Sylvester Fernandes.
Panchas Rita Victor Fernandes, Rita D'Cruz, Freddy Fernandes, Savita Govekar and Sachin Kambli were present. The report of the minutes of the earlier gram sabha was read out and the same was approved. One of the members tabled a resolution demanding increase in number of panchayat wards.
The panchayat at present comprises of nine wards. He demanded that Marna be divided into two wards.
Similarly, the people wanted that Bamanwada which has a huge population be divided. The members present supported the resolution and was unanimously adopted.
Later, the Siolim Nagrik Kriti Samiti submitted various proposals regarding developmental works.
Samiti president Amrut Agarvadekar grilled the sarpanch for failure to undertake the work of a road from Rai-Siolim to the Siolim market.
He also questioned as to when the streetlights will be provided on the Ganesh Mandir to the Siolim bridge.
There was heated debate on the issue of failure to take up the widening of the road from the Siolim bridge to Gude.
Colva gram sabha cries foul, Aquem meeting adjourned
Villagers from Colva panchayat at the gram sabha held on Sunday demanded that the panchayat authorities inspect the building project at Sernabatim to check irregularities.
The said project had been inspected by Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes and secretary for issuing an 'Ocupancy Certificate' although members of the gram sabha had demanded earlier that there were a number of irregularities which should be inspected.
The gram sabha members also alleged that the panchayat had failed to take in consideration the suggestions made by the village level committee appointed in preparation of the Regional Plan 2021.
Meanwhile, the Aquem Baixo gram sabha chaired by deputy sarpanch Sunita Naik had to be adjourned as sarpanch Agnelo Dias could not attend the meeting as he was out of station but the gram sabha members demanded that the same be adjourned.
The English dilemma
Should the government extend grants to English medium primary schools? It’s a question it can ignore at its own peril. DEREK ALMEIDA explores possible solutions to this vexed issue.
On Friday, it was interesting to witness Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar struggle to re-define the term ‘mother tongue’ in the context of medium of instruction in primary schools. In the end, from what he said, it's apparent that Parrikar was caught between ‘mother tongue’ and 'regional language'.
While there is a plethora of studies conducted the world over to convincingly prove that the child learns best in the ‘mother tongue’, there isn’t an iota of evidence to support primary education in the 'regional language'. Hence, one can understand why Parrikar was attempting to broaden the definition of ‘mother tongue’ to include Marathi. His attempt fell flat when Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco virtually threw the education rules at him where 'mother tongue' is defined as the language which the parents declare at the time of their ward's admission.
If this does not satisfy Parrikar, then he should refer to a bill moved by his party's senior leader, Sushma Swaraj in the Rajya Sabha in 2006, to make the 'mother tongue' the medium of instruction at the primary level.
Swaraj’s bill defines mother tongue thus: “Mother tongue means the language generally spoken in the family of the child who learns it from his mother and other family members and which is one of the languages mentioned in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution.”
Section 3 (l) of Swaraj's bill states, “…every educational institution including those established by minorities, religious or linguistic ones, shall impart basic primary education to the children in their mother tongue or dialect …….”
White,
shining lie
Goa has been living a lie for the last nearly two decades. While advocating use of mother tongue, it has actually been supporting education at the primary level in the regional language and not ‘mother tongue’. As a result, the demand for English primary schools is rising and the resolutions by Reginaldo Lourenco and Calangute MLA Agnel Fernandes are symptomatic of the need for a re-think of the state's policy on primary education.
Let us just look at the figures. In 2006, there were 298 primary schools with less than 20 students. Out of this, 266 had Marathi as medium of instruction and 29 had Devnagiri Konkani.
Sample this: In 2006, there were 66 primary schools with English as medium of instruction. That figure has swelled to roughly 120 schools in 2009, sources in the Education department revealed.
For the academic year 2005-06 eleven primary schools were granted permission. Of these, three had Marathi as medium of instruction while eight had English.
In the academic year 2006-07 about 60 applications were received for starting primary schools. Of these, 43 were for starting schools with English as a medium of instruction, eight in favour of Marathi and five in Konkani. Only nine were granted permission to start primary schools --- seven in English and one each in Marathi and Konkani.
Review policy
The writing is on the wall. While the government continues to pursue a policy of primary education in the regional language, the demands for English education keep rising. Clearly, the time has come for reviewing the nearly two-decades old policy.
“Switching back to English might not be the answer,” said a senior official of the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE) which runs nearly 70 schools where Devnagri Konkani is the medium of instruction.
“This is not a decision for politicians to make,” the official said, adding: “it must be discussed and debated by educationists.”
The dilemma faced by the DSE and the Archdiocesean Board of Education (ABE) which oversees 150 schools in the state is that of losing students to English medium schools. With its back against the wall, the ABE decided to open two English primary schools affiliated to the Central Board.
Flash back
For the ABE and the DSE, the journey has been a long one. Nearly two decades ago, when the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government virtually forced the Church to change the medium of instruction by threatening to withdraw grants for teachers salaries, it sparked off a debate.
Those present for those meetings and who spoke to GT on condition of anonymity said, the then Archbishop Raul Gonsalves took an idealistic stand and insisted that the Church should first take a decision on what is good for the child.
Accordingly, seven to eight meetings were held, which were attended by experts in education from within and outside the state. Then, there were two strains of thought - to begin the child with a new language and not to alienate children from their cultural roots. The final conclusion was that primary education should be imparted in the ‘mother tongue’.
“This decision was taken purely on pedagogical considerations,” said a senior professor who was part of the decision making process.
However, there are some who believe that with the sword of grants hanging over its head the Church had little room for manoeuvre.
The senior professor also added that there were a lot of situations that were not envisaged two decades ago, like this whole revolution of technology, information technology, etc.
“The policy needs to be reviewed,” he now feels.
Change within
Sources within the church told GT that the process of reviewing the earlier stand got underway while Rev Gonsalves was still the Archbishop. All he insisted on is if a review has to be done, then one would have to go through the entire process instead of suggesting piece-meal suggestions.
Today, questions are being raised about the definition of ‘mother tongue’. “What is the mother tongue?” said an official of the ABE. “Is it Romi Konkani, Devnagiri Konkani, English, Marathi……?”
In a bid to resolve this issue, the ABE sent out a circular to institutional heads to consult parents on the issue of medium of instruction and whether they were willing to support teachers’ salaries by way of higher fees.
There was an overwhelming support for a switch over to English at the primary level. However, when it came to paying higher fees, parents were reluctant and the exercise fizzled out.
System going bad?
But the overall impression one gets is that the Church, a big stake holder, is one hundred per-cent seized with the issue of education. One church official was bitter that the government tends to ignore the DSE and ABE even when these two organizations control the most number of schools after the government. “We are important stake holders, but we are not consulted,” he lamented.
Another sour point is the promises made to DSE that English medium schools would not be allowed. This promise was breached by all governments that came and went in the last 15 years. The official now pinned his hope on the announcement made by present Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate for a moratorium on new schools. “This needs to be done,” he said.
The importance of English in the job market was not entirely lost on the Education Department. In 2005, the government constituted a committee which suggested that English be introduced in the first standard from the academic year 2006-07. It is too early to gauge the effect of this policy decision.
Some solutions
In terms of solutions, although the demand for education in English is an aspiration for parents, it flies in the face of all pedagogical studies unless English is the mother tongue. Where there appears to be some agreement is that the time is ripe for a review and a debate on how to combine aspirations and good pedagogical practice to formulate a policy for the future.
“We ignore Indian languages at our own peril,” said Commissioner of NRI affairs and former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro while discussing the subject with GT.
While agreeing that those who study in English have a distinct advantage and money has a role to play, Faleiro said, “We have to find a way of giving equal opportunity to all.”
Other than suggesting the concept of neighbourhood schools, even Faleiro was hard pressed for a solution, but agreed that the issue should be discussed threadbare by educationists. He called for a balance between cultural roots and means to a livelihood.
Std V switchover
Another suggestion that came up during the discussion was the switch over to English at the fifth standard which becomes difficult for students from the vernacular medium.
An interesting suggestion made by the DSE that Math be taught with English numerals so that the switch over at the fifth is smoothened was ignored by the government.
The DSE had also suggested that the syllabus in the fourth standard be reduced and replaced with a bridge course for at least six months so that students are prepared for the switchover in the fifth standard, when English becomes the medium of instruction. This too was ignored by the government.
“Nobody listened to us,” the DSE official said.
For the present, the Digambar Kamat government might be content to sweep the issue under the carpet. But if the government does not intervene to debate and discuss the issue, then market forces will step in and change the system, for better or worse.
On Friday, it was interesting to witness Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar struggle to re-define the term ‘mother tongue’ in the context of medium of instruction in primary schools. In the end, from what he said, it's apparent that Parrikar was caught between ‘mother tongue’ and 'regional language'.
While there is a plethora of studies conducted the world over to convincingly prove that the child learns best in the ‘mother tongue’, there isn’t an iota of evidence to support primary education in the 'regional language'. Hence, one can understand why Parrikar was attempting to broaden the definition of ‘mother tongue’ to include Marathi. His attempt fell flat when Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco virtually threw the education rules at him where 'mother tongue' is defined as the language which the parents declare at the time of their ward's admission.
If this does not satisfy Parrikar, then he should refer to a bill moved by his party's senior leader, Sushma Swaraj in the Rajya Sabha in 2006, to make the 'mother tongue' the medium of instruction at the primary level.
Swaraj’s bill defines mother tongue thus: “Mother tongue means the language generally spoken in the family of the child who learns it from his mother and other family members and which is one of the languages mentioned in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution.”
Section 3 (l) of Swaraj's bill states, “…every educational institution including those established by minorities, religious or linguistic ones, shall impart basic primary education to the children in their mother tongue or dialect …….”
White,
shining lie
Goa has been living a lie for the last nearly two decades. While advocating use of mother tongue, it has actually been supporting education at the primary level in the regional language and not ‘mother tongue’. As a result, the demand for English primary schools is rising and the resolutions by Reginaldo Lourenco and Calangute MLA Agnel Fernandes are symptomatic of the need for a re-think of the state's policy on primary education.
Let us just look at the figures. In 2006, there were 298 primary schools with less than 20 students. Out of this, 266 had Marathi as medium of instruction and 29 had Devnagiri Konkani.
Sample this: In 2006, there were 66 primary schools with English as medium of instruction. That figure has swelled to roughly 120 schools in 2009, sources in the Education department revealed.
For the academic year 2005-06 eleven primary schools were granted permission. Of these, three had Marathi as medium of instruction while eight had English.
In the academic year 2006-07 about 60 applications were received for starting primary schools. Of these, 43 were for starting schools with English as a medium of instruction, eight in favour of Marathi and five in Konkani. Only nine were granted permission to start primary schools --- seven in English and one each in Marathi and Konkani.
Review policy
The writing is on the wall. While the government continues to pursue a policy of primary education in the regional language, the demands for English education keep rising. Clearly, the time has come for reviewing the nearly two-decades old policy.
“Switching back to English might not be the answer,” said a senior official of the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE) which runs nearly 70 schools where Devnagri Konkani is the medium of instruction.
“This is not a decision for politicians to make,” the official said, adding: “it must be discussed and debated by educationists.”
The dilemma faced by the DSE and the Archdiocesean Board of Education (ABE) which oversees 150 schools in the state is that of losing students to English medium schools. With its back against the wall, the ABE decided to open two English primary schools affiliated to the Central Board.
Flash back
For the ABE and the DSE, the journey has been a long one. Nearly two decades ago, when the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government virtually forced the Church to change the medium of instruction by threatening to withdraw grants for teachers salaries, it sparked off a debate.
Those present for those meetings and who spoke to GT on condition of anonymity said, the then Archbishop Raul Gonsalves took an idealistic stand and insisted that the Church should first take a decision on what is good for the child.
Accordingly, seven to eight meetings were held, which were attended by experts in education from within and outside the state. Then, there were two strains of thought - to begin the child with a new language and not to alienate children from their cultural roots. The final conclusion was that primary education should be imparted in the ‘mother tongue’.
“This decision was taken purely on pedagogical considerations,” said a senior professor who was part of the decision making process.
However, there are some who believe that with the sword of grants hanging over its head the Church had little room for manoeuvre.
The senior professor also added that there were a lot of situations that were not envisaged two decades ago, like this whole revolution of technology, information technology, etc.
“The policy needs to be reviewed,” he now feels.
Change within
Sources within the church told GT that the process of reviewing the earlier stand got underway while Rev Gonsalves was still the Archbishop. All he insisted on is if a review has to be done, then one would have to go through the entire process instead of suggesting piece-meal suggestions.
Today, questions are being raised about the definition of ‘mother tongue’. “What is the mother tongue?” said an official of the ABE. “Is it Romi Konkani, Devnagiri Konkani, English, Marathi……?”
In a bid to resolve this issue, the ABE sent out a circular to institutional heads to consult parents on the issue of medium of instruction and whether they were willing to support teachers’ salaries by way of higher fees.
There was an overwhelming support for a switch over to English at the primary level. However, when it came to paying higher fees, parents were reluctant and the exercise fizzled out.
System going bad?
But the overall impression one gets is that the Church, a big stake holder, is one hundred per-cent seized with the issue of education. One church official was bitter that the government tends to ignore the DSE and ABE even when these two organizations control the most number of schools after the government. “We are important stake holders, but we are not consulted,” he lamented.
Another sour point is the promises made to DSE that English medium schools would not be allowed. This promise was breached by all governments that came and went in the last 15 years. The official now pinned his hope on the announcement made by present Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate for a moratorium on new schools. “This needs to be done,” he said.
The importance of English in the job market was not entirely lost on the Education Department. In 2005, the government constituted a committee which suggested that English be introduced in the first standard from the academic year 2006-07. It is too early to gauge the effect of this policy decision.
Some solutions
In terms of solutions, although the demand for education in English is an aspiration for parents, it flies in the face of all pedagogical studies unless English is the mother tongue. Where there appears to be some agreement is that the time is ripe for a review and a debate on how to combine aspirations and good pedagogical practice to formulate a policy for the future.
“We ignore Indian languages at our own peril,” said Commissioner of NRI affairs and former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro while discussing the subject with GT.
While agreeing that those who study in English have a distinct advantage and money has a role to play, Faleiro said, “We have to find a way of giving equal opportunity to all.”
Other than suggesting the concept of neighbourhood schools, even Faleiro was hard pressed for a solution, but agreed that the issue should be discussed threadbare by educationists. He called for a balance between cultural roots and means to a livelihood.
Std V switchover
Another suggestion that came up during the discussion was the switch over to English at the fifth standard which becomes difficult for students from the vernacular medium.
An interesting suggestion made by the DSE that Math be taught with English numerals so that the switch over at the fifth is smoothened was ignored by the government.
The DSE had also suggested that the syllabus in the fourth standard be reduced and replaced with a bridge course for at least six months so that students are prepared for the switchover in the fifth standard, when English becomes the medium of instruction. This too was ignored by the government.
“Nobody listened to us,” the DSE official said.
For the present, the Digambar Kamat government might be content to sweep the issue under the carpet. But if the government does not intervene to debate and discuss the issue, then market forces will step in and change the system, for better or worse.
Govt wilting on English?
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: On the face of it, Friday's House proceedings on the medium of instruction may look like English bit the dust, but behind the scenes, the state government is seriously contemplating tinkering with its primary education policy, to give parents the choice to decide their children's medium of instruction.
The agenda promised to be explosive, but in the end, it turned out to be lame-duck with both the ruling party legislators, MLA Agnelo Fernandes and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, withdrawing their resolutions aimed at giving English education a window in the primary education policy.
And, much of the no-show on Friday, had its moorings in hectic behind-the-scenes cajoling, arm-twisting, brain-washing, etc., in typical Congress style during which Fernandes and Lourenco were short of assured, informed that the government will indeed revisit the policy, albeit without much ado.
That the duo's move has at least got the government thinking seriously, is evident with what Education Babush Monserrate, who in the House assured to get his ministry to do a 'chintan', had to say.
"I feel that somewhere our language should be protected. The best way is to enforce Konkani as a subject from class I to X," Monserrate told GT, betraying his own pro-English bent of mind.
He said, the government would crystalise and find a solution to satisfy everybody sooner rather than later.
"Some solution, but by protecting our mother tongue, we will work out. Government taking control over the fee structure of private schools is an option. The Goa School Education Act and Rules prohibit exhorbitant fees. It is high time we implement it now," Monserrate said.
Backroom chat
Sources also told GT that both Monserrate and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat held at least two meetings with Fernandes and Lourenco a day before the issue was to come up in the House, aimed at getting them to back down and "avoid controversy" on this issue.
GPCC president, Subhash Shirodkar attended both these meetings as did Home Minister Ravi Naik. MGP's Sudhin Dhavlikar, who attended only the second meeting held at the CM's chamber in the legislature complex however opposed any change.
At these twin meetings, the CM is learnt to have said that the government was abreast of the ground reality that parents want the choice to decide their children's medium of instruction. However, he urged both the MLAs, to "help avoid any further controversy over the issue."
PANJIM: On the face of it, Friday's House proceedings on the medium of instruction may look like English bit the dust, but behind the scenes, the state government is seriously contemplating tinkering with its primary education policy, to give parents the choice to decide their children's medium of instruction.
The agenda promised to be explosive, but in the end, it turned out to be lame-duck with both the ruling party legislators, MLA Agnelo Fernandes and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, withdrawing their resolutions aimed at giving English education a window in the primary education policy.
And, much of the no-show on Friday, had its moorings in hectic behind-the-scenes cajoling, arm-twisting, brain-washing, etc., in typical Congress style during which Fernandes and Lourenco were short of assured, informed that the government will indeed revisit the policy, albeit without much ado.
That the duo's move has at least got the government thinking seriously, is evident with what Education Babush Monserrate, who in the House assured to get his ministry to do a 'chintan', had to say.
"I feel that somewhere our language should be protected. The best way is to enforce Konkani as a subject from class I to X," Monserrate told GT, betraying his own pro-English bent of mind.
He said, the government would crystalise and find a solution to satisfy everybody sooner rather than later.
"Some solution, but by protecting our mother tongue, we will work out. Government taking control over the fee structure of private schools is an option. The Goa School Education Act and Rules prohibit exhorbitant fees. It is high time we implement it now," Monserrate said.
Backroom chat
Sources also told GT that both Monserrate and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat held at least two meetings with Fernandes and Lourenco a day before the issue was to come up in the House, aimed at getting them to back down and "avoid controversy" on this issue.
GPCC president, Subhash Shirodkar attended both these meetings as did Home Minister Ravi Naik. MGP's Sudhin Dhavlikar, who attended only the second meeting held at the CM's chamber in the legislature complex however opposed any change.
At these twin meetings, the CM is learnt to have said that the government was abreast of the ground reality that parents want the choice to decide their children's medium of instruction. However, he urged both the MLAs, to "help avoid any further controversy over the issue."
Abduction drama: 1 more arrested.
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: A Vasco court yesterday remanded to police custody two members of the armed gang which unsuccesful attempted to abduct 23-year-old Chicalim resident, Sayad Ayaz for ransom, on Thursday-Friday.
One of the two, Parriket Dileshwar Handi of Assam, had been nabbed by the police on Saturday evening itself after a filmi-style chase in which PI Sagar Ekoskar and a constable were injured in a shoot-out. The second accused, Venkantash G Shrinivas (27) of Orissa was caught by a police team comprising PI Santosh Desai, PSI Dataguru Sawant and others at the Canaguinim creek, Betul, after firing
some rounds in the air.
Two of their accomplices -- Immadar Ali of Andra Pradesh and Sarog K Jha of Orissa -- are still absconding.
Meanwhile, DGP Bhimsen Bassi has announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for police personnel involved in the operation and another Rs 10,000 for local residents who helped the police.
Police sources said, all the accused resided in a rented premises belonging to one Alex Silva situated behind the Pirna-Verna panchayat. The rooms were raided but no weapons were found.
Shrinivas, who had a grudge against Sayad, is suspected to be the brain behind the plan. He roped in the other three accused in his plan by enticing them that they could earn the Rs 15 lakh ransom.
Meawnhile, police have stocked tear gas in the event the two absconding accused fire at police parties who are still combing the densely forested locality in Canaguinim. A navy helicopter was also used to track down the absconders, but it failed to yield any positive result.
Interestingly, the white Maruti van used in the abduction drama is learnt to belong to Mapusa resident Sham Davle. Three days before it was traced, Davle's wife had filed a complaint with the Mapusa police that the van was stolen/ missing.
‘Ayaz not Bombay Bazaar salesman’
Meanwhile, Bombay Bazaar, a popular departmental store in Panjim, has clarified that Ayaz, the victim of the abduction drama who was rescued by the police from the clutches of his abductors, is not their salesman.
GT had on Saturday reported that Ayaz was a salesman with the departmental store.
MARGAO: A Vasco court yesterday remanded to police custody two members of the armed gang which unsuccesful attempted to abduct 23-year-old Chicalim resident, Sayad Ayaz for ransom, on Thursday-Friday.
One of the two, Parriket Dileshwar Handi of Assam, had been nabbed by the police on Saturday evening itself after a filmi-style chase in which PI Sagar Ekoskar and a constable were injured in a shoot-out. The second accused, Venkantash G Shrinivas (27) of Orissa was caught by a police team comprising PI Santosh Desai, PSI Dataguru Sawant and others at the Canaguinim creek, Betul, after firing
some rounds in the air.
Two of their accomplices -- Immadar Ali of Andra Pradesh and Sarog K Jha of Orissa -- are still absconding.
Meanwhile, DGP Bhimsen Bassi has announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for police personnel involved in the operation and another Rs 10,000 for local residents who helped the police.
Police sources said, all the accused resided in a rented premises belonging to one Alex Silva situated behind the Pirna-Verna panchayat. The rooms were raided but no weapons were found.
Shrinivas, who had a grudge against Sayad, is suspected to be the brain behind the plan. He roped in the other three accused in his plan by enticing them that they could earn the Rs 15 lakh ransom.
Meawnhile, police have stocked tear gas in the event the two absconding accused fire at police parties who are still combing the densely forested locality in Canaguinim. A navy helicopter was also used to track down the absconders, but it failed to yield any positive result.
Interestingly, the white Maruti van used in the abduction drama is learnt to belong to Mapusa resident Sham Davle. Three days before it was traced, Davle's wife had filed a complaint with the Mapusa police that the van was stolen/ missing.
‘Ayaz not Bombay Bazaar salesman’
Meanwhile, Bombay Bazaar, a popular departmental store in Panjim, has clarified that Ayaz, the victim of the abduction drama who was rescued by the police from the clutches of his abductors, is not their salesman.
GT had on Saturday reported that Ayaz was a salesman with the departmental store.
Pranab stops short of a fiat on special status
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, yesterday in an interaction with the state's intelligentsia spoke at length of the issue of granting special status to the state. He however stopped short of giving his word on special status for the state. All he instead assured was that the Government of India was committed to make Goa a 'model' state.
He said that the Centre had directed the Planning Commission to identify the special problems being faced by various states especially small ones including Goa, who had been demanding special category status on the lines with with North-Eastern states and to initiate corrective measures to address them.
Interacting the audience comprising of industrialists, economists and politicians at the Cidade de Goa Resort, Mukherjee said that the Planning Commission has a formula on the basis of which special category status was granted to seven sisters of the North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and now Uttarakhand.
"Among the criteria in deciding the special status was the number of people living in that region, per capita income of the people and special problems in communication and transportation,"he said.
"Not only Goa but various other states were demanding special category status to get the incentives under the Gadgil formula," he added.
Mukherjee said that small state like Goa had excelled in some of the areas, highest per capita income, better health indicators and social sector, high literacy and environment protection which could become a model state.
He said that the Centre was aware of the shortcomings and certain measures were called up.
Planning for Goa
Speaking of finaces, he said, "Goa missed the First and Second Five-Year Plan and the Centre would definitely keep this in mind, while helping Goa emerge as a model state in the country.
The Union Finance Minister said the empowered committee of state finance ministers was examining the issue of introducing GST in the country. He hoped it won't be a major problem as there were many convergent views but limited divergent views on the subject.
NREGS
Regarding wages fixed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said that the Centre cannot accept an open ended wage since minimum wages were decided by respective states. The Centre can not pressurise the states for more wage even as Centre had fixed it at Rs 100 per day.
Financial situation
He said that India and China were adversely affected by the global economic recession but India was somehow able to sustain a modest way of growth during the last financial year. He said that with the injection of three stimulus packages, the economy started showing results and hoped that a full picture on the economic status will be available by September 2009. He said that he had taken up certain measures and stepped up the rural economy.
Earlier, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in his welcome address urged Mukherjee to help Goa if it fell short in the proposed ambitious Dona Paula to vasco sealink project announced in the additional budget. later, Chif Secretary S Srivastava proposed a vote of thanks.
PANJIM: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, yesterday in an interaction with the state's intelligentsia spoke at length of the issue of granting special status to the state. He however stopped short of giving his word on special status for the state. All he instead assured was that the Government of India was committed to make Goa a 'model' state.
He said that the Centre had directed the Planning Commission to identify the special problems being faced by various states especially small ones including Goa, who had been demanding special category status on the lines with with North-Eastern states and to initiate corrective measures to address them.
Interacting the audience comprising of industrialists, economists and politicians at the Cidade de Goa Resort, Mukherjee said that the Planning Commission has a formula on the basis of which special category status was granted to seven sisters of the North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and now Uttarakhand.
"Among the criteria in deciding the special status was the number of people living in that region, per capita income of the people and special problems in communication and transportation,"he said.
"Not only Goa but various other states were demanding special category status to get the incentives under the Gadgil formula," he added.
Mukherjee said that small state like Goa had excelled in some of the areas, highest per capita income, better health indicators and social sector, high literacy and environment protection which could become a model state.
He said that the Centre was aware of the shortcomings and certain measures were called up.
Planning for Goa
Speaking of finaces, he said, "Goa missed the First and Second Five-Year Plan and the Centre would definitely keep this in mind, while helping Goa emerge as a model state in the country.
The Union Finance Minister said the empowered committee of state finance ministers was examining the issue of introducing GST in the country. He hoped it won't be a major problem as there were many convergent views but limited divergent views on the subject.
NREGS
Regarding wages fixed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said that the Centre cannot accept an open ended wage since minimum wages were decided by respective states. The Centre can not pressurise the states for more wage even as Centre had fixed it at Rs 100 per day.
Financial situation
He said that India and China were adversely affected by the global economic recession but India was somehow able to sustain a modest way of growth during the last financial year. He said that with the injection of three stimulus packages, the economy started showing results and hoped that a full picture on the economic status will be available by September 2009. He said that he had taken up certain measures and stepped up the rural economy.
Earlier, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in his welcome address urged Mukherjee to help Goa if it fell short in the proposed ambitious Dona Paula to vasco sealink project announced in the additional budget. later, Chif Secretary S Srivastava proposed a vote of thanks.
MMC chief warns of salary cuts...
... If workers back CCP’s strike
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has threatened to revert the salaries of its staff back to the Vth Pay, if they join cause with the CCP employees in support of their indefinite strike call.
The MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho has warned the MMC workers of stern action being initiated against them, if they join the indefinite strike and disrupt the smooth functioning of the civic administration.
Coutinho made this remark in light of the assertion of the Goa Municipal Employees Association (GMEA) president Keshav Prabhu that employees of around ten more municipalities shall join the indefinite strike in support of the CCP workers.
Speaking to the media, the MMC chairperson pointed out that the MMC employees are being paid their salaries as per the VIth Pay Commission and as such saw no reason as to why they should strike work.
However, Anil Shirodkar, president of All Goa Municipal Workers Union (AGMWU) informed that the union had decided to strike work in support of the protest by the workers of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP).
"They being our fellow brethren, it is incorrect, what is being done," stated Anil.
It may be noted that the CCP presently in the red with a deficit budget of Rs 12.78 crore has now decided to revert back the salaries paid to their staff to the Vth Pay Commission due to lack of sufficient funds in its kitty.
Thus, forcing the CCP employees to agitate in the matter.
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has threatened to revert the salaries of its staff back to the Vth Pay, if they join cause with the CCP employees in support of their indefinite strike call.
The MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho has warned the MMC workers of stern action being initiated against them, if they join the indefinite strike and disrupt the smooth functioning of the civic administration.
Coutinho made this remark in light of the assertion of the Goa Municipal Employees Association (GMEA) president Keshav Prabhu that employees of around ten more municipalities shall join the indefinite strike in support of the CCP workers.
Speaking to the media, the MMC chairperson pointed out that the MMC employees are being paid their salaries as per the VIth Pay Commission and as such saw no reason as to why they should strike work.
However, Anil Shirodkar, president of All Goa Municipal Workers Union (AGMWU) informed that the union had decided to strike work in support of the protest by the workers of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP).
"They being our fellow brethren, it is incorrect, what is being done," stated Anil.
It may be noted that the CCP presently in the red with a deficit budget of Rs 12.78 crore has now decided to revert back the salaries paid to their staff to the Vth Pay Commission due to lack of sufficient funds in its kitty.
Thus, forcing the CCP employees to agitate in the matter.
AGUSPA gives sleepless nights to unaided schools
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The Directorate of Education has finally woken up to the fact that the hundreds of schools do not adhere to the Goa School Education Act, 1984 and the Rules 1986, when it disclosed that none of the 158 unaided government recognised schools in Goa, had filed their audited statements as required under the Act and Rules.
All Goa Unaided Schools Parent’s Association (AGUSPA) since March had been demanding that the DoE had to force managements of the schools to comply with the Act. For the Directorate it might be a revelation that the managements had disobeyed its orders, but AHUSPA members knew very well that managements had to hide some skeletons.
For the last three years, two parents Orlando Pacheco and Franky Monteiro had been educating the officials of the Directorate of Education about the Goa School Education Act, 1984, but the DoE had taken the matter lightly, though it had issued some circulars to the effect.
However, despite of issuing circulars, last year DoE had given approval to a new fee hike without demanding for the audited statement to some schools.
It was only after AGUSPA filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court at Goa that, they were enforcing the Act, only to save their skin, according to AGUSPA president Nisser Dias.
Dias said that as per Section 10 (7) of the Goa School Education Act 1984, the managing committee of every recognised private school should file every year with the Director of Education such duly audited financial and/other returns as may be prescribed, and every such return should be audited by such authority as may be prescribed.
Also under Rule 139 (2)(3)of the Goa School Education Rules 1986, every unaided recognised private school should submit returns and documents in accordance with the instruction issued by the Director of Education from time to time.
He charged that managements of the unaided schools had been violating the Act and Rules in contempt of Supreme Court ruling over the years.
The AGUSPA had pointed from the audit statements of the managements of some of these schools that schools funds had been transferred to Trust, Society and Mandal funds, in some case to the tunes of Rs 45 lakhs.
If the managements of these unaided schools file their audited statements, I am sure lot of irregularities will come to light.
AGUSPA demands that the audited statements of the charitable trust, society and Mandal running these schools be also checked and most of the school demand huge donations for admitting a child in violation of Rule 132 of Goa School Education Rules 1986.
PANJIM: The Directorate of Education has finally woken up to the fact that the hundreds of schools do not adhere to the Goa School Education Act, 1984 and the Rules 1986, when it disclosed that none of the 158 unaided government recognised schools in Goa, had filed their audited statements as required under the Act and Rules.
All Goa Unaided Schools Parent’s Association (AGUSPA) since March had been demanding that the DoE had to force managements of the schools to comply with the Act. For the Directorate it might be a revelation that the managements had disobeyed its orders, but AHUSPA members knew very well that managements had to hide some skeletons.
For the last three years, two parents Orlando Pacheco and Franky Monteiro had been educating the officials of the Directorate of Education about the Goa School Education Act, 1984, but the DoE had taken the matter lightly, though it had issued some circulars to the effect.
However, despite of issuing circulars, last year DoE had given approval to a new fee hike without demanding for the audited statement to some schools.
It was only after AGUSPA filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court at Goa that, they were enforcing the Act, only to save their skin, according to AGUSPA president Nisser Dias.
Dias said that as per Section 10 (7) of the Goa School Education Act 1984, the managing committee of every recognised private school should file every year with the Director of Education such duly audited financial and/other returns as may be prescribed, and every such return should be audited by such authority as may be prescribed.
Also under Rule 139 (2)(3)of the Goa School Education Rules 1986, every unaided recognised private school should submit returns and documents in accordance with the instruction issued by the Director of Education from time to time.
He charged that managements of the unaided schools had been violating the Act and Rules in contempt of Supreme Court ruling over the years.
The AGUSPA had pointed from the audit statements of the managements of some of these schools that schools funds had been transferred to Trust, Society and Mandal funds, in some case to the tunes of Rs 45 lakhs.
If the managements of these unaided schools file their audited statements, I am sure lot of irregularities will come to light.
AGUSPA demands that the audited statements of the charitable trust, society and Mandal running these schools be also checked and most of the school demand huge donations for admitting a child in violation of Rule 132 of Goa School Education Rules 1986.
Students’ help sought for disaster plan
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: In a bid to rope in the student community into the ambit of its disaster management programme, the South Goa district administration yesterday interacted with heads of educational institutions to familiarise them with the plan.
The meeting that was held in the 'Ministers' Chamber' in the South Goa Collectorate attended by educationists from 10 different colleges was chaired by the South Goa Collector G P Naik who briefed them about the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and related matters in view of its ambitious mission of making the district 'disaster-free' by 2010.
As an effort to preparing an exhaustive database about disaster management and how to deal with the situation, the meet mainly dealt with a familiarisation mock exercise that sought to provide training to the officials, NGOS and college students to handle calamities at their respective levels.
"It is essential that the citizen is made aware of how to deal with the situation instead of waiting for the relief team to reach the site," Naik said. The district magistrate also briefed the educationists about the various steps undertaken by the administration and the South Goa District Disaster Management Authority (SGDDMA) that have formed seven groups for floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, transportation accidents and epidemics.
Naik also emphasised upon the role to be played by the NSS/NCC/Scouts and Guides who would be provided proper training through camps, awareness drives and campaigns.
And sought the assistance of NGOs in order to be alert to face calamities through data collection, identification of roads and canals with the guidance of the respective departments, traffic management in emergency, rescue operations and restoration of normalcy at times of calamities.
The meet also included the nomination of a nodal officer from every institution for the cause, a road map for the furtherance of aims and objectives and assistance from all institutions such as in which manner, when - schedules, kinds of activities - finalisation and scheduling of review meetings.
MARGAO: In a bid to rope in the student community into the ambit of its disaster management programme, the South Goa district administration yesterday interacted with heads of educational institutions to familiarise them with the plan.
The meeting that was held in the 'Ministers' Chamber' in the South Goa Collectorate attended by educationists from 10 different colleges was chaired by the South Goa Collector G P Naik who briefed them about the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and related matters in view of its ambitious mission of making the district 'disaster-free' by 2010.
As an effort to preparing an exhaustive database about disaster management and how to deal with the situation, the meet mainly dealt with a familiarisation mock exercise that sought to provide training to the officials, NGOS and college students to handle calamities at their respective levels.
"It is essential that the citizen is made aware of how to deal with the situation instead of waiting for the relief team to reach the site," Naik said. The district magistrate also briefed the educationists about the various steps undertaken by the administration and the South Goa District Disaster Management Authority (SGDDMA) that have formed seven groups for floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, transportation accidents and epidemics.
Naik also emphasised upon the role to be played by the NSS/NCC/Scouts and Guides who would be provided proper training through camps, awareness drives and campaigns.
And sought the assistance of NGOs in order to be alert to face calamities through data collection, identification of roads and canals with the guidance of the respective departments, traffic management in emergency, rescue operations and restoration of normalcy at times of calamities.
The meet also included the nomination of a nodal officer from every institution for the cause, a road map for the furtherance of aims and objectives and assistance from all institutions such as in which manner, when - schedules, kinds of activities - finalisation and scheduling of review meetings.
Heritage house is best for museum: Pranab
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that the museums always speaks of the past and mentioned that the heritage house is the ideal location for museum which would help in drawing more national and international tourists.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Indian Customs and Central Excise's museum at the heritage building of the Custom House, Panjim, yesterday.
Speaking further, he stated that the government is planning to have new tax code, which would be out on the official website soon and also mentioned that his ministry is working hard to upgrade the tax collection system.
He also expressed satisfaction that the collection of direct taxes is more than indirect taxes, which is a good sign.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who was also present for the function informed that from Goa Rs 1500 crore of revenue is collected from Customs and Excise. He also expressed his gratitude for selecting the heritage blue building for one of its kind museum in the country. He added, “The Old Secretariat or the Adil Shah palace which is in the vicinity of this building is under the process of restoration and soon the Centre for Art and Culture would begin there.”
P C Zha, Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs speaking about the museum stated, “this idea of museum conceptualised in the year 2003.
We selected this place as it has its own historical value.
It is functioning as Custom House from Portuguese times.”
K C Singh, Chief Commissioner of Pune Zone stated that this museum is divided in nine galleries namely the introductory gallery, heritage, battle of wits (showcasing items that they managed to get from smugglers) seizure gallery, wildlife and also an airport situation centre will feature all the artefacts.
He further informed that this museum would be opened for public for a fortnight and afterwards it would be shut for further renovation.
Dr S S Biswas, advisor of the museum project, mentioned that this museum would educate people with a dose of entertainment. “Our future plans includes working on other galleries like Pre-Independence gallery, the Central Excise Post-Independence gallery, the Narcotics Gallery, the International customs gallery, the Laboratory gallery and the cafeteria” added Biswas. This function was also attended by P V Bhide, Revenue Secretary, Government of India, Micky Pacheco, Tourism Minister, North Goa MP, Shripad Naik, South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha and other dignitaries.
PANJIM: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that the museums always speaks of the past and mentioned that the heritage house is the ideal location for museum which would help in drawing more national and international tourists.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Indian Customs and Central Excise's museum at the heritage building of the Custom House, Panjim, yesterday.
Speaking further, he stated that the government is planning to have new tax code, which would be out on the official website soon and also mentioned that his ministry is working hard to upgrade the tax collection system.
He also expressed satisfaction that the collection of direct taxes is more than indirect taxes, which is a good sign.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who was also present for the function informed that from Goa Rs 1500 crore of revenue is collected from Customs and Excise. He also expressed his gratitude for selecting the heritage blue building for one of its kind museum in the country. He added, “The Old Secretariat or the Adil Shah palace which is in the vicinity of this building is under the process of restoration and soon the Centre for Art and Culture would begin there.”
P C Zha, Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs speaking about the museum stated, “this idea of museum conceptualised in the year 2003.
We selected this place as it has its own historical value.
It is functioning as Custom House from Portuguese times.”
K C Singh, Chief Commissioner of Pune Zone stated that this museum is divided in nine galleries namely the introductory gallery, heritage, battle of wits (showcasing items that they managed to get from smugglers) seizure gallery, wildlife and also an airport situation centre will feature all the artefacts.
He further informed that this museum would be opened for public for a fortnight and afterwards it would be shut for further renovation.
Dr S S Biswas, advisor of the museum project, mentioned that this museum would educate people with a dose of entertainment. “Our future plans includes working on other galleries like Pre-Independence gallery, the Central Excise Post-Independence gallery, the Narcotics Gallery, the International customs gallery, the Laboratory gallery and the cafeteria” added Biswas. This function was also attended by P V Bhide, Revenue Secretary, Government of India, Micky Pacheco, Tourism Minister, North Goa MP, Shripad Naik, South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha and other dignitaries.
‘Mercury in thermometer is toxic, injurious to life’
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The mercury in thermometer or in the Sphygmomanometers (Blood pressure machine), dental amalgams is a toxic substance that can endanger our health.
It has been also listed as a hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules (1989).
It can accommodate in the tissues, especially muscles. This was revealed at the workshop organised by Goa Desc Resource Centre in collaboration with Toxics Link, New Delhi, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and GOACAN at Caritas Centre, Panjim, yesterday. It spoke about the hazards of mercury and its safe disposal.
Dr Ragini Kumari, of Toxic Link stated, “The 1 gm of mercury can contaiminate 20 acres of surface water and the one thermometer has 0.6 gms of mercury. Then it gets mixed with bacteria and produces methyl bacteri and cumulates in the fats of the fish.”
The studies also show that average-size hospital can release around 3 kg of elementary mercury in the environment in a year.
She maintained that it generates from the bio-medical waste. Thus, the key for it is going for alternatives or the proper disposal. “The person can switch to digital thermometer and in case of sphygmomanometers can opt for aneroid machine.
However for this they need to create awareness, and this workshop was in that direction. Doctors, nurses, dentists and also students attended it.
It also had a panel of discussions by the experts. Like Dr Pascal Pinto, Dental Surgeon and professor stated that the main source of mercury is the ceramic filling. However, it is already banned in some European countries. Thus, some foreign tourists opt for it when they are in Goa. But, as there’s no proper disposal for it, the mercury is settled on the beach belts and thus contaminating it.
Clinton Vaz, the waste management expert remarked that key lies in proper segregation and disposal of the waste. It is understood that 85 per cent of bio medical waste is non-infectious. But, when it is not separated then the remaining 15 per cent contaminates the rest.
Raj Vaidya, community pharmacists elaborated that we should switch to digital thermometer or otherwise do not allow it to break.
It was also revealed that one has to be very careful while disposing the mercury. The person should use mask, gloves and collect with the help of syringe. Then collect it and place it in a bottle of water. It should be never dumped in the dustbin.
Roland Martins of GOACAN is now taking forward this awareness. “We are now visiting the dental institutes, hospitals, pharmacies and colleges and telling the implications about it. Also visiting some public places to tell about it. The important factor is to involve it in our education under environment education” concluded Martins.
PANJIM: The mercury in thermometer or in the Sphygmomanometers (Blood pressure machine), dental amalgams is a toxic substance that can endanger our health.
It has been also listed as a hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules (1989).
It can accommodate in the tissues, especially muscles. This was revealed at the workshop organised by Goa Desc Resource Centre in collaboration with Toxics Link, New Delhi, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and GOACAN at Caritas Centre, Panjim, yesterday. It spoke about the hazards of mercury and its safe disposal.
Dr Ragini Kumari, of Toxic Link stated, “The 1 gm of mercury can contaiminate 20 acres of surface water and the one thermometer has 0.6 gms of mercury. Then it gets mixed with bacteria and produces methyl bacteri and cumulates in the fats of the fish.”
The studies also show that average-size hospital can release around 3 kg of elementary mercury in the environment in a year.
She maintained that it generates from the bio-medical waste. Thus, the key for it is going for alternatives or the proper disposal. “The person can switch to digital thermometer and in case of sphygmomanometers can opt for aneroid machine.
However for this they need to create awareness, and this workshop was in that direction. Doctors, nurses, dentists and also students attended it.
It also had a panel of discussions by the experts. Like Dr Pascal Pinto, Dental Surgeon and professor stated that the main source of mercury is the ceramic filling. However, it is already banned in some European countries. Thus, some foreign tourists opt for it when they are in Goa. But, as there’s no proper disposal for it, the mercury is settled on the beach belts and thus contaminating it.
Clinton Vaz, the waste management expert remarked that key lies in proper segregation and disposal of the waste. It is understood that 85 per cent of bio medical waste is non-infectious. But, when it is not separated then the remaining 15 per cent contaminates the rest.
Raj Vaidya, community pharmacists elaborated that we should switch to digital thermometer or otherwise do not allow it to break.
It was also revealed that one has to be very careful while disposing the mercury. The person should use mask, gloves and collect with the help of syringe. Then collect it and place it in a bottle of water. It should be never dumped in the dustbin.
Roland Martins of GOACAN is now taking forward this awareness. “We are now visiting the dental institutes, hospitals, pharmacies and colleges and telling the implications about it. Also visiting some public places to tell about it. The important factor is to involve it in our education under environment education” concluded Martins.
GUNS AND GOONS: YEH HAI GOA MERI JAAN
Bid to kidnap Vasco
youth thwarted; two
cops shot at, injured
Police yesterday successfully thwarted a bid to kidnap a 23-year-old Chicalim resident Sayad Ayaz, and arrested one of the accused after a filmy-style chase that led them to Rajbhag, Cabo de Rama in Canacona.
Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar and a police constable were injured when the kidnappers while fleeing shot them at.
Sayad was rescued near ONGC, Betul, the police also managed to lay their hands on one of the accused Parriket Dileshwar Handi (20) hailing from Assam but presently residing at Pirna-Verna after a long chase for almost six kilometres to Canaguinim creek, Betul.
The police team headed by SP (South)Alan de Sa and other police officials including DySP Umesh Gaonkar, Dy SP Rohidas Patre, DySP Naresh Mhamal and PIs of various police stations were still camping at the site and combing the area till late yesterday night in an effort to nab the other accused who are learnt to be hiding in the thick bushes.
Parriket on interrogation at the Cuncolim police station named his accomplices -- Mohiddin Ali from Andhra Pradesh, Saroj and Srinivas, both from Orissa. The accused are learnt to have been armed with pistols and knives and shot at PI Ekoskar and a constable while attempting to flee at Rajbag - Cabo de Ram.
All police stations were flashed with messages about the incident and nakabandi enforced with all exit points sealed by gun-totting personnel. The kidnapping first came to light when the victim’s brother, Amir Ayaz filed the complaint at Vasco police station which mentioned that a Rs 15-lakh ransom was sought.
Sayad, a salesman at Bombay Bazar, Panjim, was expected to return to his Vasco home on Thursday night. At about 8.30 pm he phoned saying he would be home in five minutes.
But when he failed to return as late as 10.30 pm, the worried family contacted him and he promised to be back soon.
But the family was taken aback to get a phone call at around 12 midnight informing them that their son was in their custody and demanding Rs 15-lakh for his release, Ayaz said in the complaint.
On Friday, the accused also made numerous calls to Amir and his wife at 9 am, 11 am and 3 pm demanding the ransom. By 6 pm yesterday, they threatened to kill him. Some of the calls were made from Sayad’s mobile. The family sought time to arrange the ransom, and at 6 pm, when they tried to contact Sayad the call did not go through, as by that time the police was already chasing the accused.
The police traced the calls to near Rajbhag, Canacona where a white Maruti van with a suspected to be bogus registration number GA-01-S-8404 was abandoned. The police who discovered it had another registration number of GA-01-R-7954 on it attached the vehicle.
A local restaurant owner claimed that the accused visited his restaurant yesterday morning at 9 am and inquired about the location of an ATM.
In Ponda, boy escapes from his abductors
BY A GT CORRESPONDENT
PONDA: An 18-year-old boy, Terence Dias, was kidnapped at Ponda in the early hours of Friday but he managed to escape and two of his kidnappers, Spirit Fernandes of Quepem and Faishal Khan of Cuncolim, were arrested. Two others, Puskal Fernandes and Mohamad Khan of Margao, are absconding.
The victim’s father, Caitano Dias told Police that his son’s kidnappers were demanding Rs 2.5-lakh for his release.
The foursome kidnapped Terence of Garden View apartment in the morning when they knocked at his door telling them that their car was obstructing their vehicle. When Terence reached the car they picked him up and forcibly put him in their Zen (GA 08 5985) and took him to Margao.
They took him to a notary and made him sign some documents. Then, they took him to a shop near Grace Church and made a call to Terence’s residence demanding 2.5 lakh for his release.
Terence however succeeded in fleeing from their clutches and reached his home at 11.30 am. The Ponda police got into action after his father complained and arrested Spirit and Faishal Khan at Margao. On interrogating them it was revealed that Terence had hired a car from Puskal Fernandes two years ago and met with an accident following which Puskal demanded Rs one-lakh to to repair it. But Terence refused to pay, explaining why the four kidnappers attempted to extort the money from his father in the guise of a ransom.
youth thwarted; two
cops shot at, injured
Police yesterday successfully thwarted a bid to kidnap a 23-year-old Chicalim resident Sayad Ayaz, and arrested one of the accused after a filmy-style chase that led them to Rajbhag, Cabo de Rama in Canacona.
Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar and a police constable were injured when the kidnappers while fleeing shot them at.
Sayad was rescued near ONGC, Betul, the police also managed to lay their hands on one of the accused Parriket Dileshwar Handi (20) hailing from Assam but presently residing at Pirna-Verna after a long chase for almost six kilometres to Canaguinim creek, Betul.
The police team headed by SP (South)Alan de Sa and other police officials including DySP Umesh Gaonkar, Dy SP Rohidas Patre, DySP Naresh Mhamal and PIs of various police stations were still camping at the site and combing the area till late yesterday night in an effort to nab the other accused who are learnt to be hiding in the thick bushes.
Parriket on interrogation at the Cuncolim police station named his accomplices -- Mohiddin Ali from Andhra Pradesh, Saroj and Srinivas, both from Orissa. The accused are learnt to have been armed with pistols and knives and shot at PI Ekoskar and a constable while attempting to flee at Rajbag - Cabo de Ram.
All police stations were flashed with messages about the incident and nakabandi enforced with all exit points sealed by gun-totting personnel. The kidnapping first came to light when the victim’s brother, Amir Ayaz filed the complaint at Vasco police station which mentioned that a Rs 15-lakh ransom was sought.
Sayad, a salesman at Bombay Bazar, Panjim, was expected to return to his Vasco home on Thursday night. At about 8.30 pm he phoned saying he would be home in five minutes.
But when he failed to return as late as 10.30 pm, the worried family contacted him and he promised to be back soon.
But the family was taken aback to get a phone call at around 12 midnight informing them that their son was in their custody and demanding Rs 15-lakh for his release, Ayaz said in the complaint.
On Friday, the accused also made numerous calls to Amir and his wife at 9 am, 11 am and 3 pm demanding the ransom. By 6 pm yesterday, they threatened to kill him. Some of the calls were made from Sayad’s mobile. The family sought time to arrange the ransom, and at 6 pm, when they tried to contact Sayad the call did not go through, as by that time the police was already chasing the accused.
The police traced the calls to near Rajbhag, Canacona where a white Maruti van with a suspected to be bogus registration number GA-01-S-8404 was abandoned. The police who discovered it had another registration number of GA-01-R-7954 on it attached the vehicle.
A local restaurant owner claimed that the accused visited his restaurant yesterday morning at 9 am and inquired about the location of an ATM.
In Ponda, boy escapes from his abductors
BY A GT CORRESPONDENT
PONDA: An 18-year-old boy, Terence Dias, was kidnapped at Ponda in the early hours of Friday but he managed to escape and two of his kidnappers, Spirit Fernandes of Quepem and Faishal Khan of Cuncolim, were arrested. Two others, Puskal Fernandes and Mohamad Khan of Margao, are absconding.
The victim’s father, Caitano Dias told Police that his son’s kidnappers were demanding Rs 2.5-lakh for his release.
The foursome kidnapped Terence of Garden View apartment in the morning when they knocked at his door telling them that their car was obstructing their vehicle. When Terence reached the car they picked him up and forcibly put him in their Zen (GA 08 5985) and took him to Margao.
They took him to a notary and made him sign some documents. Then, they took him to a shop near Grace Church and made a call to Terence’s residence demanding 2.5 lakh for his release.
Terence however succeeded in fleeing from their clutches and reached his home at 11.30 am. The Ponda police got into action after his father complained and arrested Spirit and Faishal Khan at Margao. On interrogating them it was revealed that Terence had hired a car from Puskal Fernandes two years ago and met with an accident following which Puskal demanded Rs one-lakh to to repair it. But Terence refused to pay, explaining why the four kidnappers attempted to extort the money from his father in the guise of a ransom.
Anti-English forces rallybehind ‘Mother Tongue’
Fernandes’ resolution rejected
Lourenco withdraws his resolution
Differences arise over definition of mother tongue
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The outcome was status quo. Yet, Calangute MLA Agnel Fernandes and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, through their Private Members’ Resolutions managed to eke out an assurance from Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate that he would hold threadbare discussions on the issue.
“If aid is to be given to English schools, we will discuss the issue thoroughly,” Monserrate remarked.
Earlier, forces allegedly inimical to the disbursal of grants to English medium primary schools went hammer and tongs at a Resolution tabled by Lourenco, who finally agreed to withdraw it after Monserrate’s assurance.
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar cast his lot with a section of status-quoist on the policy to restrict grants to schools imparting primary education in Marathi/Konkani.
Earlier, the resolution on almost the same issue moved by Agnelo Fernandes was rejected on technical grounds.
Parrikar defines mother tongue
In a cruel irony of sorts, Parrikar’s stand came amidst his own definition of ‘mother tongue’, quoted from voluminous dictionaries in the House. Drawing heavy technical support from the dictionaries, he went on to describe the mother tongue as ‘a person’s native or vernacular language’ aka ‘language of the peer group’.
Turning well established shibboleths on their head, Parrikar went on to denote an altogether new connotation to the concept when he quipped: “Mother tongue is not the language which is on the tips of the mother’s tongue. It is the native language.” Parrikar argued that he had no opposition to teach English at the primary level but with a rider that the government should not subsidise such education. He felt the school of thought favouring English is creating a “new class of illiterates”.
Interestingly, the full House listened to the opposition leader in rapt attention even as Speaker Pratap Singh Rane while gauging the mood of the House extended its sitting by another 15 minutes.
First move rejected
Coincidentally, Parrikar’s stand came immediately after he rose to wholeheartedly endorse Speaker Pratapsing Rane’s opinion that Fernandes’ resolution was technically ‘infructuous’ since it had sought changes to the Goa Education Act 1986 when the same should have read Goa Education Act 1984.
Fernandes insisting that his application to the Speaker vis-a-vis this resolution was impeccable and technically unflawed and claimed that he discovered the discrepancy only after he received the agenda. To this, Speaker Rane retorted that it was Fernandes’ duty to point out this anomaly much before tabling the Resolution.
Egged on by Parrikar, this, the Speaker felt, gave him enough scope to reject the Resolution for the day and requested Fernandes to move it during the monsoon session.
Fernandes however put up a spirited defence of his school of thought and cited example of how learned judges of Courts underlined the importance of English while stating in their judgement that students of villages can’t compete with their counterparts from cities due to lack of proficiency in English. He later resigned to his seat.
Lourenco counters Parrikar
This led Lourenco to rise in defence of Fernandes. Lourenco wanted the House to consider his Resolution seeking amendment to government policy on primary education and bring it in tune with Rule 6 of the Goa School Education Rules to give grant in aid to all primary schools where the teaching at the primary stage is in the mother tongue of the child irrespective whether it is in vernacular language or otherwise.
Diametrically different from Parrikar’s definition of the mother tongue, Lourenco quoted from the Goa Education Rules, which he said defined the mother tongue as under: ‘Mother tongue is what is declared in writing by the parents of the ward at the time of admission.’
He cast his lot in favour of parents deciding about the mother tongue.
“Primary schools in English/Konkani/Marathi must be given grants-in-aid. For such English schools, Konkani/Marathi can be introduced as compulsory subject from Std II,” was his opinion.
Lourenco withdraws his resolution
Differences arise over definition of mother tongue
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The outcome was status quo. Yet, Calangute MLA Agnel Fernandes and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, through their Private Members’ Resolutions managed to eke out an assurance from Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate that he would hold threadbare discussions on the issue.
“If aid is to be given to English schools, we will discuss the issue thoroughly,” Monserrate remarked.
Earlier, forces allegedly inimical to the disbursal of grants to English medium primary schools went hammer and tongs at a Resolution tabled by Lourenco, who finally agreed to withdraw it after Monserrate’s assurance.
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar cast his lot with a section of status-quoist on the policy to restrict grants to schools imparting primary education in Marathi/Konkani.
Earlier, the resolution on almost the same issue moved by Agnelo Fernandes was rejected on technical grounds.
Parrikar defines mother tongue
In a cruel irony of sorts, Parrikar’s stand came amidst his own definition of ‘mother tongue’, quoted from voluminous dictionaries in the House. Drawing heavy technical support from the dictionaries, he went on to describe the mother tongue as ‘a person’s native or vernacular language’ aka ‘language of the peer group’.
Turning well established shibboleths on their head, Parrikar went on to denote an altogether new connotation to the concept when he quipped: “Mother tongue is not the language which is on the tips of the mother’s tongue. It is the native language.” Parrikar argued that he had no opposition to teach English at the primary level but with a rider that the government should not subsidise such education. He felt the school of thought favouring English is creating a “new class of illiterates”.
Interestingly, the full House listened to the opposition leader in rapt attention even as Speaker Pratap Singh Rane while gauging the mood of the House extended its sitting by another 15 minutes.
First move rejected
Coincidentally, Parrikar’s stand came immediately after he rose to wholeheartedly endorse Speaker Pratapsing Rane’s opinion that Fernandes’ resolution was technically ‘infructuous’ since it had sought changes to the Goa Education Act 1986 when the same should have read Goa Education Act 1984.
Fernandes insisting that his application to the Speaker vis-a-vis this resolution was impeccable and technically unflawed and claimed that he discovered the discrepancy only after he received the agenda. To this, Speaker Rane retorted that it was Fernandes’ duty to point out this anomaly much before tabling the Resolution.
Egged on by Parrikar, this, the Speaker felt, gave him enough scope to reject the Resolution for the day and requested Fernandes to move it during the monsoon session.
Fernandes however put up a spirited defence of his school of thought and cited example of how learned judges of Courts underlined the importance of English while stating in their judgement that students of villages can’t compete with their counterparts from cities due to lack of proficiency in English. He later resigned to his seat.
Lourenco counters Parrikar
This led Lourenco to rise in defence of Fernandes. Lourenco wanted the House to consider his Resolution seeking amendment to government policy on primary education and bring it in tune with Rule 6 of the Goa School Education Rules to give grant in aid to all primary schools where the teaching at the primary stage is in the mother tongue of the child irrespective whether it is in vernacular language or otherwise.
Diametrically different from Parrikar’s definition of the mother tongue, Lourenco quoted from the Goa Education Rules, which he said defined the mother tongue as under: ‘Mother tongue is what is declared in writing by the parents of the ward at the time of admission.’
He cast his lot in favour of parents deciding about the mother tongue.
“Primary schools in English/Konkani/Marathi must be given grants-in-aid. For such English schools, Konkani/Marathi can be introduced as compulsory subject from Std II,” was his opinion.
Mining, professionals jabbed
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday hit the mining industry and also introduced a tax on professionals for the first time, in an attempt to mop additional resources for the welfare of common man and the state, under the current global recession.
Presenting the additional budget in the House yesterday, Kamat said the new taxes were aimed at achieving higher inclusive growth, through greater spending on infrastructure and social sectors.
Kamat hoped to net an additional revenue of Rs 516.40 crore through these taxes and garner a total of Rs 440 crore annually from the new initiatives - Land Replenishment-cum-Green Environment Charges from the mining industry at the rate of Rs 30 per tonne of rejects.
It expects a revenue collection of Rs 375 crore per year from this new initiative.
Also, through the Goa State Tax on Professionals, Trade, Callings and Employment Act, 2009, it expects to collect approximately Rs 65 crore per year.
All professionals such as doctors, lawyers, consultants, architects, hoteliers, vehicle dealers, builders, civil engineers, chartered accountants, brokers, sub-brokers and all such other professionals will have to register for administering different tax slabs based on income per month.
Also one-time charge of Rs 5,000 will have to be paid for registration of these professionals besides, monthly tax ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 350 depending on five income brackets.
In an effort to discourage the Goan youth from entering casinos, the Chief Minister proposed to increase the entry fee for all casinos from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 per person so as to collect the additional revenue of Rs 36.50 crore per year. It also proposed to increase licence fee of casino from the existing Rs 25,000 to Rs 10 lakh.
Kamat intends to intervene with the Central government to propose that the new Zuari bridge be a ‘signature bridge’ which would be an attraction in itself and that the best international consultants design the bridge. The government proposes that this bridge be the Golden Jubilee Bridge in Goa’s 50th year of celebration.
The government also proposes to take up an ambitious project - Dona Paula to Vasco sea link bridge across Arabian sea on Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. For this the government has made a provision of Rs 100 crore in the additional budget and would avail crucial 20 per cent of the project cost in the form of Viability Gap Fund from the Ministry of Finance.
The government hopes to collect substantial revenue of Rs 20 crore per year on entry toll on vehicles barring two wheelers entering the state. It also expect an additional revenue collection of Rs 5 crore by enhancing infrastructure tax from present level of rs 50 per square metre to Rs 100 per square metre on domestic and from Rs 150 to Rs 250 on commercial.
The government proposes to charge Rs 20 per cubic metre for water drawn and used for commercial purposes mainly in industrial areas and construction sites. It also proposes to enhance the existing ‘library cess’ on liquor from 50 paise to 75 paise per bulk litre. It also proposes to increase the duty on mild beer from the existing Rs 9 per bulk liter to Rs 10 per bulk litre.
The government proposes to increase the rate of transportation of coal and coke from Rs 50 per metric ton to Rs 250 per metric ton and also extended the transportation charge to movement of inflammable and hazardous materials. It also expects to generate additional revenue of Rs 7 crore by proposing to enhance the port charges, mooring charges, cargo dues, tonnage dues, transhippers, etc.
The government also proposes to grant Rs 15 lakh to Konkani Bhasha Mandal for their activities and Rs 15 lakh to Vishwa Konkani Parishad for their contribution and propagation of the Konkani language and also for establishing a Vishwa Konkani Kendra, which is the first of its kind in the country. A provision of Rs 30 lakh has been made in the additional budget.
The government also plans to hold the celebration of the Birth Centenary Year of the first Chief Minister late Bhausaheb Bandodkar from March 12, 2010 to March 12, 2011 by holding various activities. A state-level committee is being constituted for this purpose.
The Chief Minister proposed to operationalise a scheme to give financial assistance to tiny entrepreneurs such as ‘padeli’, ‘rennder’, ‘khajekar’, ‘fougeri’, ‘chanekar’, ‘podders’ and others so as to help them to sustain their occupation and provide and impetus for revival of these traditional skills.
A provision of Rs 24 lakh has been made for setting up a common facility centre for cashew processing cluster at Morpilla in Quepem while, a provision of Rs 1 crore for organising a trade fair exhibition for micro, small and medium enterprises as well as large industries in Goa so that a face to face dialogue is facilitated and maximum outsourcing by large units is done from the SME sector in Goa.
The government has provided Rs 8 crore for beach safety programme under phase II and further provision of Rs 3 crore or the beach-cleaning scheme.
ADDITIONAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Proposal to tax mining industry at Rs 30 per tonne of rejects.
One-time charge of Rs 5,000 to be levied on registration of professionals
Casino licence fee to be hiked from existing Rs 25,000 to Rs 10 lakh
Entry fee for all casinos to increase from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000
Proposal for the new Zuari bridge tobe made a ‘signature bridge’
Dona Paula to Vasco sea link bridge across Arabian sea on Private Public Partnership (PPP)
Hike in duty on mild beer from Rs 9 per bulk liter to Rs 10
Rs 15 lakh each grant to Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Vishwa Konkani Parishad
PANJIM: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday hit the mining industry and also introduced a tax on professionals for the first time, in an attempt to mop additional resources for the welfare of common man and the state, under the current global recession.
Presenting the additional budget in the House yesterday, Kamat said the new taxes were aimed at achieving higher inclusive growth, through greater spending on infrastructure and social sectors.
Kamat hoped to net an additional revenue of Rs 516.40 crore through these taxes and garner a total of Rs 440 crore annually from the new initiatives - Land Replenishment-cum-Green Environment Charges from the mining industry at the rate of Rs 30 per tonne of rejects.
It expects a revenue collection of Rs 375 crore per year from this new initiative.
Also, through the Goa State Tax on Professionals, Trade, Callings and Employment Act, 2009, it expects to collect approximately Rs 65 crore per year.
All professionals such as doctors, lawyers, consultants, architects, hoteliers, vehicle dealers, builders, civil engineers, chartered accountants, brokers, sub-brokers and all such other professionals will have to register for administering different tax slabs based on income per month.
Also one-time charge of Rs 5,000 will have to be paid for registration of these professionals besides, monthly tax ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 350 depending on five income brackets.
In an effort to discourage the Goan youth from entering casinos, the Chief Minister proposed to increase the entry fee for all casinos from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 per person so as to collect the additional revenue of Rs 36.50 crore per year. It also proposed to increase licence fee of casino from the existing Rs 25,000 to Rs 10 lakh.
Kamat intends to intervene with the Central government to propose that the new Zuari bridge be a ‘signature bridge’ which would be an attraction in itself and that the best international consultants design the bridge. The government proposes that this bridge be the Golden Jubilee Bridge in Goa’s 50th year of celebration.
The government also proposes to take up an ambitious project - Dona Paula to Vasco sea link bridge across Arabian sea on Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. For this the government has made a provision of Rs 100 crore in the additional budget and would avail crucial 20 per cent of the project cost in the form of Viability Gap Fund from the Ministry of Finance.
The government hopes to collect substantial revenue of Rs 20 crore per year on entry toll on vehicles barring two wheelers entering the state. It also expect an additional revenue collection of Rs 5 crore by enhancing infrastructure tax from present level of rs 50 per square metre to Rs 100 per square metre on domestic and from Rs 150 to Rs 250 on commercial.
The government proposes to charge Rs 20 per cubic metre for water drawn and used for commercial purposes mainly in industrial areas and construction sites. It also proposes to enhance the existing ‘library cess’ on liquor from 50 paise to 75 paise per bulk litre. It also proposes to increase the duty on mild beer from the existing Rs 9 per bulk liter to Rs 10 per bulk litre.
The government proposes to increase the rate of transportation of coal and coke from Rs 50 per metric ton to Rs 250 per metric ton and also extended the transportation charge to movement of inflammable and hazardous materials. It also expects to generate additional revenue of Rs 7 crore by proposing to enhance the port charges, mooring charges, cargo dues, tonnage dues, transhippers, etc.
The government also proposes to grant Rs 15 lakh to Konkani Bhasha Mandal for their activities and Rs 15 lakh to Vishwa Konkani Parishad for their contribution and propagation of the Konkani language and also for establishing a Vishwa Konkani Kendra, which is the first of its kind in the country. A provision of Rs 30 lakh has been made in the additional budget.
The government also plans to hold the celebration of the Birth Centenary Year of the first Chief Minister late Bhausaheb Bandodkar from March 12, 2010 to March 12, 2011 by holding various activities. A state-level committee is being constituted for this purpose.
The Chief Minister proposed to operationalise a scheme to give financial assistance to tiny entrepreneurs such as ‘padeli’, ‘rennder’, ‘khajekar’, ‘fougeri’, ‘chanekar’, ‘podders’ and others so as to help them to sustain their occupation and provide and impetus for revival of these traditional skills.
A provision of Rs 24 lakh has been made for setting up a common facility centre for cashew processing cluster at Morpilla in Quepem while, a provision of Rs 1 crore for organising a trade fair exhibition for micro, small and medium enterprises as well as large industries in Goa so that a face to face dialogue is facilitated and maximum outsourcing by large units is done from the SME sector in Goa.
The government has provided Rs 8 crore for beach safety programme under phase II and further provision of Rs 3 crore or the beach-cleaning scheme.
ADDITIONAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Proposal to tax mining industry at Rs 30 per tonne of rejects.
One-time charge of Rs 5,000 to be levied on registration of professionals
Casino licence fee to be hiked from existing Rs 25,000 to Rs 10 lakh
Entry fee for all casinos to increase from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000
Proposal for the new Zuari bridge tobe made a ‘signature bridge’
Dona Paula to Vasco sea link bridge across Arabian sea on Private Public Partnership (PPP)
Hike in duty on mild beer from Rs 9 per bulk liter to Rs 10
Rs 15 lakh each grant to Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Vishwa Konkani Parishad
CCP workers meet CM, defer strike
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Panjimites can now heave a sigh of relief and perhaps release their noses. The workers of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) have decided to defer their strike till the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat takes a final decision on their pay scales.
The 350-odd CCP workers had decided to go on strike from Monday, July 27 after the CCP decided to go against its earlier decision to pay staff according to VI pay commission recommendations.
Earlier strikes by the CCP workers had left garbage unattended leaving the capital in a mess, and city residents were wary of their fate this time around too.
Keshav Prabhu, the President of All Goa Municipal Employees Association while speaking to GT informed that the decision to defer the strike was taken after the meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday afternoon.
At the meeting, Urban Development Minsiter, Joaquim Alemao, CCP Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues and the CCP's Accounts Officer were also present.
“During the meeting the Chief Minister agreed 'in principle' that they deserve pay according to the sixth pay commission's recommendations. This means, it has been decided to pay the workers according to VI Pay Commission this month. The CCP has to make this payment,” Keshav argued.
However a final decision will be taken after Chief Minister studies the matter.
“The CM has informed us that due to his preoccupation with the ongoing Assembly session he would review the situation only after it ends. The decision should come by August 10-15,” Keshav informed.
He described the decision as a 'temporary' relief for the workers and added that they are only 'partly satisfied'.
‘Corporators created mess’
--- Keshav Prabhu, President of All Goa Municipal Employees Association.
Who, according to you, is responsible for the many irregularities in the CCP?
The corporators have created all this mess. They were elected to generate revenue for the development of the city but failed. Till date, there are no revenue generating proposals from anyone. They are themselves involved in scams.
What is the reason for this mess?
Every issue seems riddled in a scam. There’s no agreement signed on the new market complex, there are scams about pay parking. So also there are around 10 Taleigao panchayat members who are drawing salary from the CCP!
Do you support the demand for a judicial enquiry?
For any inquiry to be conducted fairly, the council has to be dissolved. Secondly before any judicial inquiry, an independent administrator or the commissioner should conduct an inquiry.
Are you confident that the Commissioner would be in a position to investigate these scams?
Yes, I hope so. But, at the same time he should be given free hand and independence to work on his investigation.
What in your opinion is the solution for the problems?
The Corporation should collect revenue from the different places where no rents are collected.
PANJIM: Panjimites can now heave a sigh of relief and perhaps release their noses. The workers of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) have decided to defer their strike till the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat takes a final decision on their pay scales.
The 350-odd CCP workers had decided to go on strike from Monday, July 27 after the CCP decided to go against its earlier decision to pay staff according to VI pay commission recommendations.
Earlier strikes by the CCP workers had left garbage unattended leaving the capital in a mess, and city residents were wary of their fate this time around too.
Keshav Prabhu, the President of All Goa Municipal Employees Association while speaking to GT informed that the decision to defer the strike was taken after the meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday afternoon.
At the meeting, Urban Development Minsiter, Joaquim Alemao, CCP Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues and the CCP's Accounts Officer were also present.
“During the meeting the Chief Minister agreed 'in principle' that they deserve pay according to the sixth pay commission's recommendations. This means, it has been decided to pay the workers according to VI Pay Commission this month. The CCP has to make this payment,” Keshav argued.
However a final decision will be taken after Chief Minister studies the matter.
“The CM has informed us that due to his preoccupation with the ongoing Assembly session he would review the situation only after it ends. The decision should come by August 10-15,” Keshav informed.
He described the decision as a 'temporary' relief for the workers and added that they are only 'partly satisfied'.
‘Corporators created mess’
--- Keshav Prabhu, President of All Goa Municipal Employees Association.
Who, according to you, is responsible for the many irregularities in the CCP?
The corporators have created all this mess. They were elected to generate revenue for the development of the city but failed. Till date, there are no revenue generating proposals from anyone. They are themselves involved in scams.
What is the reason for this mess?
Every issue seems riddled in a scam. There’s no agreement signed on the new market complex, there are scams about pay parking. So also there are around 10 Taleigao panchayat members who are drawing salary from the CCP!
Do you support the demand for a judicial enquiry?
For any inquiry to be conducted fairly, the council has to be dissolved. Secondly before any judicial inquiry, an independent administrator or the commissioner should conduct an inquiry.
Are you confident that the Commissioner would be in a position to investigate these scams?
Yes, I hope so. But, at the same time he should be given free hand and independence to work on his investigation.
What in your opinion is the solution for the problems?
The Corporation should collect revenue from the different places where no rents are collected.
‘Mystery’ fever is Chikungunya
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Suspicion that the mystery fever in Sanguem taluka is Chikungunya have turned out to be true.
The Microbiology Department of GMC has confirmed that 15 of the 30 samples it received from Mascavrem and Danolem villages of Sanguem taluka are cases of Chikungunya.
Dr Ravindra Nadkarni, CMO of Non-Communicable diseases, yesterday, said, “All the affected villagers are being surveyed by the health department and their samples taken for testing. Some samples from these villages have also been sent to check for Dengue fever. These reports would be received on Monday.”
However the almost 40 samples sent by the private doctors have all tested negative for Chikungunya. Dr Nadkarni assured that they are taking all necessary steps. The fever had affected many a household of Mascavrem and Danolem over the past one month. The victims developed symptoms like fever, joint pains and rash. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) took a note of it after the issue was highlighted by a section of the local media and started their investigations about the fever.
PANJIM: Suspicion that the mystery fever in Sanguem taluka is Chikungunya have turned out to be true.
The Microbiology Department of GMC has confirmed that 15 of the 30 samples it received from Mascavrem and Danolem villages of Sanguem taluka are cases of Chikungunya.
Dr Ravindra Nadkarni, CMO of Non-Communicable diseases, yesterday, said, “All the affected villagers are being surveyed by the health department and their samples taken for testing. Some samples from these villages have also been sent to check for Dengue fever. These reports would be received on Monday.”
However the almost 40 samples sent by the private doctors have all tested negative for Chikungunya. Dr Nadkarni assured that they are taking all necessary steps. The fever had affected many a household of Mascavrem and Danolem over the past one month. The victims developed symptoms like fever, joint pains and rash. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) took a note of it after the issue was highlighted by a section of the local media and started their investigations about the fever.
Goa police’s child protection unit in deep slumber!
VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: If you are a woman or a child and in distress, think twice before you call up the Goa Police's Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU). They are notorious for ignoring phone calls.
In what appears to be yet another case of carelessness, the WCPU left at least five calls from a local unattended, who desperately wanted to inform about the pathetic condition of a girl in Siolim yesterday morning.
After initial reluctance, however, the tormentar of the girl (her own husband) was finally arrested, not by the WCPU but the Mapusa police. The arrest was effected yesterday evening with much humiliation to the victim, who was seeking justice and was summarily denied succour by the Women and Child Protection Unit.
It was a journalist, a GT staffer, who had found the girl on the roadside at Siolim, and played samaritan to rescue the 14-year-old.
The GT staffer found the seemingly desperate child sobbing bitterly under the shade of a mango tree. On inquiries with her, he discovered that she was married about four months ago to a married man who had driven his previous wife and their three children away.
Her husband Ismael Tiwari (28), who is now in the custody of Mapusa police, had brought the victim girl from Karnataka and eventually married her.
“Life with this man was like living in hell,” the tender girl told the GT staffer who referred her to the Mapusa police station after failing in his attempts at the WCPU. The girl with her two small bags packed with clothes wanted to go to a cousin who lived at the Mapusa housing board, but didn't know the cousin's name or address in the colony. At the Mapusa police station, the girl disclosed that her husband used to assault her and unable to bear her trauma she shared her fate with her divorced mother, who in fact had pushed her into the marriage with Tiwari as she had two other younger girl children to look after.
“The girl told the police that she was constantly being harassed by her husband and demanded cash from her mother,” a police officer told GT adding that her statement was recorded in the presence of NGO members. Tiwari has been booked under section 8 of Goa Children’s Act, 2003 and section 498 (harassment) of Indian Penal Code.
Goa Medical College sources said, the girl was examined for about two-hours to ascertain physical and sexual assault on her. She will also be subjected to an ossification test, to ascertain her exact age, Mapusa police said.
Care-a-damnattitude
When he found the hapless girl, the GT staffer made several attempts to contact WCPU, but not one of the six calls made were attended to by anybody. He then called 108 but it was not functioning and so he called Apna Ghar at Merces, where ‘come through proper channel’ was the terse response he got.
Skeptical of the 'proper channel' route, the GT staffer then dialed 100, and then things began falling in place with Mapusa police swinging into action and PSI Mohan Naik and a lady constable, Reshma Naik reaching the spot to escort the victim to the police station.
PANJIM: If you are a woman or a child and in distress, think twice before you call up the Goa Police's Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU). They are notorious for ignoring phone calls.
In what appears to be yet another case of carelessness, the WCPU left at least five calls from a local unattended, who desperately wanted to inform about the pathetic condition of a girl in Siolim yesterday morning.
After initial reluctance, however, the tormentar of the girl (her own husband) was finally arrested, not by the WCPU but the Mapusa police. The arrest was effected yesterday evening with much humiliation to the victim, who was seeking justice and was summarily denied succour by the Women and Child Protection Unit.
It was a journalist, a GT staffer, who had found the girl on the roadside at Siolim, and played samaritan to rescue the 14-year-old.
The GT staffer found the seemingly desperate child sobbing bitterly under the shade of a mango tree. On inquiries with her, he discovered that she was married about four months ago to a married man who had driven his previous wife and their three children away.
Her husband Ismael Tiwari (28), who is now in the custody of Mapusa police, had brought the victim girl from Karnataka and eventually married her.
“Life with this man was like living in hell,” the tender girl told the GT staffer who referred her to the Mapusa police station after failing in his attempts at the WCPU. The girl with her two small bags packed with clothes wanted to go to a cousin who lived at the Mapusa housing board, but didn't know the cousin's name or address in the colony. At the Mapusa police station, the girl disclosed that her husband used to assault her and unable to bear her trauma she shared her fate with her divorced mother, who in fact had pushed her into the marriage with Tiwari as she had two other younger girl children to look after.
“The girl told the police that she was constantly being harassed by her husband and demanded cash from her mother,” a police officer told GT adding that her statement was recorded in the presence of NGO members. Tiwari has been booked under section 8 of Goa Children’s Act, 2003 and section 498 (harassment) of Indian Penal Code.
Goa Medical College sources said, the girl was examined for about two-hours to ascertain physical and sexual assault on her. She will also be subjected to an ossification test, to ascertain her exact age, Mapusa police said.
Care-a-damnattitude
When he found the hapless girl, the GT staffer made several attempts to contact WCPU, but not one of the six calls made were attended to by anybody. He then called 108 but it was not functioning and so he called Apna Ghar at Merces, where ‘come through proper channel’ was the terse response he got.
Skeptical of the 'proper channel' route, the GT staffer then dialed 100, and then things began falling in place with Mapusa police swinging into action and PSI Mohan Naik and a lady constable, Reshma Naik reaching the spot to escort the victim to the police station.
Naik for Goa P&T circle
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: MP Shantaram Naik has reiterated the long pending demand of the Goa for an independendent Telecom and Postal Circle.
Initiating the debate on the Congress side on the working of the Ministry Communications and Information Technology in the Rajya Sabha, Naik said that when Goa is a state under the Constitution of India, telecom and postal departments have no right to reduce it to a district and merge it in Maharashtra circle, however small the state may be.Naik said that he was confident that Union Minister for Communication and Information, who was present in the House, would accede to Goa's demand.
Naik said, the four major programmes of the government, namely, national e-governance, state wide area network, state data centres and common service centres are overlapping. However, he added that these programmes particularly common service centres which will cater to the needs of common citizens throughout the country by way of supplying information regarding schemes, programmes and rules of the government were going to create a revolution.
Naik suggested that the computerisation of land records should cover the land transactions, including all types of deeds, and, further, suggested the computerisation of land registration documents in the state, which forms basic title to the land.
Naik appealed to the Union Minister Raja to get the software for translating one language to another prepared at the earliest and that all the languages recognised by the Constitution should get the facility.
Naik also suggested to endevour to spread a network of e-Granthalayas throught the country as, he said, village libraries cannot afford to buy costly books and therefore facility of getting access to electronic books can do wonders.
Naik said that awareness programme regarding the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be held in schools and colleges as there since there is a serious punishment provided to anyone visiting porno sites. If students are not made aware of this law, there will be considerable social problem when hundreds of students are arrested by police under the law.
PANJIM: MP Shantaram Naik has reiterated the long pending demand of the Goa for an independendent Telecom and Postal Circle.
Initiating the debate on the Congress side on the working of the Ministry Communications and Information Technology in the Rajya Sabha, Naik said that when Goa is a state under the Constitution of India, telecom and postal departments have no right to reduce it to a district and merge it in Maharashtra circle, however small the state may be.Naik said that he was confident that Union Minister for Communication and Information, who was present in the House, would accede to Goa's demand.
Naik said, the four major programmes of the government, namely, national e-governance, state wide area network, state data centres and common service centres are overlapping. However, he added that these programmes particularly common service centres which will cater to the needs of common citizens throughout the country by way of supplying information regarding schemes, programmes and rules of the government were going to create a revolution.
Naik suggested that the computerisation of land records should cover the land transactions, including all types of deeds, and, further, suggested the computerisation of land registration documents in the state, which forms basic title to the land.
Naik appealed to the Union Minister Raja to get the software for translating one language to another prepared at the earliest and that all the languages recognised by the Constitution should get the facility.
Naik also suggested to endevour to spread a network of e-Granthalayas throught the country as, he said, village libraries cannot afford to buy costly books and therefore facility of getting access to electronic books can do wonders.
Naik said that awareness programme regarding the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be held in schools and colleges as there since there is a serious punishment provided to anyone visiting porno sites. If students are not made aware of this law, there will be considerable social problem when hundreds of students are arrested by police under the law.
Sick industry revival to be revisited: Chief Minister
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: With a total of 294 industrial units having closed down and just one of these units applying for the revival scheme, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was compelled to announce 'Revisiting' the Scheme on the floor of the House yesterday. At the same time, he also promised to examine the matter pertaining to the return of the amount of re-sold plots by the GIDC to the earlier owners of the plots.
The matter came to light when Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar raised the matter through a Starred Question during the Question Hour of the Assembly. The main grouse of the opposition BJP related to the utter inability of the Scheme to elicit a favourable response from these industrial units which has manifested itself in just one application being received by the government for availing of the benefits under this Scheme.
Although the Chief Minister took shelter under the argument that the Scheme provides relief from electricity charges, commercial taxes and PWD, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar was emphatic on the fact that these measures do not help in revival of closed unit but are beneficial only after the closed unit stands on its feet."
The first step should be to revive the unit," added the opposition leader. Cancona MLA Vijay Pai Khot pooh-poohed the government's claims of Canacona industrial estate being located in the backward area of Canacona taluka. " The Canacona Industrial estate is connected with NH 17 and is located within one kilometre of Canacona Municipality," claimed Khot who wanted industrial mother units to be set up for creating a conducive atmosphere for reviving Canacona Industrial Estate.
Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar wanted the government's response for generating employment for employees of these 294 closed units. Former Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar wanted the government to return the amount of those entrepreneurs whose plots were resold by the GIDC.
‘Hindujas to set up Auto Park in Goa’
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday announced that business typhoons -- the Hindujas -- have evinced keen interest in setting up of an Auto park in Goa.
The CM's response came against the backdrop of Khot's insistence on setting up of industrial mother units to support small ancillary units in an ailing Canacona industrial estate. Kamat felt the aforesaid Auto Park could come up in such areas which needed such industrial mother units. Moreover, it was the CM's contention that such an Auto Park could provide a rich source of employment to the teeming army of unemployed, lowly educated, in these areas.
This proposal found ready support in opposition leader Manohar Parrikar who wholeheartedly supported the proposal. Khot also welcomed this proposal and wanted it to fructify at the earliest in Canacona taluka.
PANJIM: With a total of 294 industrial units having closed down and just one of these units applying for the revival scheme, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was compelled to announce 'Revisiting' the Scheme on the floor of the House yesterday. At the same time, he also promised to examine the matter pertaining to the return of the amount of re-sold plots by the GIDC to the earlier owners of the plots.
The matter came to light when Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar raised the matter through a Starred Question during the Question Hour of the Assembly. The main grouse of the opposition BJP related to the utter inability of the Scheme to elicit a favourable response from these industrial units which has manifested itself in just one application being received by the government for availing of the benefits under this Scheme.
Although the Chief Minister took shelter under the argument that the Scheme provides relief from electricity charges, commercial taxes and PWD, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar was emphatic on the fact that these measures do not help in revival of closed unit but are beneficial only after the closed unit stands on its feet."
The first step should be to revive the unit," added the opposition leader. Cancona MLA Vijay Pai Khot pooh-poohed the government's claims of Canacona industrial estate being located in the backward area of Canacona taluka. " The Canacona Industrial estate is connected with NH 17 and is located within one kilometre of Canacona Municipality," claimed Khot who wanted industrial mother units to be set up for creating a conducive atmosphere for reviving Canacona Industrial Estate.
Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar wanted the government's response for generating employment for employees of these 294 closed units. Former Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar wanted the government to return the amount of those entrepreneurs whose plots were resold by the GIDC.
‘Hindujas to set up Auto Park in Goa’
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday announced that business typhoons -- the Hindujas -- have evinced keen interest in setting up of an Auto park in Goa.
The CM's response came against the backdrop of Khot's insistence on setting up of industrial mother units to support small ancillary units in an ailing Canacona industrial estate. Kamat felt the aforesaid Auto Park could come up in such areas which needed such industrial mother units. Moreover, it was the CM's contention that such an Auto Park could provide a rich source of employment to the teeming army of unemployed, lowly educated, in these areas.
This proposal found ready support in opposition leader Manohar Parrikar who wholeheartedly supported the proposal. Khot also welcomed this proposal and wanted it to fructify at the earliest in Canacona taluka.
‘Govt to close down illegal mines’
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Scores of skeletons tumbled out of cupboards of illegal mining magnates as opposition leader Manohar Parrikar vividly highlighted the glaring mismatch in the ore extracted from mines in the state and the royalty paid on it.
Apart from this mismatch clearly pointing out to illegal mining in the state, a host of related issues pertaining to illegal mining also came to the fore.
Faced with stark evidence, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was forced to assure the House that all illegal mining in the state will be closed down.
Parrikar cited figures from the written reply in support of his contention. He said 3 crore, 2 lakh tonnes of ore was extracted in 2008-09 while the royalty paid was to the tune of Rs 26 crore, 66 lakhs. This, Parrikar said, translated into an average collection of Rs 8.46 per tonne. On the other hand, the opposition leader pointed out to the figures of exported ore from the state to be 3 crore, 80 lakhs.
"18% of the ore in excess of that extracted is exported out of Goa. This is unaccounted ore. It is extracted through illegal mining and is not filed with the government," claimed Parrikar.
Further, it was Parrikar's contention that ore from Karnataka into Goa is upgraded and exported which amounts to 4 to 5 lakh tonnes.
" About 30 to 40 lakh tonnes of ore is not accounted for in Goa," was his opinion. This, he felt, translates into an amount of Rs 700 to Rs 800 crore in the economy through fraud and manipulation.
In support of his arguments, Kamat attributed the mismatch in royalty to the changing stipulations of paying royalty on run of mines and on processed ore.
" A special team has been formed to complete every assessment. By December, the entire assessment of all companies will be over," Kamat informed the House.
" We have served notices on all such people to produce documentary evidence to prove they have paid 10% royalty. Any default in this case and I have told officers to go strictly as per law," announced the Chief Minister.
Mining policy in a month: CM
In response to similar question raised by Sanguem MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar who expressed apprehensions about mining operations in catchment area of Selaulim dam, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat assured that all such cases will be taken care of in the Mining Policy to be unveiled within a month.
Kamat said a committee has been constituted whereby plans for a separate road for mining traffic in Curchorem, Quepem and Sanguem sector is being worked out. Gaonkar informed that 53 out of 108 mines in the state operate in Sanguem taluka.
PANJIM: Scores of skeletons tumbled out of cupboards of illegal mining magnates as opposition leader Manohar Parrikar vividly highlighted the glaring mismatch in the ore extracted from mines in the state and the royalty paid on it.
Apart from this mismatch clearly pointing out to illegal mining in the state, a host of related issues pertaining to illegal mining also came to the fore.
Faced with stark evidence, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was forced to assure the House that all illegal mining in the state will be closed down.
Parrikar cited figures from the written reply in support of his contention. He said 3 crore, 2 lakh tonnes of ore was extracted in 2008-09 while the royalty paid was to the tune of Rs 26 crore, 66 lakhs. This, Parrikar said, translated into an average collection of Rs 8.46 per tonne. On the other hand, the opposition leader pointed out to the figures of exported ore from the state to be 3 crore, 80 lakhs.
"18% of the ore in excess of that extracted is exported out of Goa. This is unaccounted ore. It is extracted through illegal mining and is not filed with the government," claimed Parrikar.
Further, it was Parrikar's contention that ore from Karnataka into Goa is upgraded and exported which amounts to 4 to 5 lakh tonnes.
" About 30 to 40 lakh tonnes of ore is not accounted for in Goa," was his opinion. This, he felt, translates into an amount of Rs 700 to Rs 800 crore in the economy through fraud and manipulation.
In support of his arguments, Kamat attributed the mismatch in royalty to the changing stipulations of paying royalty on run of mines and on processed ore.
" A special team has been formed to complete every assessment. By December, the entire assessment of all companies will be over," Kamat informed the House.
" We have served notices on all such people to produce documentary evidence to prove they have paid 10% royalty. Any default in this case and I have told officers to go strictly as per law," announced the Chief Minister.
Mining policy in a month: CM
In response to similar question raised by Sanguem MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar who expressed apprehensions about mining operations in catchment area of Selaulim dam, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat assured that all such cases will be taken care of in the Mining Policy to be unveiled within a month.
Kamat said a committee has been constituted whereby plans for a separate road for mining traffic in Curchorem, Quepem and Sanguem sector is being worked out. Gaonkar informed that 53 out of 108 mines in the state operate in Sanguem taluka.
Communidade property ‘Lootmaar’ continues?
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza yesterday admitted that a total of 151 plots in Mapusa Comunidade alone have been granted to occupants without government approval.
Even worse, although FIRs in these cases have been registered with the police way back in the year 2004, no action or inquiry has been forthcoming so far, agreed the Revenue Minister.
Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza raised two related queries: he wanted to know whether the government will regularise such plots or claim their possession.
" Do you have the power to transfer the plots?" questioned D'Souza.
Although the Revenue Minister promised to examine these cases and take action before the next Assembly Session, Jose Philip stated that the Revenue Department has the power to transfer such plots after completion of the stipulated ten year period.
On the other hand, Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot wanted the Revenue Department to allot plots which are already in possession of people replete with power, water connections, plantations, etc.
He said the concerned Comunidade has agreed to the transfer of these plots and wanted immediate transfer of such plots to the occupiers as decided during the tenure of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar rose to inform that cut off date for transfer of such plots was fixed during his tenure.
Speaker Pratap Singh Rane wanted the Revenue Minister to implement the former policies. Ending the discussion, Jose Philip assured to expedite these cases as early as possible.
PANJIM: Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza yesterday admitted that a total of 151 plots in Mapusa Comunidade alone have been granted to occupants without government approval.
Even worse, although FIRs in these cases have been registered with the police way back in the year 2004, no action or inquiry has been forthcoming so far, agreed the Revenue Minister.
Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza raised two related queries: he wanted to know whether the government will regularise such plots or claim their possession.
" Do you have the power to transfer the plots?" questioned D'Souza.
Although the Revenue Minister promised to examine these cases and take action before the next Assembly Session, Jose Philip stated that the Revenue Department has the power to transfer such plots after completion of the stipulated ten year period.
On the other hand, Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot wanted the Revenue Department to allot plots which are already in possession of people replete with power, water connections, plantations, etc.
He said the concerned Comunidade has agreed to the transfer of these plots and wanted immediate transfer of such plots to the occupiers as decided during the tenure of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar rose to inform that cut off date for transfer of such plots was fixed during his tenure.
Speaker Pratap Singh Rane wanted the Revenue Minister to implement the former policies. Ending the discussion, Jose Philip assured to expedite these cases as early as possible.
BJP voices concern on forest resources
Soil erosion, afforestation issues raised
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar yersterday urged the government to take steps to tackle soil erosion in the coastal areas of his constituency.
Speaking during the discussion on Demands for Grants for water resources, Parsekar revealed that places like Harmal and Morjim were facing soil erosion for two to four years.
Speaking on forest conservation, Parsekar said, there were many species/ reptiles in the forests of Mandrem, which are safeguarded by locals.
The MLA suggested that the government could employ one or two local boys to guard the forests either on contract basis or by paying them incentives.
Similarly, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar requested the government to set up a ‘special snake zoo’ as it could be a source of revenue.
“There are plenty snake catching teams and individuals.
With this, large numbers of different species of snakes could be stocked.
If they are kept in a ‘snake zoo’, then it can act as a good source of revenue to the state,” Patnekar suggested.
The two suggestions according to respective MLAs would help generate employment for enthusiasts among locals.
Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot suggested that the government go in for Mango and Nilgiri plantations. “The government can employ geologists to work on it.
Since we already have cashew plantations, we can also opt for mango plantation and nilgiri plantation. This will encourage employment,” he suggested.
Fatorda MLA Damu Naik alleged that even as PWD had submitted its performance budget, it lacked vision.
He however appreciated that construction of 78.35 kilometres sewerage pipeline was completed in his constituency but at the same time it was not connected to households.
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar yersterday urged the government to take steps to tackle soil erosion in the coastal areas of his constituency.
Speaking during the discussion on Demands for Grants for water resources, Parsekar revealed that places like Harmal and Morjim were facing soil erosion for two to four years.
Speaking on forest conservation, Parsekar said, there were many species/ reptiles in the forests of Mandrem, which are safeguarded by locals.
The MLA suggested that the government could employ one or two local boys to guard the forests either on contract basis or by paying them incentives.
Similarly, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar requested the government to set up a ‘special snake zoo’ as it could be a source of revenue.
“There are plenty snake catching teams and individuals.
With this, large numbers of different species of snakes could be stocked.
If they are kept in a ‘snake zoo’, then it can act as a good source of revenue to the state,” Patnekar suggested.
The two suggestions according to respective MLAs would help generate employment for enthusiasts among locals.
Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot suggested that the government go in for Mango and Nilgiri plantations. “The government can employ geologists to work on it.
Since we already have cashew plantations, we can also opt for mango plantation and nilgiri plantation. This will encourage employment,” he suggested.
Fatorda MLA Damu Naik alleged that even as PWD had submitted its performance budget, it lacked vision.
He however appreciated that construction of 78.35 kilometres sewerage pipeline was completed in his constituency but at the same time it was not connected to households.
‘Sex-bomb’ explodes, rattles House
In what can be termed as blockbuster of the season, the suspense behind the ‘romantic thriller’ in a starred hotel was shattered by a bomb hoax call during IFFI 2008 fiesta. Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar reveals the sequence. Read on:
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar created a flutter in the Legislative Assembly when he made a startling disclosure that a bomb hoax call at a starred hotel a few months ago was actually meant to nab a VIP associated with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) virtually with his pants down.
Participating during the debate on Demands for Grants, Parrikar said, during the time of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the VIP from ESG had gone to the hotel along with a film actress. But to his misfortune, he was spotted by some officials, who made an anonymous call to the police that a bomb had been planted in the hotel, which incidentally was the official host, Parrikar said.
To this, Speaker Pratapsing Rane who could not hide his amusement said, that somebody spread rumours that the bomb hoax call to the police was made from his mobile. Rane also admitted that he was indeed dining at the same hotel when the incident that Parrikar was narrating happened.
Parrikar said the bomb disposal squad, which rushed to the spot later evacuated the VIP and the actress from the room.
This only shows that in order to expose the VIP, somebody made a hoax call to the police, with the intention of vacating the particular room, he said.
Meanwhile, claiming that the allegations were of serious nature and will give a bad name not only to the hotel but to the government and the film festival, some members of the ESG governing body yesterday demanded an inquiry into the misuse of IFFI hotel by a VIP associated with the ESG.
They demanded that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who is also the ESG chairman should find out the so called VIP from the police records and initiate stern action against him.
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar created a flutter in the Legislative Assembly when he made a startling disclosure that a bomb hoax call at a starred hotel a few months ago was actually meant to nab a VIP associated with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) virtually with his pants down.
Participating during the debate on Demands for Grants, Parrikar said, during the time of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the VIP from ESG had gone to the hotel along with a film actress. But to his misfortune, he was spotted by some officials, who made an anonymous call to the police that a bomb had been planted in the hotel, which incidentally was the official host, Parrikar said.
To this, Speaker Pratapsing Rane who could not hide his amusement said, that somebody spread rumours that the bomb hoax call to the police was made from his mobile. Rane also admitted that he was indeed dining at the same hotel when the incident that Parrikar was narrating happened.
Parrikar said the bomb disposal squad, which rushed to the spot later evacuated the VIP and the actress from the room.
This only shows that in order to expose the VIP, somebody made a hoax call to the police, with the intention of vacating the particular room, he said.
Meanwhile, claiming that the allegations were of serious nature and will give a bad name not only to the hotel but to the government and the film festival, some members of the ESG governing body yesterday demanded an inquiry into the misuse of IFFI hotel by a VIP associated with the ESG.
They demanded that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who is also the ESG chairman should find out the so called VIP from the police records and initiate stern action against him.
Come 2012, and Goa will be in full flow
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: PWD Minister Churchill Alemao yesterday told Goa Assembly that with the additional augmentation of 205 MLD water treatment plants across the state, the total treatment plant capacity would be 599 MLD by the year 2012 as against the requirement of 593 MLD by 2025 as per the master plan.
He also mentioned that in order to have equitable distribution, the government would enforce volumetric tariff, with less tariff for optimum consumption and increased tariff for increased consumption and different tariff for waster consumption.
Churchill, who was replying during discussion on PWD, said that the government was seized with the issue of providing adequate water supply to the people of Bardez, Mormugao and Salcete talukas. He said that in order to augment the existing capacity of treatment plants, the government had taken up the augmentation of additional 10 MLD treatment plants at Dabose, Canacona and Mhaisal, additional 25 MLD at Ganjem, 50 MLD at Assonora and 100 MLD at Salalulim.
He said that it has been found that some of the consumers were wasting water and having excessive consumption as a result the tail enders and the people at higher elevation were facing water shortage as against the areas nearby
treatment plant and the low lying areas were drawing more and more water, thereby hinting that imposing volumetric tariff. He also stressed on awareness campaign for judicious use of water and effective zoning and water auditing to control the unaccounted flow of water.
He said that the alignment for four/six lane highway was at the final stage and added that about 188 houses would be affected. He also informed members that the government had requested the NHAI to consider the land width of 45 metres instead of 60 metres so as to reduce the number of houses that will be damaged. The proposed alignment will be finalised shortly, he said.
The PWD Minister further said that the Ministry of Surface Road Transport and Highways (MoSRTH) had informed the state that four/six laning of the NH-17 is being taken up under the national Highway Developemnt Programme-Phase III and as such the construction of new Zuari bridge will be taken up by the NHAI shortly.
He said that the present Zuari bridge had been strengthened by spending over Rs 8.03 crore and that periodical inspection was also being carried out regularly.
He said that the sewerage system would also be provided to Mapusa and North Goa coastal belt under externally funded JICA project.
He said that it had been observed that even after providing sewerage facilities, the public in general were reluctant to get their households connected to the public sewerage network because the are required to incur the initial cost and pay the sewerage charges. Due to this the operation of Margao and Vasco sewerage systems was under capacity and it had lead to number of operational problems including proper functioning of the sewerage treatment plants.
PANJIM: PWD Minister Churchill Alemao yesterday told Goa Assembly that with the additional augmentation of 205 MLD water treatment plants across the state, the total treatment plant capacity would be 599 MLD by the year 2012 as against the requirement of 593 MLD by 2025 as per the master plan.
He also mentioned that in order to have equitable distribution, the government would enforce volumetric tariff, with less tariff for optimum consumption and increased tariff for increased consumption and different tariff for waster consumption.
Churchill, who was replying during discussion on PWD, said that the government was seized with the issue of providing adequate water supply to the people of Bardez, Mormugao and Salcete talukas. He said that in order to augment the existing capacity of treatment plants, the government had taken up the augmentation of additional 10 MLD treatment plants at Dabose, Canacona and Mhaisal, additional 25 MLD at Ganjem, 50 MLD at Assonora and 100 MLD at Salalulim.
He said that it has been found that some of the consumers were wasting water and having excessive consumption as a result the tail enders and the people at higher elevation were facing water shortage as against the areas nearby
treatment plant and the low lying areas were drawing more and more water, thereby hinting that imposing volumetric tariff. He also stressed on awareness campaign for judicious use of water and effective zoning and water auditing to control the unaccounted flow of water.
He said that the alignment for four/six lane highway was at the final stage and added that about 188 houses would be affected. He also informed members that the government had requested the NHAI to consider the land width of 45 metres instead of 60 metres so as to reduce the number of houses that will be damaged. The proposed alignment will be finalised shortly, he said.
The PWD Minister further said that the Ministry of Surface Road Transport and Highways (MoSRTH) had informed the state that four/six laning of the NH-17 is being taken up under the national Highway Developemnt Programme-Phase III and as such the construction of new Zuari bridge will be taken up by the NHAI shortly.
He said that the present Zuari bridge had been strengthened by spending over Rs 8.03 crore and that periodical inspection was also being carried out regularly.
He said that the sewerage system would also be provided to Mapusa and North Goa coastal belt under externally funded JICA project.
He said that it had been observed that even after providing sewerage facilities, the public in general were reluctant to get their households connected to the public sewerage network because the are required to incur the initial cost and pay the sewerage charges. Due to this the operation of Margao and Vasco sewerage systems was under capacity and it had lead to number of operational problems including proper functioning of the sewerage treatment plants.
What bugs Coastal Security? Budget!
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: All the talk of enhancing coastal security after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack is just that -- talk.
Although funds are approved, construction of new buildings for three Coastal police stations is yet to be completed, the performance budget of the Goa police department for 2009-10, revealed.
The Union home ministry had approved three police stations under the coastal security plan for which Rs 74.10-lakh was sanctioned. The entire amount is to be spent by 2009-10 and Rs 37.05 lakhs was released as first installment.
In the case of the new building for a coastal police station at Siolim, the PWD revised the original estimate of Rs 26.41 lakhs to Rs 51. 46 lakh. This has brought the project to a standstill, as the government now has to re-sanction the budget.
“As on date, 70% works are completed. Construction of a jetty, the design of which has been approved and estimates under preparation, is also proposed at Siolim,” the report said.
Meanwhile at Betul, the report cites the hurdles posed by the Coastal Regulation Zone rules as the reason for the delay. However, this building is exempt from the CRZ rules as recommended by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and GCZMA conveyed its No Objection to take up the project. PWD has already floated tenders, which will be opened on July 3.
While the renovation of the old structure for the Harbour coastal police station was approved, it has been delayed because the site is on hilly area for which another inspection was conducted. Following a joint inspection, the renovation was again given a go-ahead.
Meanwhile, realizing the need to upgrade and modernize the force, Goa police spent Rs 94.76-lakh for purchase of weapons and equipment in 2008-09. MHA had approved the plan size for Goa Police to the tune of Rs 2.67 crore, with 75% and 25% share for the central and state governments respectively.
Meanwhile, the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) submitted that total foreigners residing on long-term visa were 3,644, which included foreigners possessing visas like entry visa, student visa, employment visa, business visa, besides PIO card holders.
Showcasing its achievement in the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC), the performance report mentions that during 2008-09 ANC booked 16 drug cases with 100% detection.
Eleven Indians and nine foreigners were arrested and drugs worth approximately Rs 86.05 lakh were seized.
The police force also boasted of a 65 per-cent crime detection rate in 2008-09, with 2,712 cases booked and 1,788 of them detected.
PANJIM: All the talk of enhancing coastal security after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack is just that -- talk.
Although funds are approved, construction of new buildings for three Coastal police stations is yet to be completed, the performance budget of the Goa police department for 2009-10, revealed.
The Union home ministry had approved three police stations under the coastal security plan for which Rs 74.10-lakh was sanctioned. The entire amount is to be spent by 2009-10 and Rs 37.05 lakhs was released as first installment.
In the case of the new building for a coastal police station at Siolim, the PWD revised the original estimate of Rs 26.41 lakhs to Rs 51. 46 lakh. This has brought the project to a standstill, as the government now has to re-sanction the budget.
“As on date, 70% works are completed. Construction of a jetty, the design of which has been approved and estimates under preparation, is also proposed at Siolim,” the report said.
Meanwhile at Betul, the report cites the hurdles posed by the Coastal Regulation Zone rules as the reason for the delay. However, this building is exempt from the CRZ rules as recommended by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and GCZMA conveyed its No Objection to take up the project. PWD has already floated tenders, which will be opened on July 3.
While the renovation of the old structure for the Harbour coastal police station was approved, it has been delayed because the site is on hilly area for which another inspection was conducted. Following a joint inspection, the renovation was again given a go-ahead.
Meanwhile, realizing the need to upgrade and modernize the force, Goa police spent Rs 94.76-lakh for purchase of weapons and equipment in 2008-09. MHA had approved the plan size for Goa Police to the tune of Rs 2.67 crore, with 75% and 25% share for the central and state governments respectively.
Meanwhile, the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) submitted that total foreigners residing on long-term visa were 3,644, which included foreigners possessing visas like entry visa, student visa, employment visa, business visa, besides PIO card holders.
Showcasing its achievement in the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC), the performance report mentions that during 2008-09 ANC booked 16 drug cases with 100% detection.
Eleven Indians and nine foreigners were arrested and drugs worth approximately Rs 86.05 lakh were seized.
The police force also boasted of a 65 per-cent crime detection rate in 2008-09, with 2,712 cases booked and 1,788 of them detected.
Furtado for judicial probe into CCP mess
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: CCP Corporator, Surendra Furtado yesterday demanded a judicial inquiry headed by an acting or retired High Court judge, to go into the entire functioning of the civic body, and not just the ‘ghost workers’ scandal.
Furtado also rejected the government’s move for an inquiry into the ‘ghost workers’ scam by CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues, saying such an inquiry will not be able to call for files and examine witnesses.
“It needs to be headed by a retired/acting High Court judge,” Furtado said, adding that he has written to Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, listing the demand and raising concern over the CCP’s spend on ‘daily wage workers’ to the tune of Rs 5-crore.
Probe by Sanjit unacceptable
“Yesterday Urban Development Minister, Joaquim
Alemao mentioned that Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues would investigate into it. He can’t do miracles and thus a judicial commission should be appointed. Only a sitting High Court judge can call for files, documents and ask the public to give their testimonies,” Furtado told GT.
He also criticised Alemao for staying a mute spectator while CCP was being looted.
“For the past four years, I’ve been shouting hoarse on the scams happening in CCP,” Furtado said, adding that if the government is serious, it should appoint the judicial inquiry.
He demanded that the Mayor and the ruling corporators should resign.
Furtado also accused the ruling body of fudging figures in the budget presented on Wednesday saying that the real deficit figure is not Rs 12.78-crore as projected, but should be at least Rs 18-crore.
“Every month Rs 30 lakh was withdrawn from CCP’s account for garbage. Where’s the money from hoteliers for waste disposal going? Also the house tax includes money collected from households for waste collection,” he said, of the many irregularities happening in CCP.
“It is total mismanagement. They (corporators) have not left any area from where they aren’t looting. For the past four years they have given contracts to relatives for collection of taxes,” he said.
Ghost workers
Furtado claimed that as many as 350 non-existent workers were being paid ‘daily wages’ by the CCP in what has now come to be called the ‘ghost workers’ scam.
“There are some 10 unknown workers in Taleigao area. No one knows where they are. But, they are being paid salaries,” he said.
Revoking VI Pay
Furtado also opined that revoking the decision to pay VI Pay Commission scales to the staff was unfair.
“The staff were already paid VI Pay Commission scales for the past six months. They must have taken loans and now it would be hard for them to repay. Why should the staff suffer because of corporators?” questioned Furtado.
Solutions
Furtado said, taxing several shops and flats people have bought as ‘investments’ at the normal rates instead of allowing concessional rates could be one avenue to mop up resources for the cash-starved Corporation.
“CCP can raise crores of rupees in taxes on the EDC complex at Patto alone. Also, the fees for hoardings should be increased and the entire Panjim should be made a pay parking area,” he said.
He said exhibitions in the city should be banned.
“The inspectors do not charge properly and pocket the money. Also, these exhibitions create unnecessary garbage.”
PANJIM: CCP Corporator, Surendra Furtado yesterday demanded a judicial inquiry headed by an acting or retired High Court judge, to go into the entire functioning of the civic body, and not just the ‘ghost workers’ scandal.
Furtado also rejected the government’s move for an inquiry into the ‘ghost workers’ scam by CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues, saying such an inquiry will not be able to call for files and examine witnesses.
“It needs to be headed by a retired/acting High Court judge,” Furtado said, adding that he has written to Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, listing the demand and raising concern over the CCP’s spend on ‘daily wage workers’ to the tune of Rs 5-crore.
Probe by Sanjit unacceptable
“Yesterday Urban Development Minister, Joaquim
Alemao mentioned that Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues would investigate into it. He can’t do miracles and thus a judicial commission should be appointed. Only a sitting High Court judge can call for files, documents and ask the public to give their testimonies,” Furtado told GT.
He also criticised Alemao for staying a mute spectator while CCP was being looted.
“For the past four years, I’ve been shouting hoarse on the scams happening in CCP,” Furtado said, adding that if the government is serious, it should appoint the judicial inquiry.
He demanded that the Mayor and the ruling corporators should resign.
Furtado also accused the ruling body of fudging figures in the budget presented on Wednesday saying that the real deficit figure is not Rs 12.78-crore as projected, but should be at least Rs 18-crore.
“Every month Rs 30 lakh was withdrawn from CCP’s account for garbage. Where’s the money from hoteliers for waste disposal going? Also the house tax includes money collected from households for waste collection,” he said, of the many irregularities happening in CCP.
“It is total mismanagement. They (corporators) have not left any area from where they aren’t looting. For the past four years they have given contracts to relatives for collection of taxes,” he said.
Ghost workers
Furtado claimed that as many as 350 non-existent workers were being paid ‘daily wages’ by the CCP in what has now come to be called the ‘ghost workers’ scam.
“There are some 10 unknown workers in Taleigao area. No one knows where they are. But, they are being paid salaries,” he said.
Revoking VI Pay
Furtado also opined that revoking the decision to pay VI Pay Commission scales to the staff was unfair.
“The staff were already paid VI Pay Commission scales for the past six months. They must have taken loans and now it would be hard for them to repay. Why should the staff suffer because of corporators?” questioned Furtado.
Solutions
Furtado said, taxing several shops and flats people have bought as ‘investments’ at the normal rates instead of allowing concessional rates could be one avenue to mop up resources for the cash-starved Corporation.
“CCP can raise crores of rupees in taxes on the EDC complex at Patto alone. Also, the fees for hoardings should be increased and the entire Panjim should be made a pay parking area,” he said.
He said exhibitions in the city should be banned.
“The inspectors do not charge properly and pocket the money. Also, these exhibitions create unnecessary garbage.”
Pre-Primary schools to come under government scanner
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: To curb the rapid proliferation of pre-primary schools in the state, the government has decided on compulsory registration of such schools.
In the days to come, norms and the curriculum for these pre-primary schools will be framed by the end of this year.
While the scheduled time limit for setting these norms is fixed for September 2009, the curriculum is expected to be ready in December 2009.
To start with, the Education Minister Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate said he will insist on registration of all existing pre-primary schools.
The procedure is expected to commence in a month's time and Monserrate said schools will be informed about this stipulation through advertisements.
It appears that the time limit set by the Education Minister, subsequent to the issue of advertisement, will be of a month's duration.
He informed the House about this policy in response to a Starred Question raised by Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza in the House yesterday.
While D'Souza wanted to know how norms could be framed after registration, he insisted on the pre-requisite of having the norms in place prior to the registration of such pre-primary schools.
Quoting from the written reply, D'Souza claimed the components of the 'Scheme for Regulating and Promoting Pre-Primary schools' to be as under:
Registration of pre-primary schools in the state, production of a uniform curriculum for the pre-primary stage and orientation programme for pre-primary teachers in the curriculum.
"Norms, curriculum, orientation must be decided in the initial stages. Otherwise, these pre-primary schools will have the scope to do what they want.
Stop registration procedure until these stipulations are in put in place," demanded D'Souza.
Through a supplementary, Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar wanted to know whether registration of such pre-primary schools would tantamount to their recognition by the government.
"Will the Department of Education consider their recognition?" questioned Parsekar.
The debate was called off abruptly as the Question Hour came to an end.
PANJIM: To curb the rapid proliferation of pre-primary schools in the state, the government has decided on compulsory registration of such schools.
In the days to come, norms and the curriculum for these pre-primary schools will be framed by the end of this year.
While the scheduled time limit for setting these norms is fixed for September 2009, the curriculum is expected to be ready in December 2009.
To start with, the Education Minister Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate said he will insist on registration of all existing pre-primary schools.
The procedure is expected to commence in a month's time and Monserrate said schools will be informed about this stipulation through advertisements.
It appears that the time limit set by the Education Minister, subsequent to the issue of advertisement, will be of a month's duration.
He informed the House about this policy in response to a Starred Question raised by Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza in the House yesterday.
While D'Souza wanted to know how norms could be framed after registration, he insisted on the pre-requisite of having the norms in place prior to the registration of such pre-primary schools.
Quoting from the written reply, D'Souza claimed the components of the 'Scheme for Regulating and Promoting Pre-Primary schools' to be as under:
Registration of pre-primary schools in the state, production of a uniform curriculum for the pre-primary stage and orientation programme for pre-primary teachers in the curriculum.
"Norms, curriculum, orientation must be decided in the initial stages. Otherwise, these pre-primary schools will have the scope to do what they want.
Stop registration procedure until these stipulations are in put in place," demanded D'Souza.
Through a supplementary, Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar wanted to know whether registration of such pre-primary schools would tantamount to their recognition by the government.
"Will the Department of Education consider their recognition?" questioned Parsekar.
The debate was called off abruptly as the Question Hour came to an end.
CM to examine cases of rain affected farmers
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: At their wits end due to the devastation caused to their crop on account of the unseasonal rains in the year 2008, the plight of farmers caused the opposition to turn their ire at the Agricultural Minister Vishwajeet Rane. The core issue involved the pathetic financial condition of 7580 affected farmers spread over 35 constituencies in the state, an amount of about Rs 9 crores to ameliorate their sufferings and the delay in sanctioning the same.
While a reluctant Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, after prodding from Speaker Pratap Singh Rane, agreed to examine the issue -- the opposition BJP benches, Priol MGP MLA Pandurang Dhavlikar and Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar -- wanted the ruling dispensation to assure the House of disbursal of the amount at the earliest -- preferably before Ganesh Chaturthi. The amount could be downsized in case of any logistical problems and subsequently disbursed to the affected farmers, averred Mandrem BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar.
The Agriculture Minister's argument lay centred on the absence of any mechanism or fund to handle such a contingency even as he felt that such cases have to be forwarded to the Revenue Department.
Compounding matters further for the farmers, Rane informed that the required amount was not available with either the Agriculture Department or the Revenue Department. However, he assured to take up this issue with the Chief Minister and agreed to downsizing the amount if necessary to enable its disbursal to the affected farmers.
In the course of the debate, the opposition put forth many suggestions. While downsizing of the amount was Parsekar's brainchild, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar felt the need for withdrawing money from the Consolidated Fund since proceeds from the Central Calamity Fund get automatically transferred to it if the same amount lies unused.
Speaking on behalf of farmers inhabiting the worst affected Quepem constituency, Kavlekar pegged the figure of such farmers in his constituency at 1181 and the related amount at Rs 2. 82 crore.
Dhavlikar also expressed his antipathy towards the non-disbursal of the due amount to farmers in his Priol constituency despite the fact that the Zonal Agricultural Officers (ZAOs) were prompt in visiting the affected fields and filing the relevant reports of destruction.
In conclusion, a livid Parsekar was on his feet as he wanted the assurance of disbursal of this amount and not examining the case any further as much time has elapsed over this matter. The Mandrem MLA appealed for Speaker's intervention on this issue. However, despite prodding from the Speaker, the Chief Minister stuck to his stand of examining the matter and was not categorical in assuring the House of disbursal of the amount.
PANJIM: At their wits end due to the devastation caused to their crop on account of the unseasonal rains in the year 2008, the plight of farmers caused the opposition to turn their ire at the Agricultural Minister Vishwajeet Rane. The core issue involved the pathetic financial condition of 7580 affected farmers spread over 35 constituencies in the state, an amount of about Rs 9 crores to ameliorate their sufferings and the delay in sanctioning the same.
While a reluctant Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, after prodding from Speaker Pratap Singh Rane, agreed to examine the issue -- the opposition BJP benches, Priol MGP MLA Pandurang Dhavlikar and Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar -- wanted the ruling dispensation to assure the House of disbursal of the amount at the earliest -- preferably before Ganesh Chaturthi. The amount could be downsized in case of any logistical problems and subsequently disbursed to the affected farmers, averred Mandrem BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar.
The Agriculture Minister's argument lay centred on the absence of any mechanism or fund to handle such a contingency even as he felt that such cases have to be forwarded to the Revenue Department.
Compounding matters further for the farmers, Rane informed that the required amount was not available with either the Agriculture Department or the Revenue Department. However, he assured to take up this issue with the Chief Minister and agreed to downsizing the amount if necessary to enable its disbursal to the affected farmers.
In the course of the debate, the opposition put forth many suggestions. While downsizing of the amount was Parsekar's brainchild, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar felt the need for withdrawing money from the Consolidated Fund since proceeds from the Central Calamity Fund get automatically transferred to it if the same amount lies unused.
Speaking on behalf of farmers inhabiting the worst affected Quepem constituency, Kavlekar pegged the figure of such farmers in his constituency at 1181 and the related amount at Rs 2. 82 crore.
Dhavlikar also expressed his antipathy towards the non-disbursal of the due amount to farmers in his Priol constituency despite the fact that the Zonal Agricultural Officers (ZAOs) were prompt in visiting the affected fields and filing the relevant reports of destruction.
In conclusion, a livid Parsekar was on his feet as he wanted the assurance of disbursal of this amount and not examining the case any further as much time has elapsed over this matter. The Mandrem MLA appealed for Speaker's intervention on this issue. However, despite prodding from the Speaker, the Chief Minister stuck to his stand of examining the matter and was not categorical in assuring the House of disbursal of the amount.
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