Panaji, November 16, 2018 ….Along with school education artistic education plays major role in students overall development, participating  students must take keen interest in this festival to gain good knowledge in their respective fields. This was stated by the renowned Goan fine artists and Theater personality  Shri Eknath Mahale.

Shri Mahale was speaking as one of the resource person during  the inaugural function of Balotsav-2018(Children festival) organized by the Directorate of Art and Culture in joint collaboration with West  Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur on November 12, 2018 at Harmal Panchkroshi High School, Harmal, Pernem, Goa. On this occasion the Chief Coordinator of the Balotsav 2018 Smt. Kranti Chari and other resource persons Shri Anand Narvekar, Smt. Sampada Pednekar, Smt. Soniya Rodrigues Sabarwal, Smt. Nevitte Fernandes and Shri Shivanand Dabholkar were present on the occasion.

            More than 200 children’s from Pernem taluka and  surrounding area have participated in this  Balotsav. The festival  will be open from  November 12 to 16, 2018 for five days. The resource persons are Shri Eknath Mahale and Shri Manohar Ugavekar for Theatre, Shri Anand Narvekar and Ms. Deepshree Narvekar for Paper Craft, Smt. Sampada  Pednekar and Ms. Saeesha Pednekar for Clay Art, Smt. Nevitte Fernandes and Ms. Anna D’ Souza for Flower Making, Smt. Soniya Rodrigues Sabarwal and Abhyuday Sabarwal for Puppet Making, Shri Shivannad  Dhabolkar and Tukaram Govenkar for National Integration Songs.

            Addressing the gathering, Smt. Kranti Chari expressed the idea behind the organization of Balotsava and also mentioned that this is the 16^th year of Balotsav (Children Festival).

Panaji: – November 15, 2018 …Minister for P.W.D. and Transport, Shri Sudhin Dhavalikar inaugurated 65^th Co-operative week commencing from November 14, to November 20, 2018 organised by Department of Cooperation at Sahakar Bhavan, Curti Ponda today .The theme for this year is focused on “Inclusive growth and good governance through cooperatives for rural prosperity”

Panaji, November 15, 2018 …. “Yoga is becoming a binding force in the world today,” said the Governor, Dr. (Smt) Mridula Sinha while speaking at the concluding function of the Two-days International Yoga conference which was held in Panaji recently.

The theme of the Conference was “Yoga for Public Health” and was organized by Ministry of AYUSH Government of India.

The Governor said the practice of yoga helps to overcome health problems and ailments. Dr Sinha however, cautioned about the prevalence of fancy ideas of yoga which differed from the original concepts of Yoga. “Yoga is a way of life, living, thinking and doing,” she said. The Governor said that original, classical yoga needs to be promoted.

The Union Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of AYUSH, Shri Shripad Naik said that the response for the Conference was encouraging, “Yoga is the ancient culture and spiritual heritage of India,” he said. He added, “The approach of Yoga is holistic.” The Minister said that the benefits of Yoga go beyond geographical boundaries. He said that it is important to spread Yoga all over India. Shri. Naik added that the challenge today is to harmonize the process of globalization with ancient Indian science and spirituality.

Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri P.K. Pathak were among those present on the occasion.

Panaji, November 15, 2018 …. The State Task Force Committee for Vector Borne Diseases held a meeting chaired by Secretary (Health), Shri J. Ashok Kumar, recently which was attended by various stake holders.

Some of the matters discussed included prevention of vector borne diseases in Goa. Shri Kumar stressed on the importance of inter sectoral coordination in the prevention and control of Vector Borne Diseases. Panchayats and Municipalities and Government Departments were directed to mark the copy of the NOC for any construction license issued by them to the peripheral health centers.
It was informed at the meet that an amendment making it mandatory migrant labourers working at different establishments to have health cards is pending with the Law Department. Presently, health cards are mandatory for workers at the construction sites only.
It was also suggested to carry out source reduction and Vector Control activities at the Village Panchayat level. It was decided to have various innovative, Information, Education, and Communication activities for the purpose of creating awareness. Bulk SMSs , along with the details of the reporting authority and contact, to be sent at periodic intervals during May to October, to the public requesting them to report any suspected cases of Vector Borne disease was one of the several suggestions discussed.
Educating and generating awareness among the school children was found to be helpful in source reduction of vector borne diseases and it was decided to accordingly design Information, Education, and Communication material especially for school children. It was also decided to carry out awareness drives in schools during the period of May to October and it was suggested to take on board NGOs, Self-Help Groups, NSS, NCC, Youth Clubs at local level for the purpose.

Panaji: November 14, 2018 … Secretary Education, Smt Nila Mohanan, IAS, launched a FLL (FIRST Lego League) kickoff event in Goa on November 3, 2018  at ‘Nalanda Hall’ of EDC, Panaji, was organized by Team Elev8 comprising of students from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai.

LEGO GOA, a local LEGO club from Goa, which is the local organizer of the event briefed  that that FIRST Lego League is an international competition that challenges elementary and middle school students to think like scientists and engineers, and design LEGO robots to complete tasks.

Student members of Team Elev8 made presentations about the FLL competition. Shri Ashwin Shah, Coach of International repute and Co-founder and  Director of  Robo Fun Lab Pvt. Ltd. conducted the half day event which comprised of robot design and Robot mission competition.

94 students as part of 19 teams from various schools of Goa participated in the event.

Smt Nila Mohanan, IAS,  Secretary Education,  presided over the Prize Distribution programme and congratulated the organizers for organizing such a unique event for the students of Goa. She expressed her support for such events in the future.

Prize winners of the events as follows from category of  Robot Design are Competition areRosary School, Cujira received 1^st Place,   Manovikas School, Margao  awarded 2 ^nd Place, while  Brainstormers, Panaji, awarded 3^rd place and  in category of Robot Game competition, Hegdewar School, Panaji awarded 1^st Place,  Alpha Challengers, Panaji, awarded 2^nd place and  Vidya Vikas school, Margao got the 3^rd place.

Shri Amey Karmali, General Manager of CIBA, Goa the local partner for the event expressed support for STEM based education in Goa.

Panaji, November 14, 2018 … Union Minister of State for AYUSH Independent Charge (IC), Shri Shripad Naik laid foundation stone of All India Institute Ayurveda Yoga and Naturopathy (AIIAY&N) in the distinguish presence of  Rajya Sabha MP, Shri Vinay Tendulkar, Minister for Health Shri Vishwajit Rane,Minister for Tourism Shri Manohar Azgaonkar,Chief Secretary, Shri Dharmendra Sharma, Shri Secretary,Ministry of Ayush Shri Rajesh Kotecha , at Dhargal yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shripad Naik expressed his happiness and said that for last 2 years the project was in pipeline. This institute will be at par with AIIMS Ayurveda and will have a research centre, 100 bed hospital and will offer post-graduation and Phd Courses .Shri Naik also informed that  Rs 300 crores will be spent in the first phase.

Shri Naik further stated that Good health is a matter of great concern, to maintain it, healthy living and a disciplined life is a must and Ayush aims to promote healthy living. Due to change in our life style, human are likely to suffer from various diseases he added. Shri Naik also informed that under AYUSH mission, 50 bedded hospital will be also set up in Margao and Sankhalim soon.Shri Naik also said that 80 per cent of the jobs in the institute will be reserved for locals of Pernem Taluka and Goans.

Shri Vinay Tendulkar, Rajya Sabha MP appreciated  Shri Shripad Naik for his efforts in setting up the institute and said with institute coming up here,Pernem taluka will be more progressed and developed.

Expressing his happiness Shri Azgaonkar said, this is the historic day specially for the people from Pernem taluka as it is happening in Pernem .This project will help to generate employment and the first preference will be given to people of Pernem taluka he added.Shri Azgaonkar further said that development is taking place at every nook and corner of the state.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Rane credited Ayush Minister for setting up of this project and said this project will help in attracting medical tourism in Goa. Shri Rane further said that Ayurvedic and Homeopathy is used as alternative treatment all over the world as many tourist across the world travel to various places in India like Kerala, Bangalore to get ayurvedic treatment.

Shri Dayanand Sopte, Chairman of Goa Tourism and Development Corporation also spoke on the occasion.

Shri Sanjay Dalvi, Director, Directorate of Health Services,  Shri PN Ranjit Kumar Joint Secretary,  Ministry of AYUSH,  Dr Shivan and  Bandekar,  Medical Superintendent (MS) Goa Medical College, Smt Suvidha Teli ,Chairperson,  Pernem Municipal Council, Councillors ZP Members, Panch, Sarpanch of Pernem Taluka were also present on the occasion.

Dr Dayanand Rao compered the function while Prof. Tanuja Nesari ,Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda(AIIA),New Delhi  proposed the vote of thanks .

Panaji: November 13, 2018 … The Public Undertakings Committee of the Goa Legislative Assembly is at present examining the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. In this regards, the Committee has decided to visit the Verna Industrial Estate and the Cuncolim Industrial Estate on November 14, 2018. The Committee will visit the Verna Industrial Estate between 10.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m and thereafter proceed to Cuncolim Industrial Estate between 3.00 p.m to 6.00 p.m

 The Public is hereby requested to submit their grievances, if any, to the office of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation, Verna by the November 13, 2018.

Panaji: November 13, 2018 … The Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST) is implementing a School Eco Club Program namely National Green Corps (NGC) sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi where in each school gets Rs. 5000/- per year to undertake environmental related activities/program through their School Eco club.

As on date, 430 School /Academic institution have registered with the GSCST. Academic institutions such as Middle School, Secondary School, Higher Secondary Schools, Colleges, technical institutes who have not yet registered under NGC program and desired to join, can mail on ms-gscst.goa@nic.in or call Shri Pravin T Parab, 9403176850 on or before November 15, 2018 for further details.

Panaji, November 12, 2018 … The Media Fraternity in Goa will observe the National Press Day on November 16. The theme of National Press Day for this year is “Journalistic Ethics and Challenges in Digital Era”.

The day has been observed every year to coincide with the foundation day of the Press Council of India.

Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar will inaugurate the National Press Day celebrations at a function to be held at Institute Menezes Braganza, Conference Hall, Panaji  on November 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Shri Sudhir Mahajan (IAS) Secretary, Information and Publicity will be the guest of honour . The Department of Information and Publicity in collaboration with the Goa Editors’ Guild, the Goa Union of Journalists, Photo Journalists Association Goa, Electronic Media Journalists Association, Sports Journalists Association, and South Goa Journalists Association will organise the event.

Shri Dinkar Raikar, Group Editor of Lokmat, Mumbai will be the Key note speaker who will speak on the theme “Journalistic Ethics and Challenges in Digital Era”. Senior Journalists, Shri Jovito Lopes, Shri Somnath Raikar and Smt. Nayana Adarkar will be felicitated on the occasion for their substantial contribution in the field of Journalism at the hands of Chief Minister.

On the occasion, Journalists Awards will be presented to the winners organised by the Department of Information and Publicity to mark the National Press Day celebration.

The 16th of November – is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. This was the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only did the press maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors.

Panaji: – November 12, 2018 .. Union Minister of State for AYUSH Independent Charge (IC), Shri Shripad Naik inaugurated two days  International Yoga conference with the theme “Yoga for Public Health” organized by Ministry of AYUSH Government of India at Kala Academy Panaji today.

 Founder of The Art of Living International, Bengaluru, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Chancellor of SVYASA University, Bengaluru, Dr. H.R. Nagendra, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri P.K. Pathak and Advisor (Ayurveda) Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Dr. Dinesh Katoch were present on the occasion.

 AYUSH Minister said that this is the 4^th International Yoga Conference and Yoga is becoming popular World-wide. Day by days it has reached almost every part of the globe. Yoga has multi-faceted benefits in terms of   physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of a person. It creates long term impact benefited to the people he added. He further urged people to inculcate habit of practicing yoga in their everyday life.

 While speaking on the occasion, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that yogi’s life everyday is like a festival since they light the lamp of light in their heart every day. He further said today yoga has become a widely accepted norm in the world.  Many institutions are interested in making research of yoga world over.  

 Chancellor of SVYASA University, Bengaluru, Dr. H.R. Nagendra, also spoken on the occasion.

 Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha welcomed the gathering, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri P.K. Pathak proposed the vote of thanks and Dr Dayanand Rao compered the function.