Margao:  August 13, 2018 … Additional Collector, South Goa District, Shri Agnelo Fernandes called for co-ordinated efforts from the community to supplement the activities of the health authorities to show results by ensuring that there are zero cases of malaria and dengue next monsoons.

Shri Fernandes chairing a meeting of the District Level Committee on Vector Borne Diseases consisting of medical/health and other authorities yesterday urged to invoke the various provisions of the Health Act including disconnection of electricity to send the clear message for regular offenders.  The health authorities need to initiate drastic measures to control the rise of vector borne diseases in the District which has seen a rise in the last few months, he remarked.

The Additional Collector echoing the demands of the medical practitioners for co-operation of the community, especially the local self-government bodies to assist and to create the requisite awareness to eradicate the vector borne diseases assured full support from the District Administration in their efforts.

The Dy. Director of Panchayat was also urged to issue directions to its officials and the Panchayats to extend all possible help to the PHC in their jurisdiction to arrest the rise of the disease.

Panaji: August 12, 2018 … Tributes will be paid to martyrs at the Martyr’s Memorial at Patradevi on August 15, 2018 at 11.30 a.m. Minister for Tourism, Shri Manohar Azgaonkar will lay the wreath at the spot where the freedom fighters were shot dead and then proceed to the Martyr’s Memorial for the function where the National tricolor will be hoisted.

Other dignitaries will also lay wreaths at the Martyr’s Memorial. Minister for Tourism, Shri Azgaonkar will speak on the occasion. Besides Freedom Fighters will also speak. The Bal Bhavan Choir group will sing patriotic songs.

Panaji, August 12, 2018  … With an objective to promote and preserve the age-old tradition of Matoli frames and Dekhawa presentation, the Directorate of Art and Culture has organized its annual State-level All Goa Matoli and Dekhawa competitions.

 The Matoli decoration competition will be for individual households. It will be conducted from 3^rd to 6^th day of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival i.e. from September 15 to September 18, 2018. 1^st prize of Rs.15, 000, 2^nd prize of Rs. 10,000/- and 3^rd prize of Rs.7, 500/- will be given along with five consolation prizes of Rs. 5,000/- each.

The Dekhawa presentation competition is organized only for Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandals. This will be conducted from 7^th to 10^th day of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival i.e. from September 19 to September 22, 2018. 1^st of prize Rs. 25,000, 2^nd prize of Rs. 20,000/- and 3^rd prize of Rs.15, 000/- along with five consolation prizes of Rs.7, 000/- each will be awarded.

However, in absence of a significant number of participants, the Department reserves the right to hold or to cancel the competition.

Interested household individuals and Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandals are requested to collect the application forms for participating from the office of the Directorate of Art & Culture, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji (Ph. 0832- 2404640), Ravindra Bhavan Curchorem, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, Ravindra Bhavan, Baina Vasco, Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali and Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda from August 13, 2018 and submit the duly filled forms on or before August 30, 2018. Late entries will not be entertained.      

Panaji: August  12, 2018 … The General Body Meeting of North Goa Zilla Panchayat was  recently held at the Secretariat  in Porvorim.  Smt.Ankita Navelkar, President North Goa ZP chaired the meeting.

In the meeting, minutes of last meeting were discussed and resolutions were passed to provide grass cutters and generators to Zilla Panchayats.

Shri Vasudev Korgaonkar, Vice-President, Shri Arun Bandkar, Shri Ramesh Sawal, Shri Dasharat  Redkar, Chief Executive Officer  were present along with other ZP members at the meeting.

Margao:  August 11, 2018 … Teachers should understand every child. Every child should get their chance to think by understanding his liking and persuing the same said, Chairman, Goa Public Service Commission and Goa State Innovation Council, Shri Jose Manuel Noronha. He was speaking as a key note speaker on Innovation after inaugurating Orientation Programme on Innovations and Start-ups for the Science teachers teaching from class 6^th to 10^th of South Goa organised by Goa State Innovation Council at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao recently.

Shri Noronha further urged not to discourage the child when they come with any question or difficulty, but instead encourage and motivate them to think, so that innovation will take birth he said. Technology helps one to save time, energy and money. He spoke about the Journey of Sir Richard Branson and his traits and explained the difference between a Scientist, Inventor & Innovator. While presenting the information on various innovative companies he spoke about Steve Jobs and his famous quotes on innovation.

The objective of the orientation programme is to train and guide the teachers on Innovation, Creativity and INSPIRE Awards – MANAK Scheme through a training session.

Others present on the occasion were District Collector, North, Shri Levinson Martins; Shri Raghuveer Vernekar, Chairman, GCCI; Fr Kinley D’Çruz, Director, Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda and Shri D S Prashant – Member, GSIC.

The other resource persons for the half day workshop attended by more than 300 teachers were Prof Raghuveer Vernekar, Chairman – GCCI Education Committee; Shri Nagraj Honnekeri, Director, SCERT; Shri Gajanan Nagarsekar – Founder, Kallows Engg Pvt ltd; Smt Suwarna Surlekar – Director, Codewell Computers; Smt Shalini Menezes – Founder – Sim Sim Law Consultants and Shri D S Prashant – Member, GSInC who guided the teachers on different subjects of motivating and tapping the talent of the child for innovation.

Shri Tushar Sawant compered while Shri Sudip Faldesai, Project Officer proposed the vote of thanks.

Panaji, August 11, 2018 … The meeting of the State NSS Advisory Committee Goa NSS Cell was held under the Chairmanship of Shri Ashok J. Kumar IAS, Secretary (Sports) to review activities OF the last year and the planning of the NSS activities for the current year on August 8, 2018 in the Conference Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim.

 Shri V. M. Prabhudesai, Director of Sports & Youth Affairs welcomed the Members and gave a Power Point presentation on the NSS activities and achievements for the year 2017-18.

While interacting with the members after taking review of various initiatives implemented Shri Ashok J. Kumar IAS, Secretary (Sports) emphasized that the State of Goa through NSS volunteers should target for the year 2018-19 Plastic free Goa and Open Defecation Free Goa by December 2018.   He suggested that institutions should declare themselves plastic free zones and take a pledge not to use plastic. They should adopt a village and continue the targeted work.

 Secretary (Sports) further said that by December 2018 Goa has to be Open Defecation Free for which the NSS volunteers have to create awareness in the adopted villages; the importance of Household toilets and the effects of open defecation; assistance for this can be taken from the Directorate of Panchayats.

Secretary (Sports) was apprehensive about the poor response of trained Programme Officers from HSS and Colleges. Dr. Abhay Shaligram , ETI, Ahmednegar suggested that for Colleges and HSS POs the  training at ETI may be integrated in their APAR by giving them 20 points for training under social activity  to which Secretary (Sports) agreed  to write to Education Department through Secretary Education  to implement the same which will increase the number of trained Programme Officers in the State : Registrar Goa University also agreed to consider the same for colleges .

Secretary(Sports) opined that the Department should identify Sports  facilities  where special camps can be held as it is seen that there is a very poor response for special camps  and more so as girls are reluctant to participate due to lack of proper facilities. Shri Ajay Shinde representative Govt. of India, NSS Regional Centre, Pune informed that in Maharashtra parents attend special camps as support to the girls who participate ; for which the State Sports Department  can explore the option through PTA of HSS. Shri Shinde informed that no NSS certificates are to be issued to the volunteers if they have not attended a special camp during their tenure as a NSS volunteer .

State NSS Advisory Committee  Goa NSS Cell members Professor, Y.D. Reddy, Registrar, Goa University, Shri Ajay Shinde representative Govt. of India , NSS Regional Center, Pune , Dr. Sharad Bhonsle ETI Ahmednegar , Dr, Abhay Shaligram , ETI, Ahmednegar, Dr. Elvis Gonsalves, President , Hr. Sec Schools Principal Forum, Tanmay Acharya , District Co-ordinator NYK, Sanjiv Shirodkar, NSS Co-ordiantor, Goa University, Shri Shanto G. Naik , Assistant Information Officer , Shri  Kalidas Ghatwal, NYK North amongst others attended the meeting.

Smt. Jennifer Ferrao e Gonsalves, Asst. Director, Physical Education North proposed the vote of thanks.

Panaji, August  11, 2018 … The Directorate of  Social Welfare to felicitate 14 outstanding Senior Citizens on the occasion of ‘International Day for Senior Citizen’ on October 1, 2018.

Interested Senior Citizen, above 70 years of age, may apply in the prescribed application form with their Bio-data along with the testimonials (in soft copy/CD) and one passport size photo copy to the Director, Directorate of Social Welfare, 18^th June Road, Panaji on or before August 31, 2018.  

For more information interested may contact the Director of Social Welfare or Assistant Director (Social Defence Branch) on telephone No.2232257, 2223784 and Email id socialwelfaregoa@rediffmail.com

One Senior Citizen from smaller taluka and two Senior Citizens from bigger  talukas will be selected for felicitation.