Margao:  September 09, 2017 …. The South District Collectorate will hold an assessment camp to provide physical aids and assisted living devices to senior citizens of BPL priority house hold ration card category under ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ in all the seven talukas of the South Goa District from September 18 to 25, 2017.

The assessment camps will be held from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. talukawise schedule of which is – CH.C., Canacona on September 18, 2017; P.H.C, Sanguem on September 19, 2017; P.H.C. Quepem on September 20, 2017; ESI Hospital, Margao on September 21, 2017; S.D.H., Ponda on September 22, 2017; Cottage Hospital, Mormugao on September 23, 2017 and at P.H.C. Dharbondora on September 25, 2017.

The scheme will be executed in two phases – Assessment camps and distribution camp.  The distribution camp will be held later at the district headquarters wherein the physical aids and living devises would be provided by the implementing agency, i.e Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India(ALIMCO).

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a Central government scheme meant to provide physical aids and assistive living devices to senior citizens with BPL/Disability/disorder so as to provide senior citizens into active life age friendly society.  The main aim is to address the different types of disability like loss of vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and locomotors disability.

Aids like walking sticks, crutches, wheel chairs, artificial dentures, spectacles etc would be provided to the senior citizens of BPL/Disability/Disorder category under the scheme financed by the Central Government through Senior Citizens Welfare Fund.

The beneficiary has to be 60 years or above and should carry Aadhar Card or any other proof of ID and BPL proof –Ration card/DSSS beneficiary.  The beneficiary should also bring certificate/prescription/recommendation from Medical Officer after assessment.

The South District Collector, Smt. Anjali Sehrawat being the Chairperson of the District Level Committee has appealed to all the concerned departments to actively participate and cooperate to identify eligible beneficiaries under the scheme.

 Panaji, September 8, 2017 …  Sowing as well as transplanting of Kharif Paddy  crop has been completed. The crop stand is quite healthy and no  outbreak of pests/diseases have been reported or observed  during  the pest surveillance  inspection. 328 MT of High Yielding Varieties  of paddy seed has been sold to farmers at 50% subsidy provided at source through three authorized farmers, Co-operative Societies besides, departmental sub-offices during kharif season 2017.

Subsidy was provided to 134 farmers to the tune of Rs. 53.21 lakhs towards  the cost of the work of Solar Battery Fencing and Stone Wall/Barbed/GI Wire fencing etc. Subsidy  was provided to 106 farmers  towards installation of Pumpset with accessories and Sprinkler/Drip system to the tune of Rs. 28.82 lakhs. 50% subsidy  was provided to 4042 farmers towards hire charges of power tiller and tractor to the tune of Rs. 24.67 lakhs. 36 number of different types of agricultural machineries and equipments have been provided to the farmers incurring an expenditure of Rs. 15.40 lakhs towards subsidy. 47 number of cases have been  settled towards compensation against losses suffered due to vagaries of nature to the tune of Rs. 4.68 lakhs.

Assured price was given to 1378 farmers for Paddy, 138 farmers for Sugarcane, 302 farmers for Coconut and 82 farmers for Oil Palm providing a subsidy of Rs. 237.64 lakhs.  Promotion of System of Rice Intensification-Demonstration were conducted in area of 28.41 ha and Revitalization of Khajan Paddy cultivation in the area of 120 ha benefiting 83 farmers  and 175 farmers respectively during kharif  season 2017. 6 numbers of wells have been  constructed for irrigation purpose with an expenditure of Rs. 5.46 lakhs towards subsidy. An area of 95.07 ha has been  covered  under pest management  by biological  means with an expenditure of 1.18 lakhs towards subsidy.  184 numbers  of krishi cards has been issued to the farmers. 22.75 MT of vegetables is procured from local farmers. 37.00 Kgs Mushroom spawn were produced and 21.00 Kgs were sold in the Mushroom Laboratory, Ela Old Goa. 8900 units of Bracon Adults were produced in the State Bio-Control Laboratory (BCL), at Ela Old Goa and 5,000 units were released in the field for control of leaf eating caterpillar in Coconut. 610 numbers soil samples were tested in Soil Testing Laboratory, Ela Old Goa and Margao and 465 numbers of  Soil Health cards are issued.

Panaji, September 8, 2017 …  Department of Science and Technology celebrates National Science Day, (NSD) every year on February, 28 to commemorate the discovery of ‘Raman Effect’ by the great Indian Scientist and Noble laureate Sir. C.V.Raman and to popularize Science and Technology and to strengthen scientific temper among the masses.

The Department has therefore  invited proposals for grant-in-aid support, from Science and Technology based NGOs and Academic Institution for organizing number of activities like debates, quizzes, exhibitions, lectures, radio and TV talk show involving school, college and general masses.

From this year onwards, December 22 will be observed as National Mathematics Day (NMD) in the state. In this regards,  the proposals are invited from interested schools, Science and Technology based NGOs for organizing Mathematics related quiz and lectures.

The last date for submitting proposal to Member Secretary, Goa State Council for Science and Technology, Saligao, Bardez 403511 is September 20, 2017. 

Panaji, September 8, 2017 …  The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has appealed to the untrained Elementary Teachers including Head of School, teaching in Government Aided, Unaided and Special Schools to complete Diploma in Elementary Education (D. El. Ed) Course through Open Distance Learning mode at National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in order to be qualified to teach at the elementary level.

The Ministry has launched SWAYAM portal for online course through the NIOS. The teacher can access free instructions through online portal on www.nios.ac.in or http://dled.nios.ac.in. Minimum qualification for undergoing this programme is 50% marks in XII, with relaxation upto 45% in case of ST/SC/OBC/Physically Challenged candidates.

Any teacher who does not have this minimum qualification will not be allowed to continue in the service beyond April 01, 2019 and procedure for dismissal shall be initiated against such teachers. The unqualified in-service teacher in Government/Government Aided/Unaided/Special Schools who fail to enroll on or before September 15, 2017 are liable to face removal/dismissal procedure against them. 

Primary Teachers who have done Certificate course in Primary Education (CPE) or one year diploma course or any other course of less than two years duration are deemed to be untrained for this purpose and are required to undergo this course.

Assistant teachers/graduate teachers who have done B.Ed. course need not undergo this training programme for the purpose of teaching at elementary level i.e up to Class VIII.

Completion of above Diploma Elementary Education (D. El. Ed) will not confer upon teachers a right to claim for regularization.