Panaji : September 2, 2016 …… In order to effectively implement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the villages, the Governor of Goa Dr. (Smt.) Mridula Sinha, who is also the brand ambassador for this national programme has announced Rs. 50,000/- each to two cleanest villages, one in South Goa and another in North Goa, by September 2017.

The rewards will be presented to the concerned Village Panchayats on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, 2017, at Raj Bhavan. In this connection the Chief Secretary has been requested to send a communication to all the Village Panchayats so that they can rejuvenate their activities.

The Chief Secretary has also been requested to form two Committees, preferably under the Chairmanships of the two District Collectors to survey and recommend the names of two cleanest villages qualifying for the awards by September 15, 2017.

Earlier, the Governor had announced Rs. 1.00 lakh to the cleanest city among Panaji, Mapusa, Ponda, Margao and Vasco. The award will be presented to the concerned Municipal body on December 19, on  Goa Liberation Day at the At-Home Reception at Raj Bhavan.

Panaji: Sept. 1, 2016 …. Maintaining that the State Government is committed to provide better health facilities to the people of Goa, the Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant  Parsekar said and added that an amount of Rs. 4500 crores will be spent to construct Superspeciality hospitals in the State. The Government, he said has already initiated efforts to ensure that the benefit of health care facilities are availed by rural populace on par with urban population.

The Chief Minister was speaking after launching the unique Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), a scheme to provide universal Health cover through Insurance for the entire resident population of Goa in the distinguished presence of Dy. Chief Minister Shri Francis D’ Souza, MLA and Chairman EDC, Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar, Shri Sudhir Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Health, Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Dr. Sanjiv  Dalvi, Director Health Services, Dr. Pradeep Naik, Dean GMC at function held at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panaji, today.

The Chief Minister said DDSSY would cover entire resident population of the State, residing Goa for five years and more. He said benefits under this Scheme are provided on a cashless basis to the beneficiaries upto the limit of their annual coverage i.e. cover upto Rs. 2.5 lakhs per annum for a family of three or less members. Cover upto Rs. 4 lakhs for a family of four and more members. The Insurance benefits can be availed individually or collectively by members of the family besides these, facilities will be available at the doorsteps in rural areas with the nearest private hospital and people may not travel long distances. The Specialized services not available in Government hospital can be availed from private hospital wherever available in Goa or outside the State, he added.

The Chief Minister who presented consent letters to 19 private hospitals empanelled under scheme on the occasion for the welfare of the people of the State and said that this was the endeavour of Government and the launching of DDSSY is decisive step in this direction. Government, he said is spending 100 crores in health sector for providing health infrastructure so that the benefit are derived by the people of Goa. Efforts, he said will be made to see that Goa emerges as a medical hub in the Country.

Dy. Chief Minister Shri Francis D’ Souza in his address said DDSSY was launched on Goa Statehood Day  May 31, 2016  and the benefits of the scheme will be made available to the population of Goa from the September 1, 2016. He said if there are discrepancies in scheme will be modified to make it effectively operative.

The Dy. Chief Minister said the notion of the people is that the private hospitals are providing better treatment facilities as against the Government run hospitals. In this context he said this scheme will give scope for competition as the DDSSY scheme has been made operational by empanelling 19 private hospitals in the State.

The Dy. Chief Minister said the Government has deposited an amount of 14 crores with the Insurance Company for the implementation of the scheme.

Earlier Shri Sudhir Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Health welcomed. Dr. Vandana Dhume compere the function.

Panaji: Sept. 1, 2016 …. Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant  Parsekar has said that the role of the Physical Education teacher is very important as he strives to inculcate different social values like sense of sportsmanship, team spirit, unity, togetherness etc. He acts as a guide and mentor, of the students and to encourage and motivate children to be active in life, he added.

 Shri Parsekar was speaking after inaugurating state Seminar for Physical Education Teachers for Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools on “Role of Stakeholders for promotion of sports and games organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs in collaboration with all Goa Higher Secondary Schools Physical Education teachers Associations (PETA) at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panaji, today.

 Shri Parsekar said that Government has given more thrust for strengthening adequate infrastructure for schools in the state. He said, compared to other schools in the country the infrastructure provided to schools in Goa is far better. He said, the physical education teacher shoulders unique responsibilities in the school physical activity programms to ensure that students remain physically active.

Shri Siddharth Kuncokienkar, MLA and Chairman of EDC speaking on the occasion appealed to the teaching community to promote yoga in schools for the wellbeing of younger generation. He Shri Kuncokienkar referred to the proposed Panaji smart city and said initiatives will developing  jogging track, walking parks will be taken to the benefit the public..

Chief Minister felicitated to Shri Ankush Prabhu, Physical Education teacher of VVS Lad High School Physical Education teacher and Shri Vinod Dhamaskar, Physical Education teacher of R. M. Higher Secondary School, Margao by presenting mementos, shawl and sriphal on the occasion.

Shri V. M Prabhudesai, Director of Sports welcomed the guests. Shri S.A Haldankar Asst. Director proposed the vote of thanks.