Panaji: June 11, 2016 … The Directorate of  Planning , Statistics and Evaluation, Government of Goa, is the Nodal Agency for conducting Agriculture Census in the State of Goa. The 10^th Agriculture Census 2015-16 will be commencing from July 2016 with the reference year 2015-16.

A pilot survey is being conducted from June 13, 2016 in two villages i.e Amona, Bicholim, Taluka, North Goa and Nuvem in Salcete Taluka, South Goa.

Enumerators appointed for the task will be visiting the operational holders in the aforesaid villages to gather related data. The general public is therefore requested to co-operate with the enumerators in dispensing the requisite information.

June 10, 2016 … Chief Minister,  Shri Laxmikant Parsekar said that Press is the fourth pillar of democracy and in this technological era press should be well conversant with new modern technology while collecting information.

Shri Parsekar was speaking after distributing laptop and Cameras to the Journalist under the Laptop and Camera Scheme of the Department of Information and Publicity. The function was organized by Department of Information and Publicity at Secretariat Porvorim today.

Speaking further Shri Parsekar said that the  Government is  working for the progress and welfare of every person in the state and Journalists are  one of among them. He said for the welfare of Journalist Government has decided to amend Patrakar Kridyanatha Nidhi in which the Journalist will get Rs 5 lakhs after sudden death or if any permanent disability.

Shri Parsekar announced that the Government will bear the installment amount of Pension Scheme from this year in which earlier Journalist has pay life time installment for the benefit of the scheme.

Shri Daulat Hawaldar, Secretary Information and Publicity was  also present on the occasion.

Director, Information and Publicity Shri Jayant Tari in his welcome address said that the Department will take utmost care of Journalist by implementing various schemes for the welfare of the Journalist.

Shri John Aguiar, Information Officer (Publicity), proposed vote of thanks.

 June 9, 2016 …. The Supreme Court has approved the Centre’s guidelines to protect Good Samaritans, who help road accident victims, from being unnecessarily harassed by police or any other authority. In an order passed in March this year, a bench comprising justices V Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra asked the Central government to give wide publicity to these guidelines so that people who help others in the time of distress are not victimized by any authority.

The bench also took on record the guidelines placed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways which were based on the recommendations of the three-member committee headed by former judge K S Radhakrishnan.

The committee, also comprising Former Secretary of Road Transport Ministry S Sundar and Nishi Mittal, ex-chief scientist, had given 12 major recommendations including setting up of State Road Safety Councils, evolving a protocol for identification of black spots, their removal and monitoring to see the effectiveness of the action taken.

The apex court-appointed committee had also suggested strengthening of enforcement relating to drunken driving, over-speeding, red light jumping and helmet or seat belt laws.

The Ministry had said in a statement that in the absence of any statutory backing, it was proving difficult to enforce these guidelines and therefore the government had approached the apex court to consider issuing these guidelines, through an order binding on all states and Union Territories, until the Union government enacts a law to this effect. The court had in 2014 appointed the three-member committee to monitor steps taken by the Centre and state governments to ensure road safety.

No criminal or civil liability will accrue to Samaritans, who cannot be detained at the hospital or asked to pay for the injured patient’s admission or treatment unless they are relatives, the bench of Justices V. Gopala Gowda and Arun Misra said.

A bystander who calls the police or emergency services, or a Samaritan who takes the victim to hospital, cannot be forced to reveal his name or other details. He can be questioned by police or examined during trial just once, with video-conferencing an option.

Highlights of the guidelines that the Supreme Court. A bystander/good Samaritan/eyewitness who takes a road accident victim to the nearest hospital should be allowed to leave immediately, without any question asked except about his address. • No hospital, private or public, can detain the Samaritan or demand payment for registration/admission unless he is a relative of the victim and the injured needs immediate treatment.• Every hospital must put up a charter in Hindi, English and the state’s vernacular language at its entrance saying it will not detain a Samaritan or ask him to deposit money.• Authorities must act against any hospital that fails to comply with these guidelines. • A doctor’s lack of response in a road accident-related emergency will constitute “professional misconduct”.

Police and the Law:• A Samaritan will not be subject to any civil or criminal liability. A bystander who calls to inform the police or emergency services about a road accident victim must not be forced to reveal his name or any other personal details on the phone or in person.• For the Samaritan, providing his name or contact details — even on the “medico-legal case form” provided by hospitals — should be optional.• Governments must take disciplinary/departmental action against officials who coerce or intimidate a Samaritan to reveal his name or other details.• If a Samaritan has voluntarily said he is an eyewitness to the accident and if he needs to be questioned for the purpose of investigation or during trial, he will be examined just once. The use of video-conferencing may prevent inconvenience and harassment.• States should develop standard operating procedures within 30 days to ensure that Samaritans are not harassed or intimidated.

 Panaji: June 8, 2016 … Nominations are invited by Directorate of Women & Child Development from suitable individuals for the award called “Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Awards 2015” for service to Children instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India to give recognition to three individuals who make outstanding contribution towards service for children in the fields of Child Development, Child Protection and Child Welfare.

  The award for three individuals consists of a cash prize of Rs. 1.00 lakh to each awardee; Silver plaque  and a  citation to each awardee will be awarded.

 The 3 individuals to be selected for the Awards should have worked for the cause of children for over 10 Years, Paid Officers of institutions will not be eligible for selection and The sole basis of the selection will be quality of work performed  by the individual for the cause of children and its significance for the cause will be considered is the selection criteria for awards.

 The last date to submit the application completed in all respect in soft (C.D., Pen Drive) and hard copy to the Directorate of Women & Child Development latest by June 30, 2016.

  For more details about this award and for application form please contact the Director, Directorate of Women & Child Development, Old Education Building, 2^nd Floor, 18^th June Road, Panaji or may visit on the website of the Ministry (www.wcd.nic.in) or of this Directorate (www.dwcd.gov.goa).

Panaji, June 7, 2016 …. Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar has suggested the EDC to hold start ups competition atleast twice in a year because he said there is lot of talent in Goa. With such competitions we can get new talents specially youth from IT field. We are also planning to put one such Start-ups in our own Industries Department campus in Panjim. The successful entrepreneurs would be provided facilities in one of this start- ups and Government.

 The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the office building of Information Technology Department, Info Tech Corporation of Goa, at the IT Hub premises, Altinho, Panaji, recemtly.

The building is designed as per Indian Green building norms and reregistered under GRIA. Energy efficient materials such as fly-ash bricks, double glazed unit for external façade, LED internal lights, solar powered street lights, low flow fixtures for reducing excess water, rainwater harvesting tank to reduce rainwater run –off in the surrounding etc. have been incorporated.

Speaking further Shri Parsekar said  that  the Government has brought in a Investment friendly investment policy for the State of Goa  and  based on IT Electronic City is being set up in  Tuem village of Pernem taluka and simultaneously an good IT park spreading area over 10 acres  would  be developed at Chimbel.   Though Goa is small, we work with sincerely and seriously without any ulterior motive for the development of the State.  In case of IT field also after putting in sincere efforts specially by the officers MD, Chairman and Director IT and others, we have gained a momentum in the IT revolution in the state, he added.

In his address Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar, MLA and Chairman EDC advised the members of the staff to put in dedicated efforts to render better services to the public and also to maintain the standard of green building  properly.

Shri Subhash Fal Dessai, MLA and Chairman of Infotech Corporation said that the State is blessed with adequate infrastructure connectivity and that efforts are being made to provide transparent and corruption free governance in the state.

The Chief Secretary Shri R. K. Srivastava, IAS said that Goa has made significant development in IT sector. In this context he said, IT Policy has been launched which envisages providing incentives and that people should derive benefits of the same.

Shri Ameya Abhyankar,IAS, Director of Information and Technology also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier Shri Nilesh Phaldesai, MD Goa Info-Tech Corporation Ltd. welcomed the guests.

Shri  Surendra Furtado, Mayor of Corporation City of Panaji, Shri Pundalik Raut Dessai, Corporator, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, Managing Director, GSIDC and others attended the function .

 Panaji: June 4, 2016 … Minister for State (IC) for Ayush Shri Shripad Naik laid the foundation stone for proposed construction of Crematorium under MPLAD scheme in survey no. 19/4 at Madapai, Marcel in V.P. Tivrem Orgao today.

 Minister for Factories and Boilers Shri Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavalikar, Shri Pandurang Madkaikar, MLA, Shri Francis Inacio Lobo, Sarpanch, V. P. Tivrem-Orgao and other members were present on the occasion.

 Estimated cost of the project is 33,73,302=00 and work will be completed in January 2017.

Panaji: June 3, 2016 …. Institute Menezes Braganza, Panaji has organized an All Goa inter school quiz and singing competition on the eve of Goa Revolution Day.

All Goa Inter School Quiz Competition will be held on June 17, 2016 at 9.00 am. for the students of Std  8^th to 10^th on the  theme “History of Goas Freedom Movement 1510 – 1961”.

Winners of the competition will be awarded cash prizes and certificate; Certificate of participation will be given to every participant. First round for the competition will be a written test. Four teams will be selected to participate in the final round and entry for the participation should reach to IMB on or before June 10, 2016.

Similarly a patriotic solo singing competition will be held on July 17, 2016 at 3.00 pm for the talented singers from Goa, The singers of age group 20 – 40 years of age will be allowed to participate in the competition.

The song has to be based only on Goan Patriotism in Hindi, Marathi or Konkani language in 5 – 6 minutes. Practice session will be held on July12, 2016 from 9.00 am to 1.00 p.m in the premises of IMB, Panaji Goa. Participants will have to compulsorily attend the practice session for the convenience of both singers and musicians. Musicians will be provided by IMB. Winners of the competition will be awarded cash prizes and certificate respectively and participation certificate will be given to every individual participant.

 Panaji: June 2, 2016 … Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has informed that the modified draft model rules under JJ Act 2015, as per relaxation given by Union Ministry has been released for stakeholders comments and suggestions. The JJ Act 2015 has come into force from January 15, 2016 repealing the JJ Act, 2000.

The draft model rules 2016 that repeal the model rules 200 are based on the philosophy that children need to be reformed and reintegrated into society. One of the key features of the JJ Act, 2015 is special treatment of children in the age group of 16- 18 years who commit heinous offences.

In this regard the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has organized a meeting of stakeholders on June 3, 2016 between 9.30 am to 3.30 pm at the conference hall of the Secretariat, Porvorim, and Goa to discuss the draft rules and to compile data / suggestions to submit to Ministry by June 9, 2016.

Panaji : June 1, 2016 … The Polytechnic Panaji will conduct the Community Development short term courses for 3 to 6 months in technical fields that generate employments for the community. The Scheme is sponsored by Ministry of Human Resource Development and the courses are offered free of cost and qualification is not required.

 The name of the courses are A/C and Refrigeration, Basic Stenography, Goan Handicrafts, Plumbing, Food Preservation, Electrical Repair and Safety Measures, Bakery and Confectionery, Site Supervisor, Motor Diesel Mechanic, Fashion Designing, Computer Application and Welding and Fabrication.

 Application forms are available in community office of Government Polytechnic Altinho-Panaji. Those who are interested should fill the application form by June 10, 2016.