April 16, 2016 … The National Fire Service Day was recently observed at the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, Fire Force Headquarters, St. Inez, Panaji .

Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant  Parsekar was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Chief Secretary, Shri. R. K. Srivastava, IAS was the Guest of Honour. MLA and Chairman of EDC Shri Siddharth Kunkolenkar was also present.

The Chief Minister reviewed the parade presented to mark the occasion.

The day was observed by paying  homage to Firemen Martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the course of duty, followed by a Fire Prevention Week from 14th to 20th April’ 2016  to raise the public Fire Safety Awareness. Wreaths were placed on the Firemen Martyrs’ Column by all Chief Minister Shri Parsekar, Chief Secretary Shri R. K. Srivastava and ranks of the Fire Service Personnel. 

The theme for the year 2016 is “Prevent Fire Accident-Promote Nations Development”.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that  the National Fire service day reminds us of the brave fire fighting personnel, who have always risked their lives in saving the lives of people falling victims not only to fire related accidents but other disasters.

Referring to the Kollam temple fire tragedy, the Chief Minister said that there is need for us to raise our level of awareness towards accidents and thereby inculcating a sense of alertness so as to curb and avoid fire accidents such as these.  The theme of this years  Fire prevention week, Prevent Fire Accident-Promote Nation’s Development” will be a step towards achieving this objective.

The Chief Minster lauded the  intensive campaigning  on “Safer School Safer India” programme which he said will help enhancing the awareness level of Primary School Children and through them the families on Safety Culture.

The Chief Minister paid his respects to all firemen martyrs who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

         As a part of raising the Fire Safety Awareness in the Primary Schools in the State of Goa the “Safer School Safer India” Programme was unveiled at the hands of Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar last year. This is a joint initiative of the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, Directorate of Education (State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)) and Underwriter Laboratories (India).  The concept of Safer School Safer India envisages an intention to built a Safer India, to safe guard children and teach them how to stay safe.

Commendation Certificates to the Fire Personnel and Prizes to the participant of Poster Competition were awarded at the hands of Chief Minister of Goa on the occasion. 

A Live Demonstration of Fire Fighting, Urban Search and Rescue, Medical First Responders, Life Rescue from 32 meters Aerial Ladder Platform, Display of Newly Commissioned Emergency Rescue Tender and Display of Mallakhamb Exercises were organized for the public on the occasion. An exhibition of fire fighting and disaster emergency equipment were displayed for the public.   

Addl.  Secretary (Home) Shri Sanjiv Gadkar and former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Richard D’Souza  also attended the function.

Earlier Director of Fire and Emergency Services Shri Ashok Menon , welcomed while Deputy Director Shri Nitin Raikar proposed  a vote of thanks. Shri Shripad Gawas compered the function.

April 14, 2016 …. The Goa Traffic Police cell will take up drive from April 15 onwards to book traffic offenders concentrating largely on driving without licence, Minor driving, driving without helmet, driving under influence of alcohol, using mobile phone while driving.

In Minor driving action would be initiated against the registered owners of vehicles found to be used by minors.

This has been done with a vied to reduce traffic accidents and to ensure road safety so that accidents are reduced and precious lives are saved.

The Traffic police will focus on quality prosecutions. The drive will continue till the end of the month.

 Panjim, April 13: Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar recently  inaugurated the five day Goa Food and Cultural Festival 2016 amidst much festivity, entertainment and extravaganza at the D. B. Bandodkar Ground, Campal, Panjim.

On the inaugural day, thousands of tourists and Goans converged at the venue to partake in the sizzling food and culinary event and enjoyed foot tapping musical entertainment  by Goan performers and live concert by Indian Ocean.

The five day Goa Food and Cultural Festival is Goa’s biggest food and cultural event organized by Goa Tourism and Goa Tourism Development Corporation.

The Goa Food and Cultural Festival is the State’s largest canvas for food and culture and attract thousands of domestic and international tourists. This year the five day event promises to be sizzling and exciting with a line-up of around 80 stalls serving a blend of cuisines and beverages of Goa, India and international flavours and is expected to be attended by  over  two lakh visitors. Renowned Indian bands will perform live during the five day festival and Goan artists will showcase the best of Goan music and folklore.

Live food demos with new 3D cooking techniques, live feni distillation, cooking competitions and scintillating cocktails, fun and games with loads of prizes are some of the major highlights this year.  A mammoth full LED stage will add attraction to the festival décor and the sound and lights will be powered by India’s renowned Sound Engineer, Roger Drego.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mr Parsekar said, “The Goa Food and Cultural Festival is getting better every passing year with greater participation from the stakeholders and tourists. Such events will help boost tourism in Goa and promote Goan cuisine and culture in a big way.”

The Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Dilip Parulekar said, “The Goa Food and Cultural Festival brings tourists to Goa in large numbers. It is a meeting point for foodies and tourists who want to experience Goan culture and savour a variety of cuisine. The Tourism Department and Goa Tourism Development Corporation have made this festival a global event during the last four years since its revival.”

Mr. Parsekar viewed all the stalls which also included handicrafts, Goan delicacies and more.

He was accompanied along with  Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Francis D’Souza, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Dilip Parulekar, Hon’ble  MLA and Chairman  of  GTDC, Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Hon’ble MLA of Panjim , Mr. Sidharth Kuncalienkar,  Chief Secretary, Mr. R. K. Srivastava,  CCP Mayor, Mr. Surendra  Furtado, Director of Tourism, Mr. Sanjeev C. Gauns  Dessai and  Managing Director of  GTDC, Mr. Nikhil Desai

Panaji: April 12, 2016 …  The Department  Civil Supplies has informed that the ration card holders & the beneficiaries in the state  will be  allotted ration  quota for  the month of May, 2016 under NFSA (AAY and PHH) , Tide Over(APL), Annapurna (ANP)& Welfare Institution w.e.f  April 1, 2016 as under.

          The  Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) card holder will get  29.70 kg Rice  @ Rs.3.00, and wheat 05.30 kg @ Rs.2.00, While the  Priority Householders (NFSA) 4.25 kgs. Rice (Per Beneficiary) @ Rs.3.00 and 750gms of wheat (Per Beneficiary) @  Rs.2.00, For Tide Over (APL) 10.00 kgs. Rice (Per  card) @ Rs.11.60 and   02.00 kgs.wheat (Per  card) @ Rs.9.10, Whereas the  Annapurna (ANP) cardholder will get 10.00 kgs  Rice (Per  card) Free of Cost, Under  welfare Institution Scheme, Rice &Wheat As allotted will be  @ Rs.6.15, Priority Household, AAY & ANP will be allotted  500 gms of  Sugar (per Beneficiary) @ Rs.13.50.

All the Fair Price Shops owners are informed that the quota lifting should start with immediate effect and they should lift at least 50% of their released quota on or before April 12, 2016 and balance quota shall be lifted on or before                                April 22, 2016 strictly and no extension would be granted for lifting. The ration cardholders are free to take their entitlements for May, 2016 along with the quota for the month of  April, 2016 from their respective Fair Price Shops as specified above w.e.f. April 1, 2016 onwards.

The Fair Price Shops are required to display the details of stocks as well as sample quality of grains for consumer’s information and all cardholders/consumers are requested to give their complaints, if any to the respective Jt. Mamlatdar-I /      

Jt.Mamlatdar-III of Bardez taluka or Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs,Junta House, Panaji

Help Line No.1967, 18002330022 and Talukawise Contact No. as under:-

Pernem 2201700, Salcete 2725099, Bardez 2266720, Mormugao 2500550, Tiswadi 2220225, Quepem 2662500, Ponda 2319341, Canacona 2644425, Bicholim 2360500, Sanguem 2604090, Sattari 2374900, Dharbandora 2614021.

Panaji: April 11 2016 …. The Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Goa will be organizing seven days Summer Festival for School children at Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji- Goa in the first week of May i.e. from May 2 to 8, 2016 from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. for the school children in the age group of 8 to 16 years from Goa. This particular festival is organized in the summer vacation for the benefit of the students to learn various activities during their vacation period without hampering their studies.

The school children will be trained by the experts from Goa in the art forms such as Clay modeling, Origami, Craft and Cooking. In each workshop maximum 50 participants will be accommodated.

The interested participants are requested to collect the application forms from the Department of Art and Culture, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji- Goa from April, 11 to 22, 2016 and submit the filled form back to the department by April 25, 2016 during office hours i.e. from  9.30 a.m. to 5.45 p.m.

Panaji: April 10, 2016 …. The District Collector (South), Shri Sachin Shinde asserting the need to arrest rampant illegality in the trade of tobacco urged the concerned enforcement authorities to take the task very seriously by conducting regular drives in their respective areas.  

          Dr Sachin Shinde, IAS made this observation while chairing the District Level Coordination Committee on Tobacco Control meeting to access the preparedness on “world no tobacco day” scheduled on May 31 at Matanhy Saldhana Administration Complex, Margao, recently.

          Dr Shinde urged the Tourism Department to issue strict instructions to Shack owners on the sale of illicit tobacco products. He said there is need for Police Department and Enforcement Squads to conduct drives on the sale of illicit Tobacco goods and to book violations, if any.

          Mr Shinde also urged the Mamlatdars and other Members of the South District Committee to submit the plan of action/inputs for “World No Tobacco day” based on budgetary requirement at the earliest. The Collector proposed to carry out awareness campaign by conducting rallies, competitions, talk, street play, etc.

 The Tourism Department has planned to organize sand sculpture competition for two age groups, i.e 15 to 20 years and for people above 21 years at Colva. The competition would be held at Colva being an ideal place. The tentative date being fixed is May 29, 2016. 

Dr. Shinde also sought the involvement of the NSS coordinators of Higher Secondary School to galvanise the tobacco control awareness through various activities such as camps, awareness drive and others.

 The Convenor, GOACAN also informed that they too intend to hold flash mobs/dances by college students on May 31^st at Vasco and Margao railway station to create awareness on the subject.

Panaji:  April 9, 2016 …. Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar has lauded the Yeoman services rendered by Tari Community in the field of Art and Culture through Tari Society. He said, the younger generation should strive to carry forward the splendid work done by the senior citizens belonging to Tari Community for posterity and also to preserve and enrich the rich cultural traditions of Goa.

The Chief Minister was recently speaking as the Chief Guest at the Centenary year Celebration of Tari Society at a function held at Valvoi in Ponda Taluka .

 The Chief Minister said commemorating 100 years of inception of any society is highly commendable and indeed a proud moment for the people of Volvoi. He said, the roots of our Culture are visible especially in rural areas which he mentioned needs to be preserved and promoted for the generations to come.

The Chief Minister further hoped that the Volvoi village which is known for its contribution in Cultural arena will create artist of international repute. The Chief Minister was of the opinion that villagers of Volvoi have significantly contributed in the field of Art and therefore it is necessary to acknowledge their contribution by honoring them.

 The  Chief Minister released the souvenir titled Kelambika, brought out by the Tari Society on the occasion.

Shri Jayant Tari Director of Information and Publicity, Shri Rajendra Naik Tari, Sarpanch of Volvoi and Shri Ramdas Volvoikar were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister, Union Minister of State for Ayush, Shri Shripad Naik, Minister for Factories and Boilers were honored by Shri Premanand Tari, President of Tari Society. All those who have contributed for the development of Tari Community were also felicitated on the occasion.

Earlier Shri Premanand Tari welcomed and Shri Vinayak Vengurlekar proposed the vote of thanks. Shri Govind Bhagat compared.