January 29, 2016 … The Governor of Goa, Dr. (Smt.) Mridula Sinha who is a nominee of Prime Minister for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, of which sanitation is an important component, on seeing a news item and photograph in one of the english daily dated 27.01.2016, about contamination of  drinking water at  Caranzalem, near Raj Bhavan, immediately asked for the factual position from the concerned authorities.

Accordingly, Principal Chief Engineer, PWD Shri D. J. S. Borkar along with his Executive Engineer, met the Secretary to the Governor, Smt. Shilpa Shinde, and informed the position. According to Shri Borkar, when the problem came to notice on Saturday, 23^rd January, 2016, his Department plunged into action and disconnected the supply line, and provided  water to the residents in the area through tankers.

He informed that the old pipe line will not be used and instead, drinking water will be supplied to the residents through another existing new parallel line. According to him, the supply through the new line will be started within four days.

Panaji : January 29, 2016 …. Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar recently distributed cheques of Rs. 7.49 crores to Goa University and 8 other colleges as grants under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) at a function held at Education Bhavan, Porvorim.

 Secretary (Education) Shri  Virendra Kumar also graced the occasion.

 The infrastructure grants were distributed to Goa University Rs. 4.16 crores and Rs. 41.66 lakhs each to St. Xaviers Colleges of Arts, Science amd Commerce Mapusa, Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim, Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Panaji, Goa College of Engineering, Ponda, Dnyanprasarak Mandal College of Arts, Mapusa, Bardez, S.S. Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Panaji, S.V. Sridora Caculo College of Commerce and Management, Mapusa and Cuncolim Education Society’s  College of Arts and Commerce, Cuncolim.

  The funds released today will be utilized for undertaking programmes for higher education such as Infrastructure, Research Innovation and Quality Improvement Equity Initiative, Faculty Recruitment Support, Vocationalisation, leadership Development of Educational Administrators, Capacity Building, Data Collection, Management Information System and Monitoring and Evaluation.

 RUSA has been launched by Government of India in 2012-13. The Goa Government has given its commitments to RUSA requirements in 2014. Subsequently, the institutions were requested to make their institutional Plans. The Directorate of Higher Education made State Plan and submitted to Government of India, who based on the plan sanctioned 20 crores to Goa University and Rs. 2 crores each to 8 Colleges in the first instance.

The Government College Quepem has been identified as Model Degree College with a grant of 4 crores which would be released on production of Detail Project Report. The first installment of these grants totaling to 4.5 crores was released to State Government. The Government of Goa has released its share of  1.33 crores to add up to Central Share.

The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar speaking on the occasion said with the benefit of RUSA, the higher educational institutions will be in position to initiate improvement and reforms, in their institutions. Although the educational institutions in Goa are sufficient considering the population ratio, the funds released under RUSA will bring in much needed advancement and improvement.

  The Chief Minister further said that the Project Approval Board of  RUSA has already approved 10 more Colleges for RUSA grants. The Central Share is yet to be received. The same is expected to be received before the close of the current fiscal year and once the Central Share is received, the State Share will be released to these ten institutions, he said.

 The Chief Minister said that Goa is the only State in the country, where more than 90% of the institutions are covered for the grants and Goa is the first State  to have been covered for grants to grant-in-aid colleges. In other states, only Government institutions are covered for grants, he said.

 Secretary (Education) Shri Virendra Kumar speaking on the occasion said the higher educational institutions in Goa will be in position, to impart quality education from these grants and commended their efforts on receiving the grants.

 Shri Bhaskar Nayak, Director, Higher Education welcomed.

Shri Srinivas Dhempo, member of Goa State Higher Education Council and management of Goa University and Colleges were present on the occasion.

Panaji January 27, 2016 ;;; The Governor of Goa Dr. Smt. Mridula Sinha has said that Indian democracy is the largest democracy in the word. It is growing matured day by day and youth in particular have very vital role to play in making our democracy more strong  and vibrant,. As a citizen of this great democratic Country we have to seriously strive to stop all the malpractices to safeguard democracy.

Dr. Smt. Sinha was speaking as Chief Guest at the Natioal Voters Day 2016 function organized by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer at Institute Menezes Braganza in the city recently.

The theme of the function was Inclusive and Qualitative Electoral Participation.

Dr. Sinha further said as a citizen we are the  stakeholders of democracy and that it is in our hand to  arrest  all those practices which spoil the name of democracy. This she said will need   larger awareness among  the  citizens through  the medium like street plays and others  She appreciated the students who  presented street plays .

The Chief Secretary Shri R.K. Srivastava in his address said people who are  empowered by our constitution  can conduct free and fair elections. This he said needs strong will among the people.  Anti election activities by our citizens malign the election process and image of our democracy.  Therefore he appealed to do away with such bad practices.

The State Elction Commissioner Dr. M. Modassir while speaking impressed upon the fact  that people in rural areas  show their large participation in election in comparison with  urban people  which he said is a matter of concern. Unless we fully participate in election no body has right to claim their objections. Therefore   he called for larger participation of  the people in election process.

Student of Government College Quepem and Government College Pernem presented street play depicting the message to the people regarding  how free and fair elections can be conducted by stopping mal practices of use of money, muscle power ,liquor, provocation of caste, religion etc.

The distribution of awards in various categories like BLOs, AEROs, EROs, Collector SEVP and Documentation and others  was also done  at the hands of the dignitaries. Prizes to the winner of Quiz Competition, Poster Painting Competition in which Goa University,  Government College Sankhalim  and St. Xaviers College respectively  were given to the winning students on the occasion.

Dr. Sachin Shinde, Collector South, Shri Kalidas Ghatwal, North Goa District Conveyor Nehru Yuva Kendra, Dr. Bhaskar Nayak, Director Hugher Education,   Shri Roland Martins, Goa CAN, Shri Ladu Parwar Goan Folk Artist,   Staff of the office of The Chief Electoral Officer and  large number of  College  students  attended the function.

The Governor Dr. Smt. Sinha  released statistical  report of General Election 2014. While CEO Shri Narayan Navti read the message of the Election Commissioner of India.  The  new  voters who registered their names as a voters  were also elicited at the hands of Governor by  issuing them their  epic cards.  Shri Gaurish J. Sankhawalkar SDM Tiswadi administered Voters Pledge and CEO Shri Navti presented mementoes to dignitaries.   

Shri Swapnil Naik Addl. Collector North welcomed the guests.

Dr. Dayanand Rao compered the function while Shri Arvind Bugde ,  Addl. Collector North Goa   proposed the vote of thanks.

26/01/2015 … a new political party name goa-forward was launched on monday with prabhakar timble as its president

the details of the party goa-forward are as follows

The name of the new regional political alternative:

GOA FORWARD.

STATUS OF REGISTRATION:

The application is submitted to Election Commission of India and we expect the registration by April.

The membership process has started and the organizational wings— Constituency Council, District Council, State Council and State Political Affairs Committee will be formed shortly.

The State Executive will consist of 30 members, of which 10 to be women and 5 students. At present, 11 are chosen by the Founder Members. The vacancies would be filled shortly.

Political movement & Election Management

As a political movement we will sensitize all Goans to the threats to the DNA of Goa—a mosaic of liberalism, pluralism, multilingualism, openness and bountiful nature is under threat. Goemkarponn is reflected in the optimal mix of leisure & work, accepting & non-interfering community.

Brand Goa is under attack. The bad state of finances. The U-turns, no issue gets closed. Trust deficit in government: Authoritative working—-  Investment Promotion Board, Sumul, Defence Expo, Coconut tree removed from protection. Unhealthy lobbies are controlling the government.

We will also put our programme and agenda to youth and people.

As Goa’s political party our priorities are two:

(1) we are committed to Goa’s inclusive development retaining “Goemkarponn” AND

(2) all our efforts would be to oust the BJP from power. We are prepared to make sacrifices and work together with other political parties and independent politicians even though there may be some issues on which we are not on same platform.

Divisive issues which are raked up to vitiate the social atmosphere for political gains & Vote bank politics. We believe in peaceful co-existence and resolution of these issues in the true democratic spirit of dialogue and consensus. We will not widen rift through on the spur reactions. Coming together and settling differences needs patience.

VISION: DEVELOPMENT WITH HAPPINESS (inclusive development, transparency, citizen empowerment)

MISSION: GOA DECIDES, EMPOWERED GOA (You are the High Command)

OBJECTIVE:a)  Sustainable development b) Human Development c) Employment & Business opportunities d) Preserve Brand Goa: liberalism, pluralism, harmony, diversity, openness, multilingualism.

USP:  Goa decides, High Command in Goa; Key party office-bearers not in public elections; Fresh faces in party & assembly; POSITIVE POLITICS: Development, Employment, Clean administration and Goemkarponn

OPPORTUNITIES:

The vaccum in Goa; Goa thinking regional, failures of national parties, young volunteer brigade, opportunity to build the GF movement. Move away from traditional politics of caste, religion and money.

THREATS:

Personal targeting, threat of vote split, no experienced politicians in the party, power grabbers, poaching, engineering resignations, ridicule calling party as bunch of jokers.

We are aware of these threats and it is only our political movement that will answer these threats.

LET THE THOUGHT SPREAD, LET THE DIALOGUE START

This will commence throughout Goa, in all 40 constituencies from tomorrow. We will review the progress at regular intervals.

Plan for a Youth brigade (fauz) to train 2000 volunteers is in place. We will train the core group who will move to the field for training the rest.

Field action:  Epi-centre at Amdai, Sanguem to rest of Goa. Announcement will be made shortly.

GF will support all activists, groups, NGOs who Think Goa actively join them in their protests.

January 26, 2016 … The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar has extended cordial greetings and best wishes to the people of Goa on this joyous occasion of 67^thRepublic Day.

In his message, the Chief Minster said, Republic Day signifies the true spirit of Independent India when the Constitution of India came into force. This festive day of joy and enthusiasm symbolizes our national ethos and mutual unity. It is our moral duty not only recall the devoted endeavours of our enlightening leaders, but also imbibe their spiritual strength and mental discipline to build a nation on strong secular foundation which would protect the freedom and dignity of every member of our heterogeneous society.

Shri  Parsekar paid tributes to the state and central Armed  Forces and Police Forces for their  devotion to duty and paid homage to our courageous national leaders who laid down their lives to carry out a prolonged struggle for liberating our country from the colonial rule.

The Chief Minister once again extend his warm wishes to the people of Goa on this auspicious day.

Panaji: Jan.25,2016 …. The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar has said that the Goan cashew feni is a special and unique in nature is needed to be preserved as heritage drink. Therefore he appealed to the stakeholders of feni to come out with clear and articulated vision for further development of feni.

Shri Parsekar was speaking as Chief Guest at Stakeholders meet for the Development of Feni  organized by Department of Excise in collaboration with The Goa Cashew feni Distillers and Bottlers Association and All Goa Toddy Tappers Association at Taleigao  Tiswadi taluka recently.

 Shri Parsekar further said that the Government has acquired GI status for feni in the year 2009 no further work has been done for the development of feni. He said feni is not a mere liquor but it has medicinal values and therefore cashew and coconut tree are part of our culture. He also said this meeting will prove as a mile stone to establish authenticity and uniqueness of feni for which proper roadmap needs to be prepared with co-efforts of Stakeholders of feni and the Government he reiterated.

Smt. Shatbhi Basu,writer and Mixologist in her keynote  address called for the joint efforts to ownership of feni and  said that feni can be projected as spirit of Goa. most of the countries in the world have established their ownership over the liquor produced in their by them.  The same can be done in Goa  with the cooperation of the stakeholders.

Ex-MLA Shri Gaspar Afonso, Member Toddy Tappers Association, Shri Michael D’Souza ,Addl. Secretary Finance also spoke on the occasion.

Shri Benjamin Silva MLA Velli,  Shri Narahari Haldankar, and  traditional feni distillers, staff of excise were among those who attended the function.

Shri Menino Desouza Commissioner Department of Excise welcomed the guests.

The function was compered by Shri Pradip Naik while Shri Mc Vaz  President of the Goa Cashew Feni Distillers Association proposed the vote of thanks.

Earlier, Shri Parsekar also inaugurated ‘Sankalp Sohala’ organized by Goa Marathi Academy in the presence of Dr. Praksh Vazarikar, Director of Official Language, Dr. Ashok Kamat, Shri Anil Samant, President  Marathi Academy Shri Shashank Thakur MS  Goa Marathi Academy and others.