Panaji: July 7, 2015 …. The PC-PNDT meeting discussed and reviewed various measures to make people aware of PC-PNDT Act to conduct random site inspections of registered Genetic Counseling Centres, Genetic Clinics and Genetic Laboratories including USG Clinics for effective implementation of PC-PNDT Act. New Genetic registrations, show cause notices issued to the clinics, Renewal intimation of USG machines purchased and Form F were also discussed to initiate  necessary action if  required .

 Senior Gynecologist Dr Mahendra Ghanekar who is the Vice Chairperson of the Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) presided over the 1^st meeting of the newly appointed Advisory Committee of PC-PNDT in absence of Shri Swapnil M. Naik, Addl. District Magistrate, representative of District Magistrate & Appropriate Authority, North Goa District and Dr. Shirley Rebeiro-Chairperson of the Committee, held in the chamber of Additional Collector I, North Goa, Panaji on July 3, 2015.

 The Government Notification of the PC-PNDT (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) the Government of Goa appointed the District Magistrate, North Goa Panaji as “ District Appropriate Authority” for the North Goa District for the purpose to enforce the PC-PNDT Act.

 Besides this, the Government Notification of the PC-PNDT(Prohibition of sex selection) Act, the Government of Goa also reconstituted an Advisory Committee Constituting of Chairperson ,Vice Chairperson ,Member Secretary accordingly to Senior most doctors and members to aid and advice the Appropriate Authority of North Goa District.

The Government also constituted Inspection & Monitoring committee for the District of North Goa for the purpose of strengthening mechanism under the PC-PNDT Act.

Being the first meeting of the newly appointed PC-PNDT advisory committee members, Dr Mahendra revealed in detailed the basic functioning of the PC-PNDT to the new constituted committee members.

Later, Dr. Mahendra informed about the clarification of ART/IVF received from Ministry of Health and Family welfare, GOI stating that “If an ART/IVF centre is already registered under the Act, there is no need to provide additional registration if clinic (for which registration fee was Rs. 25000/-) is adding bouquet of services and eventually falls under the category of JOINT/ Hospital /Nursing Homes, then new registration (with Rs. 35000/- as registration fee) is to be provided as per the existing provision after cancelling the old registration”.

 Dr. A.G.K Dhakankar , Mr. Gaurish M. Dhond (Red cross), Ms Neeta G. Marathe – Asst. Public Prosecutor, Ms Neena Naik – NGO, Shri Carmo L. Dias- Dept. of Information & Publicity and Shri Aires Fernandes- Collectorate office attended  the meeting.      

Panaji, 7^th July, 2015 …. A four-day teachers’ training workshop in earth sciences was held during July 2-5, 2015. The Workshop was jointly organised by the International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO) and the ESSO-National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Vasco-da-Gama. Seventeen teachers from high schools in Panjim, Mapusa, Ponda, Vasco-da-Gama, Madgaon, Verna, Salcete, participated in the Workshop.

The Workshop was inaugurated by Dr. S. Rajan, Former Director, ESSO-NCAOR Dr. Anish Kumar Warrier, Secretary, IGEO and Project Scientist, ESSO-NCAOR welcomed the gathering and Prof. R. Shankar, Chair, IGEO delivered a note on the activities of IGEO.

Dr. S. Rajan in his inaugural speech underlined the importance of earth science education in schools. Dr. M. Ravichandran, Director, ESSO-NCAOR delivered the presidential address. Prof. Chris King (Keele University, United Kingdom) and Prof. Nir Orion (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) were the resource persons for the workshop.

The workshop involved a series of hands-on, practical activities during which the participants were invited to test the different activities and provide feedback on their educational value and practicability for teaching in Indian classrooms. Each workshop activity was designed to teach Earth science knowledge and understanding whilst developing critical thinking skills in both participants and the school students they would teach. Apart from classroom teaching and practical demonstrations, the teachers were also taken to field sites and were asked to observe the different processes taking place.

Dr. Nagaraj G. Honnekeri, Director, State Council for Educational Research and Training, Goa attended the Valedictory Ceremony on 5^th July, 2015 and appreciated the efforts of the IGEO and ESSO-NCAOR to organise the Workshop and also commended the participating teachers. At the end of the Workshop, feedback from all the participants was taken about the workshop and the organisational part.

All the participants were impressed by the way Prof. King and Prof. Nir gave demonstrations on the different subjects in Earth Sciences and assured that they would make use of this workshop to better explain and train their students. The participants also commended ESSO-NCAOR for organising this workshop. Similar workshops will be organised by IGEO for school teachers in Mangaluuru and Bengaluuru in the next two weeks.

Panaji: July 6,2015 …. The Union Minister of Defence Shri Manohar Parrikar launched the 1^st Town Planning Scheme at Downtown Mapusa Phase I^st ,Camarkhazan  and  Gausawado Phase II at a function held at Mapusa  today. The function was organized by Town and Country Planning.                  

 In his inaugural address the Defence Minister said that this planning scheme has comprised of requirements which are necessary for Mapusa city. The parking problem, traffic congestion, garbage problem other problems would be sort out.

Shri Parrikar further speaking also said Mapusa being a fast growing, developing city n it will emerge as  smart and beautiful city and while doing so no injustice will be done to those who are involved in this added.     

 The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar Speaking on the occasion said that Mapusa is the fast  developing city and therefore requires proper planning.  He said that after the implementation of this scheme Mapusa will  emerge as well planned and beautiful city in future. While doing this the interest of those who are involved would taken   care of.

  Shri Parsekar further speaking complimented to the Deputy Chief minister Shri Francis D’Souza for his endeavor to make this scheme implemented for Mapusa city

  The Deputy Chief Minister Shri Francis D’Sousa in his address  said that all the stakeholders will be taken in to confidence while implementing this scheme in Mapusa. While initiating the process development care would be taken to uphold the interest all the segments like farmers, land owners, tenants and others.

 Shri D’Souza  further speaking explained the concept of smart city where in he said the amenities required sre proper housing,  round the clock power and water supply, traffic system, garbage collection ,sewage system, joggers park, children park, recreation center  as  well. The city of Mapusa has many problems and   Government strives  to overcome these problems  through this scheme to make Mapusa  a smart city. In this regard he appealed to the people suggest and bring ideas to plan the development of Mapusa city in a better way

Minister for Water Resources Shri Dayanand Mandrekar while speaking at  the function said that proper  planning  of our cities is the need of hour. The Government taking  this in  view has planned development for the city of Mapusa. If this implemented we will get to see a smart and well developed city in future he added.    

Dr.Pramod Sawant MLA and Chairman GSIDC, Smt. Rupa Bhakta Chairman MMC, Smt. VijetaNaik Deputy Chairperson MMC, Dr.PuttuRaju Chief Town Planner TCP,  ShriSandipFalari Councillor, other Councillors, Town planners, architects, engineers, staff of TCP were those who attended the function.

 Shri Michael Lobo MLA and Chairman NGPDA  welcomed the guests. Shri Anil Samant compered the function while Shri Sudhir Kandolkar Councillor MMC proposed the vote of thanks.

05/07/2015 …. Calangute mla Michael lobo has once again assured the people of calangute constituency that he would not do anything against the wishes of his voters as far as the issue of calangute and candolim odp’s were concerned as it was not yet decided as weather odp’s were required to be opened for calangute and candolim villages

Speaking to goanreporter calangute mla Michael lobo said that he would like to see the participation of the people from his constituency specially candolim and calangute as far as odp’s were concerned and decide as what exactly they were of the opinion of …

Mr lobo said that the villages of calangute and candolim have already been declared as urban areas in a census which was done by the government of india and there were no plans to include the same under the municipal areas

Mr lobo also stated that it was sad that in the past few years the former mla agnelo fenrandes and deputy sarpanch of calangute village panchayat joseph sequiera had done haphazard development in both the villages …

05/07/2015 … Deputy sarpanch of calangute village panchayat joseph sequira has alleged that the calangute and candolim odp’s were the backdoor entry for turning both the concerned village panchayats in to the municipality …

Speaking to media reporters deputy sarpanch of calangute village panchayat joseph sequiera said that as earlier the panchayat was against the formation of pda but the government still went ahead with it but now we would not keep quite on odp’s but would totally oppose of for candolim and calangute villages

Mr sequiera said that as the state government had failed in listening to the ears of common man the only option left in front of then was now to approach the court of law over the issue

Independent mla from fatorda constituency vijai sardessai has questioned the permission granted to nuvem mla micky Pacheco of putting questions without the proper formalities at the up-coming state assembly session which begins on 27th of this month …

It may be noted that the former rda minister micky Pacheco is presently put up behind bars serving a six months imprisonment for an assault on a junior engineer of the electricity department .

As the speaker of goa legislative assembly rajendra arlekar has already said that the nuvem mla would be allowed to attend the upcoming state assembly session, mr pacecho on Friday had put up nine questions in the ballot exercise along with other 20 mla’s from which mr Pacheco stood ninth in all whereas the only the first three to four mla’s do get a chance to raise their question in the assembly session on a particular day due to time schedule ….

Speaking to media reporters fatorda mla vijai sardessai said that he was surprised as how micky was given permission to attend the assembly session and also got the forms delivered to put his question in the assembly session which only showed that the government of the day was keen to disrupt the question house and waste time of the house

Mr sardessai also said that the state government was trying to use every trick from the book to see to it that the genuine voice of opposition do not get to express people issues and of their constituencies

03/07/2015 … A total of four lakh twenty eight thousand members have registered themselves with the state Bharatiya Janata party at its membership drive which had been underway in the past few months all over the country …

Addressing media persons state bjp president vinay tendulkar said that around four lakh people have got themselves registered with the bjp party filling their forms through receipts, while 28,000 had got themselves registered online …

Mr tendulkar said that the new state bjp present would be elected by the end of December this year

Commenting over the issues of mercy petition of nuvem mla micky Pacheco mr tendulkar said that it was up to the state government to take a call on micky’s mercy petition

03/07/2015 …. As a part of the digital india week Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday launched e-services in the revenue as well as transport department in to the state of goa making it convenient for goan citizens to follow up with their issues online in the two state departments …

In the revenue department services such as land partition case management services, land conversion management, e-services at village panchayats in south goa and smart card based registration certificate were launched by chief minister parsekar in the presence of chief secretary s srivastava, infotech corporation chairman subash phaldesai and other government officials

While in transport department services such as chief minister Parsekar launched e-services of Smart Card based Registration Certificate and e- payment of taxes such as road tax/Passenger tax/Dealer Deposits which could be can be done through online payment system using e-Challan portal simply by filling the “e-Challan” form.

The Directorate has introduced Smart card based Driving license and launching Smart card based registration certificate in the state of Goa.

Panaji: July 2nd, 2015 …. The Indian Institute of Handloom Technology –Thillai Nagar, Salem, Tamil Nadu (All India Handloom Board-Ministry of Textile GOI) has informed that degree Course B. Tech Handloom and Textile Technology will be commenced at Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Salem from the current academic year 2015-16. The Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India has allotted one seat to Goa State and it will be filled up on merit basis.

          The requisite qualification as per category is HSSC (Academic) or its equivalent with a minimum  average percentage in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry  put together as given below,

for General Category — 50%, for Backward Class including Backward Class Muslim — 45% , for MBC & DNC — 40%  and  SC/ST — 40%.

          For downloading applications and other details, the candidates may please visit website www.handlooms.nic.in . The last date for receipt of application is July 15, 2015. Applications received after due date are liable for rejection without notice.

Panaji: July 2nd, 2015 …. The Governor of Goa Smt Mridula Sinha has reiterated that swacch Goa, Swacch Bharat mission will not be possible without people’s participation, involvement and support.

  The Governor was speaking at a meeting held with hospital authorities/ doctors at Raj Bhavan on tuesday.

  The Governor during the meeting, suggested measures like providing adequate toilets  to hospitals for visitors and maintaining cleanliness, having proper bio-medical waste disposal system in hospital, putting up hoardings and also slogans on vehicle,  placing adequate number of dustbins  inside/ outside hospitals, organizing awareness campaign etc.

  The Governor also suggested that one day in a week for atleast one hour should be devoted for maintaining cleanliness in and around the hospitals.

  The hospital authorities and doctors who were present at the meeting informed the Governor about the difficulties faced in maintaining cleanliness around the hospital areas. It was suggested that dustbins should be provided at appropriate places so that garbage does not collect in open areas.

  The Governor informed the hospital authorities that the issues will be brought to the notice of the Government.

  Secretary to Governor Smt Shilpa Shinde (IAS) was present at the meeting. Dr. N. RadhaKrishnan, Spl. Secretary to Governor welcomed and proposed vote of thanks.