Panaji: December 5, 2018 … The State Family Welfare Bureau, Directorate of Health Services, Panaji in coordination with the office of the District Collectorate, North and South Goa has successfully conducted competitions and State level function to celebrate the International Girl Child Day on October 11, 2018 at the Institute  of Menezes Braganza, Panaji.

The 1^st prize winning skit performed by SS Angle Higher  Secondary School, Maxem – Canacona will be telecasted on Doordarshan Kendra, Panaji on December 8, 2018 at 4.10 p.m. The skit has been written and Directed by Shri. Kavindra Phal Desai.

Margao:  December 05, 2018 … The District Magistrate and Chairperson of South Goa District Crisis Group, Dr. Tariq Thomas have decided to conduct the mock drill at the bottling plant of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Verna Industrial Estate, Verna on December 13, 2018 between 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. as a part of the planned drills to be conducted in all the Major Accidental Hazardous Units (MAH) in South Goa this year.

The South District Magistrate, Dr. Tariq Thomas chairing a preparatory meeting of all the line agencies at Collectorate today stressed the need to conduct such drills with full evacuation of the entire areas likely to be affected to provide the much required confidence to handle real life situation and improvise on all the shortcomings, if any.

Dr. Thomas underscored the importance of response time of the stakeholders to attend emergency situations apart from ensuring that the SOPs are followed to the extent possible to oversee the effectiveness of the off-site emergency plan.

The drill is planned to check the response and capabilities of the various departments and agencies in the district to undertake emergency operations in the event of occurrence of such an accident.

It may be informed that the South Goa District Crisis Group have successfully conducted such drills in four of the  8 Major Accidental Hazardous Units (MAH) in South Goa this year to create awareness among the residents of the locality on how to take safety measures and prepare themselves during such incidences.

The industrialists and general public are informed that the traffic in and around Plot No M-19 to M35 in Phase II-B would be diverted through the appropriate by-lanes during the aforesaid time on the given day and appealed for co-operation with the authorities.

Dy. Collector & SDM, Salcete, Shri Uday Prabhudessai; DYSP’s, Shri Uttam Raut Dessai and Shri Prabhod Shirvaikar; Assistant Information Officer, DIP, Shri Allwyn Pereira and other stakeholders including representative from BPCL were present for the meeting.

Panaji : Dec 5th 2018 ::: As a part of its CSR Initiative Deccan Fine Chemicals, Corlim recently provided 25 waste bins under its CSR Programme to the Village Panchayat of Carambolim in Carambolim Village.

Present on the occasion were Ex-Sarpanch of Carambolim Village Panchayat Rajesh Naik, Gaurav Kuchadkar, Deccan CSR, Sarah Oliveira Fernandes- Manager HR and Dy Sarpanch of Carambolim Village Panchayat

Panaji : 04^th Dec 2018 ::: Deccan fine chemicals were the runners up at the football tournament at the 4^th Edition of the CII Beach Soccer Festival which recently took place at the miramar beach in the capital city of Panaji:

Seen in the Pic Team Members are : Siddesh Kocharekar, Sedrick Fernandes, Saish Kavlekar, Paresh Dhulapkar, Vishal Gaude, Bharat Kankonkar, Preetesh Prabhu along with Deccan Officials Sarah Oliveira Fernandes and Gaurav Kuchadkar .

Panaji 04th Dec :::  2018: Radisson Blu Resort Goa, Cavelossim celebrated Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2018. The lighting ceremony was held in the presence of Father Valmiki with daddy’s home kids.

The ceremony began with a walk to the pool where underprivileged kids from daddy’s home kids participated. This walk to the pool was filled with enjoyable activities and surprises for the kids and they were also offered refreshments after the walk and was followed by Christmas tree lighting. A scrumptious spread of delicacies was organized for the special children.

It was a joyful and noble evening and an ideal way to kick-start Christmas festivities by making these special children feel extraordinary and brightening their Christmas month.

Panaji : 3rd December 2018 ::: Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay, Rev. Fr. Barthol Barretto along with Archbishop of Goa & Daman, Rev. Fr. Filipe Neri Ferrao, Bishop of Sindhudurg, Rev. Fr. Allwyn Barreto and Secretary to the Nuncio & Councilor at Vatican Embassy- (New Delhi), Rev. Fr. Javier Fernandez celebrated the Annual Feast Mass of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa .  

Panaji: December 03, 2018 … Minister for Tourism Shri Manohar Alias Babu Azgaonkar laid foundation stone for beautification of Kamleshwar and Bhumika Temple at Korgao, Pernem Yesterday 

Speaking on the occasion Shri Azgaonkar informed that the 50mld water tank will be soon built in Pernem to solve the problem of water scarcity in this area.

Speaking on the beautification works the Minister said, the Korgao will become one of the tourist spot as these beautified temples are located by the side of road leading to major tourist attractions like Harmal Beach Keri beach Tiracol fort which is visited by many tourists.

Shri Azgaonkar further said various upcoming projects such as Ayush Centre, Ravindra Bhavan, International cricket stadium Mopa Airport will help to generate employment in the Pernem Taluka. He appealed for the support and cooperation from the people for the development of the state.

The project comprises of temple peripheral beautification, landscaping with low maintenance plants, pathways and illumination of the premises.

Shri Ramakant Desai, President of Devasthan, Smt Pramila Desai, Sarpanch Korgao, Shri Ranganath Kalshavkar, Deputy Sarpanch Korgao also spoke on the occasion.

Also present on the occasion were panch members Shri Abdul Naik, Shri Sameer Bhatlekar, Shri Kustav and Ex Deputy Sarpanch, Shri Uday Palyekar.

Panaji, Dec 02nd, 2018 .. Goa  State AIDS Control Society, observed the ‘World AIDS Day” at Secretariat, Porvorim recently. The theme for this year’s programme was ‘Live Life Positively’, know your HIV status.

Secretary for Health  Shri J. Ashok Kumar, IAS was the Chief Guest while Smt.  Deepali Naik, Jt. Director(ICDS), Directorate of Women and Child Development  was the Guest of Honour. Dean of GMC Dr. Pradip Naik was also present on the occasion.

            The programme began with lighting the traditional  lamp followed by flagging off the IEC mobile van. The mobile van  is meant to create  awareness on AIDS and will travel over the cities  and villages in Goa.

            While addressing the gathering, Secretary Shri J. Ashok, IAS said that this day is observed  to ensure that we  contempt the menace of AIDS and try to reduce its instances. GSACS is putting a lot of efforts with active support from  the NGO’s and other stakeholders towards achieving a ‘Zero AIDS’   situation. Difference between HIV and AIDS must be understood, he added.

            Speaking on the occasion,  Shri J. Ashok said, the AIDS prevention and control Act is  a powerful tool against those who  show any kind of discrimination  against people living with AIDS. Goa is working towards framing was under this act. We will be able to implement the act in full force so as to ensure that the objectivities of the acts are achieved, he said. He further informed that the Government is also working on 90/90/90 programme whereby 90% of the people living  with HIV AIDS to move their status to 90% HIV patients who are on  treatment   and 90% should be prevented  from getting HIV. GSAIDS is been working hard on it.

            The dignitaries later distributed prizes to Anganwadi workers who won prizes in ‘Skit Play’ competitions. The Results of Skit Competition  is South Goa- 1^st prize- Dharbandora, 2^nd –Quepem, 3^rd-Salcette II. North Goa- 1^st prize- Sattari Group II, 2^nd-Pernem Group II and 3^rd-Bardez Group I.

            Earlier,  Deputy Director, Directorate of Health, Dr. Jose D’sa welcomed the gathering  and gave a presentation on condition of AIDS disease in Goa.

            Smt. Asha Vernekar compered the programme while Dr. D’Sa proposed the vote of thanks

Panaji: Dec 2nd, 2018 … Minister for Health Shri Vishwajit Rane has said that Government will soon set up centre of excellence in HIV care by December 2019.He was speaking as a chief guest after attending Positive Power Summit 2018 organized by Human Touch at Sanskruti Bhavan on the eve of World AIDS Day recently.

Listening to the various difficulties faced by the children suffering from HIV Shri Rane said that Government will come out with the new policy and certain amount of grants from state budget will be given to various initiatives in this field to create infrastructure so that the children suffering from HIV live better quality of life. Shri Rane further said that we as a policy makers need to change the narrative .We need to be more sensitive on how to take this issue forward he added.

Addressing the gathering Dr Jose D’Sa Project Director Goa Control aids Society informed that the theme for the 2018 observance of World AIDS Day is “Know your status”. Shri D’Sa said that our  main goal is getting to Zero which means we need to aim at getting  zero HIV infection, zero conversion of HIV to AIDS , zero AIDS related threats and most importantly get Zero discrimination .Goa state control society is trying to achieve this goal by 2020 he added.

Shri Peter Borges, Founder of Human Touch said that during last two years in Goa, 610 people have been found infected with HIV positive. He further said HIV is not only transmitted by sex but it is transmitted by sexism, poverty and Homophobia. If we are going to end the menace of   AIDS, We must cure the disease in our heart and in our minds, he asserted.

On the occasion, people   who have contributed to end AIDS in Goa were felicitated with Goa Red Ribbon Warrior.