Panaji: Jan 06, 2015 ….. The Department of Art and Culture had organized State level Crib Competition during Christmas Festival in the categories of Institution/Group and Individual/Household from December 26 to 30 2014. The competition was organized as a part of promotion and preservation of this age old tradition of crib making in Goa.

In institution/Group category 31 groups and in Individual/Household category 22 individuals participated in the competition. A panel of three jury members comprising of renowned Artist, Mr. Domnic Cordo, Mr. Victor Hugo Gomes and Rayen  Francis Abreu judged the competition.

The results of State Level Competition – 2014 in both the categories are as follows.

In Institution/Group Category, the first prize of Rs.15000/- and certificate was bagged by Mexico Boys of Cansualim, Costawaddo Cuelim, Cansaulim, second prize of Rs.10000/- and certificate is won by Parish Youth of Rachol, Praca-De-Rachol, Near Rachol Church and third prize of Rs.7000/- and certificate was awarded to Capuchin Fathers Farm House, Ordofond, Poiguinim, Canacona.

Five Consolation Prize of Rs. 5000/- each and certificate were given to Pallotti Jyoti Niwas, Ponsabhat Guirdolim, Chandor; Candolim Committee Candolim, Pintos Vaddo, Near Holy Cross (Mandar) , Sallem Bhat Sport and Cultural Club, Sallem Bhat, Santa Cruz, Merces, Grand Marod Group, Grand Morod Saligao, Seby Perira and Joan Lucas and group opposite Carmel convent Chicalim, Vasco. In Individual/Household Category the first prize of Rs. 10,000/- and certificate was bagged by Francis Xavier D’Souza, Valadaris Vaddo, Siolim, second prize of Rs.7000/- and certificate won by Richard Calderia, Alto, Santa Cruz, Ponda and third prize of Rs.5000/- and certificate to Darric Dias, Aquem Baixo, Gantamorod Navelim, Salcete.

Five consolation prizes of Rs. 3000/- each and certificate were given to Minguel Gonsalves, H. no. 36, Fonduem Rinadar, Panaji, Antonio Ramond Rebello, Baixo De Igrega Agacaim Illhas, Ashwin Jhonny Fernandes, Telaulim, Navelim, Johnvin Pinto, Anjuna Chivas Near Bobby Bar, Anjuna, Nadia De Souza Rajvaddo, Mapusa.

The winners of the competition will be awarded certificate and cash prizes on January 11, 2015 at 7.00 pm at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Campal Panaji during Lokotsav Festival 2015.

January 5, 2015 …. Dr. Ulhas G. Sawaiker, Professor at  Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi  bagged Best Poster Award  for his paper entitled ‘Performance and sludge characteristics during start-up of UASB reactor using pharmaceutical wastewater’ at International Congress of Environmental Research – 2014 jointly organized by Journal of Environmental  Research  and Development (JERAD) and R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore. 

Congress was inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Dr. R. K. Pachauri in thedistinguished presence of Supreme Court Advocate Shri. Prashant Bhushan,Which was attended by over 500 Environmentalist and technocrats across the world. Around 35 selected posters only were presented at 3 days International Conference by different presenters throughout the Globe. 

Professor Sawaiker’s research was on feasibility of using up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of pharmaceutical waste water.

His study proved that UASB technology can be successfully implemented for treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater and degradation of toxic elements with very high efficiency and low operating cost. 

The award was bestowed upon him by Dr. Subhash Pandhey, Director of JERAD in the presence of Dr. B. S. Satyanarayana , Principal R. V. College of Engineering, Bangalore on 28^thDecember 2014 during the Valedictory function.

Panaji: Jan 03, 2015 …. The Governor of Goa Smt. Mridula Sinha has expressed her deep appreciation to all those who have willingly accepted her suggestions and guidance and took action to implement the cleanliness programme. The Governor has reiterated that, co-operation and contribution of various section of the Goan society will b of crucial importance in fulfilling the objectives of the Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan and she wishes that Goa should be the cleanest and finest State in the country by 2015 itself.

The Governor has been receiving reports and photos from among her nominees and 12 – member committee members about action taken by them to implement  the programme.

 Following the announcement made by the Hon’ble Prime Minster about nomination of Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Smt, Mridula Sinha, as one of his 9 nominees for the Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan (clean India Mission), the Governor has initiated a number of measure to achieve the objectives of this national mission. The Governor nominated 9 ambassadors across the country, for this programme of which 4 are from Goa, viz, Smt. Alina Saldanha, Minister for Forest and Environment, Shri Mauvin H. Godinha, MLA, Smt. Hema Sardessai and Shri Prince Jacob. Another important step was the constitution of a 12-member Committee to chalk-out suitable programs towards the fulfillment of this important mission.

 Being a national-level nominee of Hon’ble Prime Minster of this Clean India Mission, the Hon’ble Governor received invitation from voluntary organizations from other States to inaugurate cleanliness programme. During the last 3 months, the Governor visited and led cleanliness programmes organized by social, educational and cultural organization in different parts of the country, including Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Bengaluru, Varanasi, New Delhi and Ajmer, where she administered the Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan pledge to the people . In some places, the members nominated by her adopted parks for upkeep and maintenance. In 3 month, she has attended 60 meetings all over India and administered the pledge. In Muzaffarpur, she nominated 9 persons from different walks of life and with them inaugurated cleanliness programmes.                                  

At Raj Bhavan (covering 86 acres of land) the Governor took special interest to ensure proper cleanliness. Under her guidance, Raj Bhavan office took prompt and effective steps to clean up the entire campus. The Governor led a cleanliness drive in the campus; thereafter, officers and officials undertook the exercise on a weekly basis; specific areas have been earmarked and entrusted to different officials to oversee and ensure proper cleanliness; concerned staff has been suitably  trained for segregation of garbage; additional Dustbins have been provided to the residents for keeping dry and wet garbage separately; appropriate stickers have been pasted on building and residential quarters to create awareness; stickers with slogan have been pasted on all Raj Bhavan vehicles and envelops and letter heads have been printed with slogans; a suggestion has been forwarded to the State Government to adopt this practice. In fact, the Department of Sainik Welfare has already adopted it.

Panaji: Jan 2, 2015 …. Directorate of Art & Culture will be presenting a beautiful mixture of Folk forms & Handicrafts from all over India at the yearly Folk festival (Lokotsav-2015) to be organized from January 9 to 18 Jan.’2015. The Festival will be held at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Goa. Around 400 Folk artists will be presenting various folk dances and music of their states and also 600 craft persons will be displaying their Handicraft items during the festival period.

 This folk festival is being organized by the Directorate of Art & Culture, Govt. of Goa every year in joint collaboration of West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Kala Academy, Goa, Sports Authority of Goa and Corporation of the City of Panaji in order to promote the folk culture and handicrafts from different states and also from Goa. A perfect platform is given to the artisans to showcase and sale their crafts. This is 16^th year of Lokotsav in Goa and day by day its popularity is increasing rapidly.

 The folk artists and craftsman from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam, Manipur, Haryana, West Bengal, Sikkim, Chhatisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha, including Goa are invited to present the folklore of their respective states in Lokotsav-2015.

 The Goan artists will be performing various Goan folk forms like Ghode modani, Jagor, Mussal, Lamp dance, Goff, Dekhani, Mando, Kunbi/Dandla Khel and Dhangar on different days. The artists from other states will perform the folk dances & Music like Mangniyar, Kalbelia, Bhavai, Bahurupia, Puppetiers from Rajasthan. The Bihu dance will be performed by Assam artists. Mewasi, Kervano Vesh & Siddhi Dhamal from Gujarat. Pung Dhol Cholam and Thangta by the state of Manipur. Bhangda by Punjab. The state of Maharashtra will present Lawani and Koli. Also Panthi of Chhatisgarh, Ghommar of Haryana and an added attraction of Gotipua and Shingari of Odisha.

 More than 500 stalls will exhibit handicraft items which includes Bandhani, Kathputali, Lakh Bengals, Leather bags & Chappals, Khadi, Kotha & Silk materials, handmade garments, Carpets, Glass wear, Clay art, Furniture, Wooden Toys, block print, Appliqué work as well as Goan crafts will be displayed for sale. The Goan people will also enjoy the taste of the traditional food items of Rajasthan and other states from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. from  January 9 to 18, 2015.

 This particular folk festival will be inaugurated on January 9, 2015 at 6.30 p.m. at the hands of H.E. Governor of Goa, Smt. Mridula Sinha in distinguished presence of  Hon. Minister for Art & Culture, Shri Dayanand Mandrekar, Mayor of Corporation of the City of Panaji, Shri Surendra Furtado, Secretary Art & Culture, Shri Faizi. O. Hashmi and other dignitaries.

 In this regards the Directorate of Art & Culture & other four collaborative agencies cordially invites the art lovers, tourists and general public for the inaugural function of the said festival on January 9, 2015 at 6.30 p.m. at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Goa and thereafter for the Cultural programme from 6.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. and to visit the exhibition cum programme from  January 9 to 18, 2015. It is further informed that the Goan craft persons who had applied for the stalls have to be present for the stall allotment on January 8, 2015 from 10.00 a.m. onwards for the allotment of stalls.

Panjim, jan 1st 2015,  — The first Holiday Special Train from Mumbai to Goa carrying 700 passengers on board arrived at Tivim railway station to a rousing welcome by the Goa Tourism Department.

Tourism Minister Shri. Dilip Parulekar led the State tourism ministry in welcoming passengers who stepped out at Tivim KRC Station when the train conceptualized as the ‘Premium Holiday Special Train’ chugged on to platform 1 at 8.30 am here on Tuesday morning.
The train has seven sleeper coaches, two coaches of three tier a/c and one coach of two tier a/c. It also includes one pantry car and two generator cars.
Passengers who descended at Tivim station were presented with flowers at the hands of the Goa’s Tourism minister Shri. Parulekar.
The Department of Tourism, Govt. of Goa presented the traditional aarti and offered sweets. A three member serenading troupe played some of Goa’s popular tunes and cheered the passengers on arrival at Tivim station.
Tourism minister Shri. Dilip Parulekar said, “Goa is privileged to host the first Holiday Special Train and will help bring tourists to Goa in large numbers.”
He said, “I thank the Central government for considering Goa for this Special Holiday Train and we hope to have the frequency to Goa increased in due course of time.”
Shri. Parulekar also said that he would be proceeding to Delhi soon to meet the Union Tourism minister and the Railway minister with a proposal for increasing the frequency of the Special Holiday Train to Goa thrice a week and on a regular basis in the New Year.
Considering the demand from tourists to be in Goa for the New Year celebrations, the tourism ministry in Goa is delighted that 700 passengers have availed of this facility.
It has also expressed confidence that the train will help tourists to travel to Goa in style, comfort and inexpensively.
Joseph George, GM, Business Division for the Konkan Railways who was present on the occasion said, “The train is the first of its kind for Goa and set out from Mumbai at 10.30 pm on Monday. It will leave Goa for Mumbai at 10.00 am on January 1, 2015.”
Shri George said, “The Special Holiday Train is one of the newer versions of LHB coaches introduced by Indian Railways.” Bookings for travel on this train are on-line only.
If one recalls, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the IRCTC entered into a joint venture last week for promotion of the Holiday Special Train days after the Union ministry for Railways accorded its approval for running holiday special trains to Goa.
The joint venture includes promotion of each other’s activities, training, and packages and so on.
Tourism Minister Shri. Dilip Parulekar, had signed the MoU in this regard last week.
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31/12/2014 … In yet another initiative aimed at benefiting farmers, the Prime Minister has asked concerned Departments and Ministries of the Union Government to fast-track the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. Today’s meeting follows yesterday’s decision by the Union Cabinet, in which amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, were cleared.

The amendments include the pro-farmer step of bringing 13 most frequently used Acts for Land Acquisition for the Central Government Projects into the purview of the Land Acquisition Act, thus benefiting a large number of farmers whose land is acquired for such projects.

Chairing a high-level meeting involving the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Rural Development, the Prime Minister called for a multi-pronged approach to the ultimate goal of providing irrigation for every farm through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.

The Prime Minister noted that NREGA had been used over the past few years for creation and augmentation of irrigation assets. He said that NREGA should be integrated with the overall plan of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. He also called for precise monitoring of outcomes in this regard.

At the macro-level, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Water Resources to identify river-interlinking projects that could be immediately taken up.

The Prime Minister called for comprehensive mapping and identification of water bodies across the country. He said satellite imagery and 3D photography could be used to guide villages to best possible sources of irrigation.

The Prime Minister has asked concerned departments to look into the possibility of identifying progressive farmers, who could take the lead in implementing water conservation and innovative irrigation techniques.

The Prime Minister has also called for integrating water recycling projects of key towns and cities, to irrigation in nearby rural areas. He emphasized the importance of generating consciousness among people towards water conservation.

The Union Minister for Water Resources, Ms. Uma Bharati, and the Union Minister for Agriculture, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, were present on the occasion.

Panaji: Dec 29, 2014 ….. Directorate of Education under the Scheme of National Foundation for Teachers’ Welfare Fund provides financial assistance for teachers’ welfare and their dependents.

Directorate of Education invites application from eligible retired teaches and their dependents for grant of financial assistance.

The application forms for the financial assistance for retired Teaches with/without Pension and Dependent of retired deceased teachers for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 are available in A.D.E.I. office of all Talukas.

The duly filled in application forms in all respects are to be submitted to Directorate of Education (Admn.III) through proper channel either office of the A.D.E.I. / D.E.O. of their respective talukas/zone on or before January 30, 2015.