The Konkan Railway Corporation will implement Monsoon Time Table on Konkan Railway route w.e.f. July 1, 2014 up to September 30, 2014 in order to run the trains punctually during monsoon and avoid any inconvenience to passengers.  Passengers, who have been issued journey tickets prior to announcement of the Monsoon Time Table, are requested to check the timings of their train well in advance as the    departure timing of some trains will be pre-poned.  Detailed timings are available on Konkan Railway Website www.konkanrailway.com

27/06/2014 ….

In order to ensure safe travel to its passengers in the coming monsoon, the Konkan Railway Corporation has completed all its planned safety works  before monsoon, on its route from Kolad (after Roha station of Central Railway)  to Thokur  (before Mangalore station).   Special attention has been laid on geo-safety works, like flattening of slopes, rock bolting, shotcreting inside tunnels, storm water drain cleaning/ lining, construction of RCC retaining walls, and loose scaling.  As a result of the large scale geo-safety works executed along the railway line the last 10 years, the incidents of boulder fall and soil slip have significantly reduced, thus ensuring safe running of trains.

 Konkan Railway will conduct 24X7 monsoon patrolling to ensure safety along the track. Abouit 700 personnel will be patrolling the Konkan Railway route from Kolad to Thokur, during the monsoon.  Vulnerable locations will be patrolled round the clock and stationary watchmen will be deployed for 24 hours at critical locations.  Patrolling by self propelled rail maintenance vehicles (RMV) will be done from sunset to sunrise between Kolad and Thokur. BRN mounted excavators have been kept ready at all nominated points for quick movement in case of any emergency.

 Instructions have  also been issued to the loco drivers to impose speed of 40 kmph in case of heavy rainfall impairing visibility.   All trains passing by KR route between Kolad and Thokur will be footplated by officers / supervisors during the monsoon. Self propelled ARMVs (Accident Relief Medical Van) with provision for Operation Theatre and providing emergency medical aid are kept ready all the time at Ratnagiri and Verna (Goa) along with ART (Accident Relief Train).

 Mobile phones have been provided to Loco Pilots, Station Masters and other field officials, including Executive of various departments.  Both Loco Pilots and Guards of trains have been provided with Walkie-talkie sets as well as every station on Konkan Railway is equipped with 25 Watt VHF base station. This enables wireless communication between the train crew as well as train crew and Station Master.  Emergency Communication (EMC) sockets have been provided at a distance of average one km along the Konkan Railway route (spacing reduced to 400 metres inside long ventilated  tunnels), that enables the Patrolmen, Watchmen and other field maintenance staff to contact Station Master and Train Controllers during any emergency situations in train operations.  Satellite phone communication has been provided in ARMV (Accident Relief Medical Van) situated at Ratnagiri and Verna stations for contacting headquarter control when (ARMV is pressed in service.  LED signals are being provided in a phased manner, to begin with, for improving signal visibility at difficult locations.  

Panaji, June 27, 2014

The Government of Goa has declared  the services rendered by River Navigation Department as essential services  under the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act 1988 and prohibits  strike in all units/section of the River Navigation  Department, with immediate effect.

June 27, 2014

The Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation organized 7^th Annual Blood Donation Camp today as a part of the Statistics Day Celebration.

Around 75 government officials fromamongst the officials of Departments of Planning and Statistics, Social Welfare, Water Resources, Police Department and Sports Department volunteered for this noble cause.

Dr. ShekharSalkar, Senior Surgical Oncologist inaugurated the Blood Donation Camp in the presence of Smt. MeenaGoltekar, Director, Directorate of Social Welfare, Shri AnandSherkhane, Director, Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation and Shri Vijay B. Saxena, Joint Director.

Dr. Salkar, while speaking as the chief guest on the occasion appreciated the joint efforts made by the Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation and lauded the presence of a substantial number of female donors.

While emphasizing the need to provide moral support to females who come forward for such a cause, he said “more a person donates, better he or she feels”.

Touching the subject on Narcotics, he said that smoking is the first step which in most cases leads to drug addiction. He appealed to the government officials present to never go for smoking as it is the gateway to drugs.

Dr. Salkar congratulated the Blood Bank Team of GMC led by Dr. SachinPalekar for doing a good job and mentioned that the Blood Bank at GMC is the only Blood Bank in the State which can be rated excellent based upon different kind of factors. Shri AnandSherkhane and Smt. MeenaGoltekar, Directors, Department of Planning and Department of Social Welfare respectively also addressed the gathering. Shri John Aguiar, PRO Police Department also was present. Shri Vijay B. Saxena, Joint Director placed the vote of thanks.

Panaji, June 27, 2014

            The Directorate of Social Welfare is implementing the following Schemes for the Students belonging to SC/OBC Communities of the State of Goa.

Stipend to  SC students : Under this Scheme Stipend will be granted @  Rs. 325/- to Rs. 375/- per month to students studying in Std. V to X depending  on class of studies. The total income of parents should not exceed Rs. 1,50,000/- p.a. The Meritorious scholarship will be Rs.  900/- for the Students of Std. V and VI, Rs. 1000/-  for  Std. VII to VIII, Rs. 1100/- for the Students of Std. IX and Rs. 1600/- for the Students of Std. X.

Another Scheme Stipend to  OBC  students: Under this Scheme  stipend @  Rs. 225/- to Rs. 275/- per month to students studying in Std. V to X depending  on class of studies will be granted. The total income of parents should not exceed Rs. 1,50,000/- p.a. Besides, the Meritorious scholarship will be Rs.  800/- for the Students of Std. V and VI, Rs. 900/-  for  Std. VII to VIII, Rs. 1000/- for the Students of Std. IX and Rs. 1500/- for the Students of Std. X will be granted.

Post Matric Scholarship will be granted to OBC  and SC students depending on type of the course persued. The scholarship varies from Rs. 160/- to Rs. 750/- p.m. The total income of parents/ guardian should not exceed Rs. 1.00 lakh as regard to OBC students. So also as regard to SC Students the scholarship varies from Rs. 230/- to Rs. 1200/- p.m. and  the total income of parents/ guardian should not exceed Rs. 2.50 lakhs per annum.

Grants will be provided to professional Institutions to purchase books under Book Bank Scheme for the benefits of SC/OBC students. Institutions may avail facility.

Up gradation of Merit of SC students: Grants are provided to Institutions for providing remedial & special coaching for SC students to prepare the competitive examination for entry into professional courses. Institutions having hostel facilities may apply. Only 5 students will be eligible to get coaching at std. IX which will be the entry point. This will continue up to std.XII wherein each class can have students up to 5 nos. each in each class.

The Department also implemented Kanya Dhan scheme for girl children of SC community for Std. XI of any stream.   Science/ Arts/ Commerce/   Vocational/ ITI. The said total income of parents should not exceed Rs. 1,50,000/-.

Grants for running hostels for Backward Classes students by voluntary

Social Organizations:

Under this Scheme any voluntary Social Organizations registered under the Societies registration  Act, 1860 shall be eligible to receive grants for accommodating not less than 20 hostellers of which not less than  75 % should belong to SC & remaining 25% to other communities. The Hostels will be given grants   @ Rs. 750/- per hosteller per month.

Awards for Inter-caste Marriage: Under this Scheme an Awards for Inter-caste   marriage couple will be awarded Rs. 1,00,000/- Either, the spouse should belong to Scheduled Caste. The couple should apply through respective Block Development Officer after one year but before 3 years of marriage. Income certificate is not essential.

The Department has also implemented centrally sponsored scheme of coaching and allied assistance for weaker sections including SC/OBC and minorities: Under this Scheme Cochin and Allied Assistance for Weaker Section will be given for appearing Civil Service Examination (UPSC) Preliminary and Mains, CDS, NDA and Defense related services. All Group ‘A’ or equivalent services in Central State/UT Governments. PSUs. All entrance exam for professional courses such as Engineering/ Medical/ IT/Technical/ Agriculture/ Management, Special Class Railway Apprentice. Banking/ Secretarial services like typing and stenography.

 The Department is also giving  Scholarship to Home Nursing Course such as  Certificate course for six months fees Rs. 3500/- actual or whichever is less. Diploma course for one year or more fees Rs. 5000/- actual or whichever is less; Degree nursing course for three years fees Rs. 10000/- ;actual or whichever is less. Health worker course duration for one year or more Rs. 3500/-  actual or whichever is less. Books, Uniform & stationery etc. ; Rs. 1000/- for six months course; Rs. 2000/- for one year diploma course ; Rs. 3000/- for degree course for three years;  Health worker course one year & more Rs. 2000/-.

The Last date for submission for Educational scheme is August 31, 2014. For further details Asstt. Director (Social Welfare) may be contacted on any working day during office hours.

Panaji, June 27, 2014

The Government of Goa has declared  the services rendered by River Navigation Department as essential services  under the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act 1988 and prohibits  strike in all units/section of the River Navigation  Department, with immediate effect.