Secondly, he also suggested that the government must release grants to English-medium private schools. Fernandes was supported by Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco who also demanded that government should re-think its policy on medium of instructions and grant in-aid to primary schools, sources said. However, there was no unanimity as PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho disagreed with the suggestions. They were of the view that some other solution has to be thought of to prevent closure of government primary schools.

Just because most parents want their children to study in English medium, government primary schools shouldn’t be in the same medium, they argued adding that the medium of instructions should be in Konkani or other regional language. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said he would take up the matter with educationalists before any decision is taken.

-Herald

While Shri Krishna is the popular deity of the Vaishnavs, Shri Vithal is worshipped by both the Shaivites and the Vaishnavs. Every year Goan Hindus go on a pilgrimage to Shri Vithal temple at Pandharpur on Ashadi Ekadashi. This tradition is deeply rooted in history for more than 600 years. It is believed that Vataba Dulba Rane Morlekar from Morle-Sattari and other devotees used to visit Shri Vithal temple of Pandharpur on the occasion of Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi. On one occasion, when he was on a pilgrimage, it become difficult for him to continue because of his advanced age. He prayed wholeheartedly to the Lord and urged him to excuse him.

At this juncture, Shri Vithal appeared in his dream and told him that he would come along with him to Karapur in Goa. When Rane got up from sleep, he saw metal idols of Shri Vithal and consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama in his bag. After coming to Goa, these idols were installed by the devotees in the temple at Karapur on a hillock known as Marutigad. As soon as the temple was built the area acquired the name Vithalpur. This Shri Vithal temple in Goa was established before 1494 and the tradition of Ekadashi celebration became one of the significant events associated with it. According to Vithal Nagesh Gawade, a writer from Postwada-Honda, “Through the worship of Shri Vithal, the saints opened our eyes against superstitions and prevailing social evils. The saints paved the way for equality based on amity and brotherhood. Ashadhi Ekadashi celebration helps us to revive the humanitarian teachings of the saints”. Shri Vithal temples at Akhada, Marcela, Ponda, Nanoda-Bicholim, Partagal-Canacona and in other parts of Goa have organized special programmes of devotional songs and religious discourses on Friday.

Courtesy: TOI

The lack of will on the part of the administration to translate the proposed additional traffic infrastructure existing on paper into bridges, over-bridges, subways, flyovers and bypass roads, in the near future, would however, cause serious repercussions on the road movement, especially as the projected number of vehicles in the state in the year 2021 stands at 15 lakh. At present, on an average 25,000 new vehicles are being added to the state traffic, every year.

The managing director of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, Mr Sanjeet Rodrigues told ‘The Navhind Times’ that the GSIDC is currently handling various infrastructure projects around the state, and has more in the pipeline, to be undertaken in the future.

Furthermore, the exponential growth in vehicle population and dominance of old vehicles, especially public transport buses on Goan roads make the issue of vehicular inspection, a prime concern. Of recent, several aggressive initiatives to control vehicle pollution have been taken up in Goa, but most of the steps are directed towards new vehicle emission norms and fuel quality improvements. The transport department, by and large, depend on visual checks and limited road tests (for checking brakes) for inspecting the vehicles for fitness certification.

-Navhind Times, Goa Daily

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Courtesy: oneindia

Police officials said that the marine commandos would have high speed interceptor boats, which would be used to criss-cross the shore off Goa and the state’s internal waterways. “We have already received two boats from the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and nine more fast speed interceptor boats will be delivered to us this year,” a senior police official said. The announcement of the marine commando squad comes on the heels of the inability of Goa Police to start an anti-terror wing, with the proposal being stone walled by the finance department, for paucity of funds.

Director General of Police Bhimsain Bassi admitted that the proposal was pending with the state government. The tourism industry in the coastal state received a major jolt last year after reports of Goa being on the terror radar during the peak seasonal months of November, December and January this year, when a majority of the 2 million tourists, both domestic and foreign, visit the state.

Courtesy: thaindian

The 77-year-old former CM had challenged the existence of the NCP, saying the party was formed on the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, which has now become a non-issue. As the party hunts for a new state chief, names of former Minister Sangita Parab and Congressman-turned-NCP leader Jitendra Deshprabhu are among the probables for the post. “I will go by what my leaders decide,” Deshprabhu said, when asked about his prospects of being appointed to the coveted post.

Courtesy: indopia

Pacheco said that this year, besides cleanliness, he has taken into account the scientific disposal of collected garbage. Importantly, garbage will be segregated at source and the contractor will not be allowed to dump the collected garbage just about anywhere. “Under the department’s supervision, the collected garbage will be treated and disposed off in a scientific manner,” Pacheco said. Lyndon Monteiro, officer on special duty to the tourism minister said that the beach cleaning machine is designed to sweep beaches in many parts of the world, including the beaches of Mumbai and Chennai. The machine can clean an area of 20,000 square metres in an hour. “It picks up even the smallest objects from the sand like cigarette butts. It does not affect the sand pattern or cause any environmental hazards but leaves the beach clean,” Monteiro said.

Monteiro said that the major problem faced in beach cleaning in the last few years was not the cleaning itself, but the disposal of the collected garbage. To overcome this problem the tourism department will introduce certain norms in the beach shack policy from the coming season. Much of the garbage is generated by the beach shacks and talks have already been initiated with individual shack owners, collectively with the shack owners’ welfare society and with the coastal village panchayats. “Everyone has been forthcoming in their suggestions. Everyone has been cooperative,” Monteiro said.

It is learnt that another reason why mechanized beach cleaning is being undertaken in a phased manner is due to the paucity of funds. Another successful initiative of the tourism department, the beach safety management programme ran into problems because although the department wanted to draw money from the contingency fund for the programme, it did not materialize. Meanwhile, the department also wants to extend the beach safety management programme, executed by Dhristi, to another two coastal stretches, one each in North and South Goa. Last season, the beach safety programme was tried out on the Velsao-Benaulim stretch in the South and the Sinquerim-Baga stretch in the North. Sources said the beach safety programme is likely to be extended this season to the beaches of Vagator, Anjuna, Miramar, Bogmalo and the stretch from Varca to Cavelossim.

Courtesy: TOI

The governor said there was a steep increase in ragging in educational institutions, some of which had even resulted in loss of lives and in some other cases it caused tremendous psychological trauma to victims. The spread of this menace was indeed worrisome, he noted. He said the Act was more relevant at this time of the year when educational institutions were gearing up fornew academic year.The anti-ragging Act was pending approval since 2007. It authorises heads of the institutions to file fact-finding reports and makes them abettors in ragging if they fail to take cognizance of complaints pertaining to the act which leads students to commit suicides. Congratulating Goa University for its entry into Silver Jubilee year, Dr Siddhu urged teachers to be conscious to the needs of students and make themselves more accountable to their jobs. Also, the educators have to be innovative to meet the day-to-day challenges in the field of teaching, he opined.

On the occasion, Director of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, P Balaram, exhorted the university to grow bigger and better institution. Balaram, a Padmashree awardee, said that there should be reward for good performance and negative markings for non-performance in educational institutions. But, no such system exits presently, he rued. He said many of the institutes have become rigid as most of the postings were of permanent nature. This doesn’t augur well for educational institutions because they cannot undergo change, he said. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat assured the university of Government assistance, after the vice chancellor highlighted the fund crunch it was facing.

-Herald, Goa Daily

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Courtesy: goan observer

While pointing out that initially 30 new motorcycles will be introduced for integrated beat patrolling’. police said that these motorcycles will be under the operational control of PCR, “whereas the local police shall have the administrative control”, since the staff for the same will be drawn from the police station. But this move has upset those heading certain police stations, as they complained of being short staffed.

Bassi said, “Police presence is a must. If the policeman is going to lie down in a barrack or sit at a police station, then the response time is going to be slow. It’s a tough job, as they have to be on a motorcycle for eight hours, despite rain, dust, sun and heat.” However, soon after the launch, sources in the police said that the Robins may not be able to walk the talk.

It was pointed out that each Robin is expected to cover about a stretch of 70 to 75 km stretch at least once in a shift almost on a daily basis, while the fuel alloted for every vehicle is 50 litres a month. Sources said that presuming that each motorcycle has a mileage of about 70 km per litre, then within a fortnight the Robins would run out of fuel. But police spokesperson SP A V Deshpande said, “The fuel quota allotted to the Robin vehicles is adequate. In case a situation arises wherein they need more fuel, then the same will be provided.”

Courtesy: TOI