TRIBUTE TO VINCENT RAMOS

VINCENT Ramos, senior vice president of operations – IHCL, Indian Hotel Company Limited, passed away prematurely at the age of 55 at his Tonca residence on August 16, 2023. Reportly, Vincent had gone home for lunch, was feeling uneasy and was taken to the Manipal Hospital nearby. Manipal claims he was dead on arrival. al. A postmortem is being conducted in GMC to ascertain cause of death which could be a massive heart attack.

Vincent Ramos was the son of a musician, Jose Manuel, who was working with the Indian Army band in Pune. Vincent came into Taj group of hotels in Kerala, later in Rajasthan and then he was promoted to post of general manager at the Taj Exotica down south Goa. Before that Vincent was F & B manager when the late prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee spent a week’s holiday over Christmas/New Year at the Taj Exotica. Vajpayee’s birthday shares his birthday with Jesus that is on Christmas day on December 25.

Vinent’s Taj portfolio increased, he also started the Ginger hotel chain for the Taj group mean for middle class comfort and priced much less than 5-star rates between Rs2,000-3,000 per night. He also started the Heritage Home Scheme to do with heritage homes which the Taj maintained and rented out to those seeking a luxury heritage home in Goa.

We knew Vincent to be very low key, soft-spoken, thoroughly professional. He used to visit me at my home at St Inez in his short pants on his son’s bike, always bringing gifts of a cake or some delicacies from the Taj bakery. We shall miss him for more than his gifts and wish he didn’t have to end it all so early in the prime of his life…  

HOTEL MANAGEMENT

THE Central government has decided that those with a BSc degree can get direct admission to a hotel management course. In Goa has one of the first centrally managed Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology &
Applied Nutrition  (IHM) at Alto-Porvorim.  The minimum eligibility is 12^th or equivalent to that. English should be a compulsory subject. The institute offers certificate courses as well as short term courses diploma courses in food production, beverages, craftsmanship and other related subjects. As mentioned before you only need a 12 standard pass to do these courses and look forward to a bright future in the growing hospitality industry in the country.  

BANASTARI ACCIDENT

FINALLY, the driver of the Mercedes in the deadly accident which took place on August 7, 2023 at Banastrari bridge,  Prakash Varde, has been remanded to 14 days judicial custody. However, his wife Meghana was relieved from arrest till end-August when presumably the charge sheets will be filed. Locals who witnessed the accident at about 7pm in the late evening still insist that it was wife Meghana who was driving the car. The victims’ relatives are claiming compensation from Varde for the loss of incurred to them and for treatment of family members injured and being treated. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the injured victims of the accident at the GMC.

MEDICAL OFFICER FOUND DEAD

COMES another shocking incident this time. Medical Officer Dr Akshaya Madukar Pawaskar, posted at the Primary Health Centre at Shiroda, was found dead in a rest room at the PHC on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at night time.  It is not clear how she died as there are no injury marks. Dr Pawaskar was lying dead on the bed in the room. The body has been sent for post mortem. Dr Pawaskar was responsible for handling many Covid-19 cases and was felicitated for her selfless services. The mystery remains about how a young medical officer has just passed on.

BANDODKAR FOR PEOPLE’S WELFARE!

CHIEF MINISTER Dr Pramod Sawant cherishing memories of the late chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar recently highlighted the major contributions made in the fields of   education, tourism, industries, etc, towards the welfare and development of society while speaking on August 13, 2023

He was speaking at the memorial lecture   organised by Department of Information & Publicity to observe the 50^th Death Anniversary of the first chief minister of Goa, the late Dayanand Bandokar,  on the theme of building a new India as an exponential inspiratory at the Panaji Gymkhana. The CM said that  similar inspirational lecture series will be organized throughout the year henceforth. Also that after 50 years the government will take up the work of renovating the Bhausaheb Bandodkar samadhi site at Miramar beach and it will be done within a year. This year the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Football Tournament also  re-starts in association with Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) and Goa Football Association (GFA). It is good news, indeed.

 Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS, while giving his memorial talk said that Goa’s first chief minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar is an institution. Although he is no more, he is everywhere for us. Bhau helped the Bahujan Samaj to take higher education in and out of the state. Within a very short span of time Bhau spread education in society. He said the most powerful equation scientists have created is E = F i.e. Education = Good Future. According to him actual equation is not even E = F. It is actually E = Opportunity and if India is the land of ideas it is America which is the land of opportunities…or so he observed tongue in cheek.  

Dr Mashelkar gave many examples of “exponential aspirator” and added that digital payments increased during the pandemic period. We have to keep this growth of being exponential. Stressing the need to use technology to alleviate the condition of the poor, he said the parachute works only when it’s open. Same way minds work only when it’s open. Everyone should get up in the morning and say to oneself, “I will give my best. Best for not just myself, but best for society and Goa.”

Prasad Lolayekar (IAS, Secretary of Education, Government of Goa) welcomed the gathering while Dipak M Bandekar (Director, Directorate of Department of Information & Publicity proposed the vote of thanks and Dr Ajay Vaidya compered the function. Member of Parliament Sadanand Shet Tanawde, ex-MLA Ramakant Khalap, family members of the late Dayanand Bandodkar were amongst those present to greet the dignitaries who came for the first memorial lecture in a series which is likely to be an annual event now as per chief minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant.

CM RELEASES BIODIVERSITY ATLAS

CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant released the Mayem Biodiversity Atlas — India’s first village atlas at a function at the Mahamaya Devalaya Mandap in Mayem, Bicholim on August 16, 2023. The function was jointly organised by the Mayem Vaiguinim Grampanchayat, Biodiversity Management Committee, Mayem Vaiguinim and Mayem Panlot Sangh. Speaking on the occasion the CM said that government will come up with a biodiversity atlas of all 191 panchayats in the state and assured to provide required help to preserve and maintain biodiversity.

He added that is our duty to preserve our biodiversity and maintain it for future generations. Using biodiversity in a sustainable manner means to use natural resources at a rate that the earth can renew them. People should not suffer due to climatic changes. He released the unique atlas book, dedicated website, poster and a logo at the function and  prizes were given to students excelling  various competitions.

Present were Suvarna Chodankar (sarpanch, Mayem Vaiguinim Panchayat),  Shrikant Pednekar (BDO, Bicholim), Sakharam Pednekar (chairperson, Biodiversity Management Committee, Mayem Vaiguinim),  Ramesh Prabhu Gaonkar (president Shree Kelbai Devasthan Samiti), Sufala Chopdekar (deputy sarpanch) and panchayat members and other local residents.  Sakharam Pednekar welcomed and briefed everyone about the village atlas project while MLA Premendra Shet and Member Secretary, Goa State Biodiversity Board Dr Pradip Sarmukadam also spoke on the occasion. Harshada Gawas compered and Suvarna Chodankar proposed a vote of thanks.

STAY HEALTHY TO BE HAPPY!

CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant along with Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane inaugurated the Ophthalmic Operation Theatre at Community Health Centre, Sankhali, on August 16, 2023. Speaking on the occasion the CM provided details about the starting of Satellite OPDs of AYUSH Hospital and GMC at Sankhali Primary Health Centre.

The CM assured that the existing three operation theatres at Valpoi, Sankhali and Bicholim will be made operational soon. Apart from all this he added that staying healthy is one of the secrets of living happy and enjoying life. He appealed to the public to take care of their health. World class equipment is installed at the ophthalmic operation theatre wherein eye-related operations will be carried out soon. He also advised  diabetic patients to take care of diabetic retinopathy as in the early stages  controlling the diabetes helps prevent  vision problems in advanced stages. Check up your eyes regularly, he urged.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the state government has inked an agreement with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, to set up a cancer institute in Goa, a move that will provide treatment for cancer cases in Goa itself. Fifty nurses will be sent for training at the TMC, he added. Plus, six more dialysis centres will be made functional to serve kidney patients and a new cathlab will commence soon. The CM will be announcing five good initiatives of the health services during the forthcoming Statehood Day function.  Dr Chandrakant Shetye, MLA, Bicholim and Premendra Shet, MLA, Mayem also spoke on the occasion. Others present included  Reshmi Desai, chairperson Sankhali Municipal Council; Gopal Surlakar, ZP member; Dr Geeta Kakodkar, director, Directorate of Health Services; Dr Ugam Usgaonkar, HOD, Ophthalmic Division and Dr Uttam Desai. Dr Kalpita Pordar compered the function while Dr Atul Pai Bir welcomed everyone.

MAKE INDIA TB-FREE BY TB!

EVERYONE should Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India TB-free! Lok Sabha MP Shripad Naik highlighted the urgency of the cause while speaking at a Tuberculosis Awareness function organized by the Goa Board of Homeopathy in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program Unit, Directorate of Health Services, in Panjim. Shripad Naik emphasized the need for collective participation in the fight against TB while commending the role of homeopathy medicines during the covid pandemic lockdowns.  He further  highlighted the role of homeopathy doctors in aiding TB patients, a group often marginalized by society.

 Present at the function were  Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade who too reiterated the importance of a doctor’s commitment in the mission to eliminate TB. He stressed on the pivotal role of doctors in identifying and treating TB patients and praised their unwavering dedication to the cause.

A 1-day seminar on tuberculosis awareness was also organised wherein Dr Manish Gaunekar (chief medical officer of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program–NTEP) shared some more information on the vital role played by Homoeopathic physicians in the NTEP program. Dr Gaunekar, a driving force behind the organization of this awareness program, shared insightful perspectives on the collaboration between medical disciplines in achieving the shared objective of a TB-free India.  Other speakers included Dr Dinesh Kowshik, Dr Diptesh Amonkar and Dr Mohinaz Kandolkar who enriched the seminar with their insight and  experience. The event witnessed participation from Dr Bipin Salkar (chairperson of the Goa Board of Homeopathy) and Homoeopathic doctors from across the state. Dr Rajendra Kanekar (registrar of the GBH) welcomed everyone while Dr Pratista Cuncolincar (member, Goa Board of Homeopathy) compered the program and Dr Marilyn Teles (GBH) proposed the vote of thanks.