GOA STATE JOURNALISTS AWARDS’
THE Department of Information & Publicity has announced the Goa State Journalists Awards selected by the State Journalists Awards Committee. The government of Goa through the DIP is instituting awards, namely “The Goa State Journalist Awards” which are conferred in ten categories for news items and articles published during the previous calendar year. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each in different category besides a certificate and memento.
The GSJA scheme is devised to encourage local journalists to exhibit their mastery in coming up with good reporting and stories, gaining confidence and creating mass awareness in the society.
The Best Editor Award on National Integration and Communal Harmony goes to Pandurang Gaonkar, editor, Goan Varta, for his editorial “How to stop corruption in politics?” The award in Rural Reporting goes to Murari Shetye of Times of India for his report “Sattari resident goes from poring pegs of liquor to poring over books.” Other awards for reporting on health and public hygiene goes to Danuska Da Gama of The Navhind Times for her report “Dealing with Dementia.” The award for reporting with special reference to women and child/social issue has been bagged by Vivek Prabhu from Prudent Media for his report “Disabled but self- reliant.” Marcus Mergulhao of TOI gets the award for sports reporting for his report “Blinded by fate, 17 year old champion athlete from Usgao sets sights on international stage.’ The art and culture award goes to Ajay Lad from Goan Varta for his report The Katalsculptures at Sange -Pansaimal on the world map.
The photo journalism for Best Photograph of the Year goes to Hemant Parab of TOI (Goa edition) for his photo of a worker standing dangerously on the structure meant for hoardings on a streetlight pole along the Gaundalim Khandola road. For reporting on education the award goes to Swapnil Tari from Prudent for his report “Coconut Drone”’ and for reporting on achievement of the government goes to Gauree Malkarnekar of TOI for her report “In mining belt, Goa food processing units turn home bakers into breadwinners.”
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award is being conferred Pramod Khandeparkar, veteran Journalist, for his dedicated services in the field of journalism. This award is being conferred after his retirement from service as a journalist. The awards will be presented on the occasion of National Press Day function to be held on November 16, 2023 in capital city Panaji.
PM MODI IN GOA
PRIME Minister Narendra D Modi arrived in Goa at INS Hansa on Oct 26, 2023. He was here on a day visit for the grand opening ceremony of the 37th National Games which took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda the same day. He was received by the Protocol Minister Mauvin Godinho, Member of Parliament (RS) Sadanand Shet Tanvade, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel (IAS), DGP Goa Jaspal Singh (IPS), Secretary Protocol Sanjit Rodrigues (IAS), Commodore Biplav Hota, Collector-South Goa Ashwin Chandru (IAS) and others.
MOUs WITH GCCI
IN a bid to provide a space for meaningful interactions, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaboration, the Goa Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Startup & IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, inked a Memorandum of Understanding on October 23, 2023 at the Surendrababu Timblo Hall, GCCI.
Giving his address GCCI president, Shrinivas Dempo, appreciated the steps taken by the government to foster the growth of startups and IT companies and reminisced his involvement in the policy formulation in 2017-18. Beginning with the Hospitality sector, through the program, sector-wise month-on-month sessions would be held.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest Minister IT- E&C Rohan Khaunte said that the vision of the government is to make Goa the creative capital of India, he was appreciative of the initiation of the program for startups which be valuable. He said, “I believe that the fusion of innovation and established industries is the key to unlocking new frontiers of progress in Goa. I look forward to witnessing the transformative power of this forum, as it ushers in a new era of collaboration, innovation, and prosperity for our state.”
A panel discussion discussion followed in which the participants were industry stalwarts and investors such as Ashok Tanna, (GM, Kenilworth), Carlos de Sousa of the De Sousa Group of Hotels, Sadhana Mukundan (director and GM of Bogmalo Beach Resort), Saurabh Khanna (GM, The Park Hotel) and Jack Sukhija (director, Panjim Inn). The panelists highlighted ways of collagorating with startups and as a takeaway, it was agreed that a list of problems facing the industry could be documented to find opportunities of growth.
The discussion was moderated by DS Prashant (CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell–Goa). Post panel discussion, 7 startups pitched their products to the panelists and this was followed by a speed dating session, where startups were given an opportunity to interact with each of the industry stalwarts.
The Goa Startup & Corporate Bridge aims to be a platform that bridges the gap between startups and established industries, provides mentorship by experienced professionals and stalwarts of the industry, and brings together industry experts, seasoned industrialists, and startups working within the designated sector to foster innovation, share knowledge, and collaborate for mutual growth.
COELHO HANDS OVER TORCH TO MODI
THE much promoted 37th National Games commenced at the Fatorda Stadium in south Goa on October 26, 2023 after being postponed for over a decade. The preparations for the national games were not not quite complete but the state government decided to postpone them again. There no manor competition sports from Goa. Even the state volleyball and beach basketball teams have not been allowed to participate. Modi inaugurated the games with fanfare at the Fatorda stadium near Margao. The torch was handed over to Narendra Modi by Kavita Coehla and Niraj Chopra, world javalan champions. The main sports groudns are at Campal promenade in Panaji, Dr Shayama Prasad Mukerjee Staduim and the Fatoda Stadium down south Goa. The swimming pool in Margao is being used for the swimming evens. Archery is not part of the national games in Goa for some reason.
SMART PHONE BOOM
INTERESTINGLY, the sale of smartphones is being driven not by budget phones which cost less than Rs15,000 but top models costing over Rs15,000. The iPhone continues to be the favourite. Those who can‘t afford are buying it on hire purchase schemes. There are many attractive offers with zero down payment. It continues to be doubtful if the rush will continue for the these phones are not used to their full capacity by the thousands of young people who buy them purely as a status symobl and ot be a memaber of some upmarket club.
US GOVERNMENT SUO MOTO
THE Meta Corporation has been sued by the US government. The charge is Meta afffects the mental health of children. The Indian government exposes even children in kindergarten schools by permitting them smart phones and this with s are given phones which cause a bad impact on health due to the radiation from phone. Following covid-19 lessons were imparted by teachers to children on smartphones.
This was at the peak of covid pandemic where teachers can‘t take classes physically in school for 40 students, because of the mandatory distance required to prevent spread of infection. It has been established that young children spend most of their time playing dangerous games on their smartphone.
In any case it is being proved that the smartphone is a not a healthy tool of education or entertainment to be addicted to; Meta in its non-existant wisdom has not barred pornographic sites from its social network pages.
WAR IN GAZA ON