FDA CAMPS FOR FBOs
THE Directorate of Food & Drugs, Bambolim organized three licensing and registration camps for shack owners of Calangute, Candolim and Anjuna on December 14, 2023. Food safety officers registered 70 FBOs online at Candolim and 40 FBOs online at Calangute, who availed benefits from the camp. Registration certificates were scrutinized and issued to them the same day. Both sarpanch and secretary of the Candolim village panchayat were present on the occasion. Likewise at Anjuna camp 25 FBOs were issued certificates in the presence of MLA Delilah Lobo who addressed the FBOs.
REVISED CMRY SCHEME
THE government of Goa vide recent notification has revised the CMRY scheme. Goan youth may now avail of CM’s Rojgar Yojana Scheme and get loans to self-employment business enterprises. In the revised CMRY scheme the income ceiling has been deleted and the age limit extended to 50 years. New as well as existing business can avail loans at low interest rate (@ 2% pa for expansion an projects costing up to Rs20 lakh (Rs25 lakh for professionals). Recently, the EDC had a CMRY meet in which over 100 Goans participated for information about the loan scheme for small business schemes. The meet was inaugurated by Sanjay Satardekar (vice-chairperson, EDC) in the presence of BS Pai Angle (MD, EDC), BS Borkar (jt MD) and John De Sousa (dy GM, Finance). CMRY meets will be held regularly to facilitate Goan youth wishing to do business. This will lead to self-employment in the short and long run. The next CMRY meet is scheduled on December 3, 2024 so interested persons may enroll on the EDC website.
NO FINGERS, GET AADHAR CARD!
HEARD about the case in which a person from Kerala, unable to enrol for Aadhaar card because she did not have fingers? Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Electronics & IT & Jal Shakti Rajeev Chandrasekhar directed that immediate steps be taken to ensure her enrolment.
A team from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) visited Josymol P Jose at her home in Kumarakam, Kottayam District in Kerala and the very same day she got her Aadhaar number generated. Josymol’s thankful mother said with the help of Aadhaar her daughter will now be able to avail of various benefits and services, including Social Security Pension and Kaivalya, a rehabilitation scheme for Divyangjan.
This is in line with the government’s commitment to ensure inclusion for digitally enabled access to benefits and services. UIDAI in fact made special provision in its regulations and issued Biometric Exception Enrolment Guidelines dated August 1, 2014 laying down the procedure for enrolling persons such as these where biometrics of fingers cannot be captured (due to any reason such as cut, bruise, bandage, worn-out or bent fingers due to old age or leprosy), or the biometrics of whose irises or both fingers and irises cannot be captured for any reason. There is no reason why citizens of India may not be eligible for Aadhaar in special circumstances.
Such persons come under the Biometric Exception Enrolment Guidelines whereby name, gender, address and date/year of birth may be captured along with the available biometrics so that they qualify for an Aadhaar card. Interestingly, the UIDAI enrols about a 1,000 persons every day under exceptional enrolment arrangements. It has issued Aadhaar numbers to nearly 29 lakh persons with missing fingers or otherwise unable to provide finger or iris or both biometrics. An informative poster in this regard is on display at Aadhaar enrolment centers.
IRELAND BECKONS GOANS!
AFTER the exit of the UK from the European Economic Community, the UK stopped granting Goan Portuguese citizens a work permit. There are no visa barriers between EEC European communities. Portugal is a member of the EEC. Goans with Portuguse passports prefer to go to the UK. It is the only English-speaking country in the EEC. However, Ireland continues to be a member of the EEC. So much so it has now become an alternative destination for Goan job seekers in recent times.
SUNBURN NOISE POLLUTION
NOT for the first times since Sunburn came to Goa the issue of noise pollution has come up. Sunburn is a festival of electronic music with a very high decibel count. Locals in Vagator where Sunburn is held complain bitterly of the noise disturbing their peaceful sleep late into the night. The Goa Bench of the high court has directed the government to take steps to prevent noise pollution when Sunburn happens from December 28 to 30, year ending for 2023. This would be very difficult to do for trance music is reportedly drills through anything to assault the ears with slow damage. It is music injurious for ears but perhaps our young and rich, bold and hedonistic, love the idea going deaf, dumb and blind while lost in music synonymous with today’s Goa.
CHRISTMAS BLUES!
WITH Christmas coming up fast the hotels of Goa have hiked their tariff rates. Air fares also touch the sky during this festive season. Traveling to Goa becomes a luxury. Most people prefer to drive down to Goa. Christmas is unique in Goa. It is the only place you can still here traditional Christmas carols in homes. Also carol singers go from house to house to sing the carols of old and drink hot chocolate supplied to them at the homes they visit with invitation. Except that it is not very cold in Goa this year in December. Where has the cold gone?
In the countries of the West X’mas is the most important festival. The whole of the US shuts down between Christmas and New Year. It is the only break that residents of US and the UK get. Ushering in new year in Goa is reportedly the best experience for many in our neighbouring states. There are any number of new year eve dances and all kinds of end-of-the-year kick-ups or whatever. All the five-star hotels pull out the plugs. The casinos have joined the fun and games of ushering in Christmas and New Year season. You may dance into 2024 with a song on your lips.
Unfortunately, the charters stay away. Goa no longer attracts so many charter tourists. Goa is the only tourist destination which permits direct charter flights in India. A large number of tourists from the UK used to come to Goa. Russians and Israelis too used to come but Goa has overpriced itself this year maybe. It is no longer affordable for middle class tourists from abroad.
SERENDIPITY ALL SET TO ROLL!
The 6th Serendipity Arts Festival is all set to roll anew in capital city Panaji from December 15 to 23, 2023. It is yet another treat to look forward too post-IFFI. But this treat is for Goans from home and abroad who’re interested in cultural and art matters.
The 6th Serendipity Arts Festival started rolling in capital city Panaji from December 15 and will be on till December 23, 2023. It is yet another treat to look forward too post-IFFI. But this treat is for Goans from home and abroad who’re interested in cultural and art matters.
Serendipity is a smorgasbord of plenty to delight the heart and soul of connoisseurs of the good life! Come December and Goa is clearly the place to catch up with the long end-of-the-year festive season. Everybody from the big polluted metros love to come and let their hair down in a still unpolluted Goa with its beachside havens and small cosy venues.
This is to say the multidisciplinary arts festival or SAF 2023 this year too offers a blend of visual experiences, performing and culinary arts. Here’s a dynamic platform for a cross-pollination of ideas and conversations.
Goans and visitors from out of Goa may look forward to a reported 150 events, incredible works of more than 300 artists, 10 curators and around 15 special curators. Alongside, there are around 15 commissioned works, exploring diverse practices and artistic creations through different lens.
The 9-day festival is hosted by Smriti Rajgarhia (director, Serendipity Art Foundation & Festival). At the inaugural festival party event Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant declared that the festival is not merely a cultural event but “a kaleidoscope that adds vibrant dimensions to our city’s landscape.” The festival transforms streets into galleries, parks into stages, and every corner into a haven for creativity and “in celebrating cultural diversity, we not only showcase the legacy of our city but also nurture its soul, ensuring that it unites people across all generations and instils a love for art among the younger generation.”
Well, after that there’s nothing left to be said except to thank the boss man Sunil Kant Munjal (founder and patron of Serendipity Arts Foundation). The venues for the festival are the Old GMC Complex, the Art Park, Azad Maidan, Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, ESG Complex and the Arena at Nagalli Hills ground. For the information of festival delegates there’s free shuttle services from all venues and there are something like 350 plus volunteers and art guides to help you out with queries about the festival.
Be sure to catch the festival and may we all smoke the pipe of peace as another year ends and new one begins!