FATE OF MINORITIES

FORMER police commissioner Julio Rebeiro has fears about the future of minorities. Rebeiro warns that India is heading for a Pakistan type situation. In Pakistan minorities are second class  citizens. The Muslim minority community has been slowly marginalized during the last 14 years of Narendra Modi’s rule; and though the PM has praised the Catholic community in his Christmas address to the minority community, attacks on Catholics continue in Jharkhand and Karnataka. Julio Rebeiro who is in Goa for the release of his book “Hope for Sanity” is now a robust retired 94 years, he is the only senior police commissioner to speak out against the attack on minorities in India. Julio Rebeiro is of Goan origin and his brother is former town planner, Edgar Rebeiro who lives in Goa.

NEHRU BASHING 

CHIEF Minister Pramod Sawant has joined the Nehru bashing brigade. Pramod Sawant has said there is really no connection between Jawarharlal Nehru and Children’s Day. We know November 14 (the first prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday) has been celebrated traditionally in a free India as Children’s Day because Nehru was known to have a special corner for children in his heart. So on this day special programs are held for children in memory of the first prime minister of India. And now Pramod Sawant observes that Children’s Day has nothing to do with Nehru and he has proposed Dec 26 as Bal Diwas in memory of brave children who made some sacrifice for the nation and society.

WRETCHED INNER ROADS OF PANJIM!

(Contributed by Stephen Dias, Dona Paula)

“I visited the St Inez cemetery on December 28, 2023. Near Apollo pharmacy where the road diverted towards Taleigao and Tonca.The situation is so pathetic that even the pavement at the cemetery adjacent to wall is in deplorable condition.

The PWD work is in full swing but it doesn’t appear that this main road will be ever fully repaired and motorable, not by the end of this year at least. There are any number of workers here who have been asked by CCP and PWD to expedite the repairs, which at a few places are of deep excavation, and I don’t think this work will be completed even by January-end.

I got more glimpses of the inner roads here and repair works here have been going on for such a long time with heavy digging, affecting the surrounding business and residential establishments. The trees too are suffering. I took a few photos to show damage going on account of excavation and repairs by government departments CCP, PWD and allied departments.

May we know when the works will be completed and the noise, pollution in the air and suffering of folk living in these areas be over?”

CONGRESS IS 139 YEARS OLD!

 THE Congress party in India celebrated its “139 glorious years of struggle, unity and progress” on Congress Foundation Day on December 28, 2023. Party leaders sent out messages respecting every leader of the Indian National Congress “who has made India possible.”  The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) and friends  observed the day with flag hoisting at Congress Office in Panaji.  INC offices the country celebrated the day as Indian National Congress Day to look back and look forward…although to look forward to what is anyone’s guess with the general elections looming in 2024 which is already here. 

GOA HAS HAPPY INDEX!      
TO be a happy society our index regarding music, art, literature, drama, entertainment, etcetera, must be of a high order. These pleasures soothe people’s hearts and bring down stress levels in our lives. Goa is on top regarding GDP and Happiness Index, stated Chief Minister Dr Pramod  Sawant  at a function organized to confer  State Cultural  Awards, Yuva Srujan Puraskar, Best Institution, Best library Awards.

The function was organized  by the Directorate of Art & Culture  at Kala Academy on December 28, 2023. The CM said the government strives to promote and encourage art  and to facilitate  youth to work towards preserving our Goan art and culture in the state – hence the awards were conferred of Yuva Srujan Puraskar and State Cultural Awards and some more.

The CM noted that from Goa hail some of our greatest artists like the late  Lata  Mangeshkar,  Pandit Manohar Buva Shirgaokar and others. He said Goa is known across the globe for its rich culture and not just for its beaches. Spiritual and cultural tourism flourishes in the state. The government’s efforts are appreciated by renowned  theatre and cinema actress  Madhura  Velankar Satam. Speaking at the function she loved to come Goa for the  mega events like IFFI, State Drama Festival and similar cultural events. Naresh Kadkade too spoke in praise of the government’s efforts to keep cultural and religious celebrations alive for tourists to imbibe and enjoy. This year’s recipients for State  Cultural  Awards (2023-24) are Naresh A Kadkade(Theatre), Shaileshchandra P Raikar  (Literature), Tukaram R Shet      (Literature),  Fr Manuel Gomes   (Literature),
Vithal Gawas  (Literature), Hortencio Sanizinho Eduardo Vaj E Pereins (Tiatr), Menino Fernandes (Menino De Bandar (Tiatr), Shivrai T Fondekar (Indian Classical Music), Pradeep M Shilkar (Indian Classical Music), Shridhar K Barve (Indian Music)   Dnyaneshwar V Wadji (Fine Arts), Ulhas S Palni (Bhajan) and others.

The recipients of Yuva Srujan Puraskar ( 2023-24) are  Nivedita Ulhas Chandroji   (Drama), Valency Carmeline D’Souza    (Tiatr), Anwesha Arun Singbal   (Literature), Dashrath Narayan Naik     (Music), Anant Shridhar Kamat Bambolkar (Fine Art/Drama), Sanjay Vasant Kurtikar (Folk-Art). Best Institution Award goes to Kala Shuklendru, Panaji, Best  Library Award to Shree Saraswati Vachanalaya, Macal, Bardez -Goa.

CHEERING UP KATHKARI TRIBE CHILDREN!

IT WAS A heartwarming Harley Santa Run & Kids Christmas Party for the children of the Kathkari tribal children at the Grand Hyatt Bambolim on December 23, 2023. This was a collaborative initiative by the Harley Davidson Owners Group (Goa) and the luxury hotel in partnership with the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights & Human Touch Foundation.

The children visited the Harley Davidson Showroom at Caranzalem, Panaji and eagerly participated in the Harley Santa Run. The run-cum-procession saw lots of photo ops and selfies at the Immaculate Conception Church and Old Goa churches which exuded the magic of the festive Christmas season. The children rode in  Audi cars, the palace lawns hosted a brief inaugural ceremony when the chidlaren were felicitated and given gifts by Sanga Claus. It was smiles all around naturally and the Harley Davidson Owners Group raised a significant contribution of Rs 100,000 towards the welfare of Kathkari tribal children, demonstrating its commitment to positively impacting the lives of children and communities of Goa.

“The event not only spreads the joy of the season but also creates lasting memories for the children from the Kathkari tribe. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to the well-being and happiness of the children in our community,” noted Peter F Borges (chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights). Vidyashankar (director, Human Resources, Grand Hyatt) expressed his pleasure in hosting the event.

GCCI Agriculture Committee Outreach Program on *Bee Keeping and Honey Production* held on 22nd December in coordination with Directorate of Agriculture,  Govt of Goa at Cotigao village Canacona.

HONEY, HONEY

A GCCI Agriculture Committee Outreach program on bee keeping and honey production was held on December 22 in coordination with the Directorate of Agriculture (govt of Goa at) at Cotigao village, Canacona. Goa Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar distributed saplings of jambul, soapnut, tamarind, etc, the flowers of trees which attract bees for honey-making to bring in income for tribal farmers. Present for the occasion were Orlando Rodrigues (chairperson, Agriculture Committee GCCI), Dr Sangam Kurade, Sarpanch of Cotigao Anandu Dessai, dy Sarpanch, Panchas, Dy Director Sandeep Fal Dessai, Dy Director Rena Menezes, ATMA Project Director Shivram N Gaonkar, Suprajit Raikar, ZAO Nagesh Komarpant and GCCI Dy Director Ambika Dhakhenkar. A training program under Western Ghat Development at Baddem- Cotigao, in association with ATMA (S), was also inaugurated by Rameshi Tawadkar.

69 STUDENTS GET UTKARSH SCHOLARSHIPS

CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant awarded scholarships to students initiated by Vedanta through the Utkarsh Scholarship Program as part of community development initiatives at a function organised on December 28, 2023. He congratulated all the students who received the scholarships through merit and hard work, saying “It is heartening to witness Vedanta consistently dedicating itself to supporting those in need through diverse community outreach programs such as Utkarsh Scholarship which exemplify Vedanta’s commitment to contributing to the development of a prosperous nation. In today’s highly competitive world, abundant opportunities await individuals equipped with the right skill sets, making it necessary to strive for excellence and pursue higher-quality education. I encourage the residents of Goa to capitalize on the maximum benefits offered by various government scholarship schemes.”

The company supported 69 meritorious deserving students who will now be able to pursue higher professional studies with the support of Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarships. Present for the occasion were Leena Verenkar (head ESG, Sesa Goa),  Susanta Ganguli (dy CEO, VAB), Kalidas Gawas (sarpanch, VP, Navelim),  Krishna Gawas (sarpanch, VP, Amona),  Premanand Gawas (president, Laxminarayan Devasthan).