INDUSTRY SLOWING DOWN
CONTRARY to the claim of the Modi government growth of industry is lower in the first half of the current financial year than that of the previous financial year. The steel sector is among the worst affected while cement has also been impacted. The demand for power has also come down and with the onset of the monsoon power requirement has come down one digit. All this just means that less jobs are being created.
LIFT GST ON HEALTH
IN the budget for 2024 Nirmala Sitharaman has increased the GST on life and health insurance premium to 15%. Already health insurance premiums are very high. They have increased by more than 30% in the last two years. Instead of reducing the customs duty on gold, relief would have provided on health insurance. In the manifesto the BJP had promised to provide Rs5 lakh free health care to all senior citizens if 75 and over. There is no mention of any such scheme in the actual budget. Modi does not seem to be concerned about seniors even though he himself will be reaching 75 next year.
GALLOPPING REAL ESTATE
PRICES of real estate continue to touch giddy heights. Many new projects are being promoted on social media. In up market Dona Paula super luxury apartments are being promoted in a new sea-facing building starting at Rs5 crore. In Anjuna new homes are being quoted in lakh per sq mtr and not rupees per sq mtr. We understand that conversion was issued to DHL for a 22-acre plot overlooking Reis Magos, recently.
DHL Gurgaon builder has invited applications for super-super luxury villas starting Rs50crore. Nandan Kudchodkar has requested land owners and bhatkar to sell their property only to Goans. Unfortunately, Goans cannot afford to buy all the new upcoming expensive property. Even if they have the money they prefer to buy property in Dubai or in Portugal.
KIDS STABBED IN UK
THREE little kids were killed and seven others critically injured in a mass stabbing incident in a yoga-cum-dance school in Southport on July 30, 2024. The suspect is a 17-year-old male. They were dancing to the tune of a song by international pop star Taylor Swift. The UK is in a state of shock. The fans of the singer have raised over 40,000 pound (Rs43 lakh) to help the families of the victim. King Charles II and Prince Millum and Kate Middleton have sympathized with the parents of the young children who lost their lives.
TOLLYWOOD AT OLYMPICS
NONE of the Bollywood stars, particularly the Khans, have bothered to go to the Olympics in Paris to cheer for the Indian sportspersons. But Tamil superstar Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan along with wife were present. Manu Bhakar presented one of her jerseys to the wife of Ram Charan. Manu Bhakar declined Nita Ambani’s invitation to celebrate her victory. She politely told Nita that she had one more event to complete and did not want to be distracted.
CHAK DE PARIS
THE famous playback singer Shaan Kumar sang Chak De India and Lehera Do and Chalte Chalte at India House in Paris to cheer Indian athletes participating in the Olympics. He is a part of a special track performed for the first time. He also sang “jeet ka geet” from film Chandur Champanion. Shaan was in Paris with his wife Radhika to watch the opening ceremony on the banks of the Sienne river.
OLYMPICS BLACKOUT
NONE of the sports channels, Star Sport or Sony, are showing the Olympics live. They seem to be only obsessed with cricket and Euro football as the money is much bigger. Olympics which has more mature sports and events does not seem to attract many viewers to the idiot box. Even Doordarshan is not providing any live coverage of even the Indian events at the Olympics. The only way to watch the Olympic games is to download the Jio cinema app.
FAKE IAS KHEDKAR!
THE IAS candidature of Pooja Khedkar from the Civil Service Exam has been cancelled. Khedkar from Pune is alleged to have faked her identity by changing her name and her parents name — photograph, signature, email id and mobile number — to apply repeatedly for the exams. Khedkar is also accused of submitting fake disability and creamy layer certificate. There are reservations for backward classes in the UPSC exams but families who have income above Rs10 lakh are excluded. Khedkar’s father had declared an income of Rs40 crore when he contested the 2024 parliamentary elections. Khedkar’s wife is reported to have brandished a gun during a dispute over land with her tenants. Khedkar demanded a bungalow and a red light on her Audi car as a trainee though she was no entitled to it.
DIP BIDS ADIEU TO PRAKASH NAIK
THE officials and staff of the Department of Information & Publicity (DIP) bid farewell to Information Officer Prakash S Naik on July 31, 2024. DIP Director Dipak Bandekar while speaking on the occasion said that Prakash Naik is a senior most officer from the department, a stalwart who has been witness to the department’s growth and changeovers through the years.
Bandekar commended Prakash Naik for being active in the social and cultural field, and lauded him for his remarkable skills in writing — although he is retiring surely his pen will not be retiring. Everyone present on the occasion wished Prakash a happy and healthy retired life.
Dipak Naik hails from Shiroda, he reminisced briefly about his journey starting as information assistant, when he joined the Department on June 30, 1989 and subsequently was promoted to the post of assistant information officer and information officer. His advice to the young generation in the publicity and press cadre of the DIP is to focus on development-related stories.
This way, he said, the department’s name and image will also rise. Naik represented the department in sports disciplines such as cricket and football during the civil services tournaments organized by Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs. He stressed on the importance of staying fit and urged all the department staff to take keen interest in sports.
Dipak holds a degree in commerce from Bombay University and later did his post-graduation studies in journalism. In a journey spanning 35 years of service in the department he worked as information officer, effectively handled subjects related to the Entertainment Society of Goa, Goa State Information Commission, Vigilance, Public Grievances, Right to Information Act, Language Unit, Publications, Field Publicity, Films, Exhibitions, Publicity and Schemes being implemented by the department for the welfare of the journalists fraternity amongst other things.
For several years he served as a nodal officer for the Republic Day Parade in which Goa presented a tableaux in the national capital, Delhi, as part of the day’s cultural pageantry. Amongst other varied things Prakash Naik also served as Vigilance Officer, Public Information Officer and Public Grievance Officer of the department.
During his tenure at the Margao sub-office at Margao from 1995 to 2005, he effectively handled publicity related matters connected with the South Goa District. In a bid to propagate policies, programs, initiatives, achievements and welfare schemes of the government, Prakash Naik wrote many articles which received notice. He was felicitated by the Ponda taluka, Patrakar Sangh on the occasion of Tilak Punyatithi. He was honoured by the State government on the occasion of National Press Day for his contribution in creating awareness about the Covid-19 pandemic in the state. He was president of Shree Satyanarayan Devasthan located at Shiroda and is presently the president of Askan Bhajani Mandal.
In a span of over three decades Prakash Naik was always a hard working and dedicated officer and his ever helpful nature won praise for him from department staff. Present at the farewell function were joint director-DIP, Ganraj Morajkar, senior officers, staffers. Assistant Information Officer Shyam Gaonkar compered the function.
INFOSYS UNDER ATTACK
INFOSYS has been accused of evading Rs32,000 crores of GST. Infosys set up an overseas subsidiary companies to service clients and co-ordinate with headquarters. The overseas companies include expenses to the branches in export invoices seeking refunds. The GST department insists that the services are an export and subject to tax. Infosys claims that GST is not applicable to these companies abroad.
IT MINISTER: Rs784 CRORE TO BE SAVED
THE GBBN broadband initiative has successfully connected 1,906 locations across the state, including government offices and Gram Panchayats, to the internet. If aligned to the state requirement, central government scheme of Bharat Net 3.0, the state will save INR 784 crore on infrastructure and operation, as highlighted by Information Technology Minister Rohan A Khaunte in a Legislative Assembly session on July 31, 2024.
The Goa Broadband Network (GBBN) which aims to establish a high-bandwidth broadband network across the entire state, facilitated by UTL, has successfully connected 414 locations and has also linked 1492 extensions from existing locations, significantly enhancing digital infrastructure in Goa including government departments, village panchayats, and schools locations.
The IT minister was addressing concerns raised by opposition leader Vijay Sardessai, regarding the Goa Broadband Network (GBBN) connectivity, and provided a comprehensive clarification on the GBBN. He stated that the revenue generated through GWAVE, the network’s service provider, stands at INR12 crore.
The minister explained that in 2018, the government took on PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to provide expert guidance on the project. Following a rigorous tender process, United Telecom Limited (UTL) emerged as the successful bidder to manage the network. Khaunte highlighted the cost efficiency of the project, noting that the government spends INR22.80 crore per year on the initiative. In comparison, BSNL had quoted INR106.45 crore per year, which was high in comparison with 22 crore paid annually to UTL. Key government utilities relying on this service, include police department crime criminal tracking system, finance department, ePagar, Smart City CCTV Surveillance, the entire e-District (Goa Online ) project that provides 241 services of 38 departments online, high and district courts, others, benefit from the enhanced connectivity.
AWARENESS ON NEW CRIMINAL LAWS
THE Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry conducted a public awareness talk on the three new Criminal laws which came into force in the country from July 1, 2024. The keynote speaker was renowned advocate of Mumbai High Court Adv Ashish Chavan, who is also the Counsel for Enforcement Directorate ( ED) in Mumbai High Court. Rahul Gupta – SP Crime, Cyber Crime & Traffic, was the chief guest at the function presided over by GCCI past president Ralph De Sousa, while Sanjay Amonkar co-ordinated the event
Adv Chavan made the talk interesting by interacting with the audience and asking probing questions. The Indian Home Ministry recently announced the enactment of three new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, coming into effective from July 1, 2024. The bills generally speaking repeal the British-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively. The new laws overhauled the Indian criminal justice system and aim to revamp, replace the dated colonial laws, by considering implementation of justice through a victim-centric approach, increasing focus on national security and introducing digital/electronic evidence reviews, making them priorities of the laws.
Adv Chavan stated that colonial laws of the British era are now scrapped and the focus is now on justice (nyay), citizen (nagrik) and suraksha (security). The new sections provide for e-FIRs, mandatory recording of statements of survivors of sexual violence, and compulsory videography at the time of search and seizure, and they expand the definition of documents to include electronic or digital records, emails, server logs, computers, smartphones, laptops, SMSs, websites, and messages on devices.
Terrorism has been defined under criminal laws for the
first time. The definition includes armed insurgency, subversive activities,
separatism, and challenging the integrity and sovereignty of the country. In
the new laws, priority is to justice instead of
punishment, speedy-trial and speedy-justice instead of delay, and protection of
victims’ rights
The new laws also set a deadline for the completion of all procedures, which
upon full implementation will end the endless wait for justice
The sedition of British times is abolished and Adv Chavan added that some
people are spreading lies that in the new laws remand period has been
increased, but it is not true; in the new laws the remand period is the same as
before for 15 days. \
For the first time, “community service” has been introduced as one of the punishments in Section 4 of the BNS, 2023. It has been specifically provided for six petty offences, like non-appearance in response to a proclamation, attempt to commit suicide to compel or restraint exercise of lawful power of public servant, petty theft on return of theft money, misconduct in public by a drunken person, defamation, etc. It introduces the reformative approach in the punishment scheme which is aimed towards achieving “nyaya” in the society. He cautioned to be prudent in posting/forwarding messages on social media.
SP Crime Rahul Gupta said that the software for filing E-FIR will be launched shortly. As per the new laws complaints can be sent by E mail/whatsapp which needs to be authenticated within three days. One of the major change introduced in new criminal laws is “recording of crime scene through any audio-video electronic means preferably mobile phone.” The use of videography in crime scene investigation is a significant step towards improving the quality of evidence and strengthening the criminal justice system he added. He also explained the Zero FIR.
The talk was supported by the International Legal Alliance, the Kare Law College and VM Salgaocar College of Law.
RAINFOREST CHALLENGE 2024 WINNERS
AFTER a week-long intense competition in the Rainforest Challenge 2024 Dr Mohammed Fahed VP and co-driver Rajeev Lal from Kerala emerged as the winners. The duo won the 10th edition of India’s biggest and toughest off-road motorsport competition with an overall score of 2,165 points out of 2,600 which they got after competing in 26 Special Stages (SS) that tested their off-road driving and co-driving skills, their team coordination and their vehicle’s capabilities under extreme off-road conditions.
Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co-driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka claimed the second position with 2039 points while Anand V Manjooran (co-driver Vishnu Raj) from Kerala took the third spot in the ranking table with 1874 points. N Abinav Reddy (Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy) from Hyderabad and Cedrick Jordan Da Silva (Mackvin Dias) from Goa also made it to the Top 5 with 1802 and 1781 points respectively.
RFC India was launched by Cougar Motorsport in 2014 as the India Chapter of the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia, which is ranked among the top 5 toughest off-road races in the world and which has regional chapters in over 30 countries worldwide.
Organized annually in Goa with approvals from Goa Tourism, it is the longest running international off-road motorsport competition in India. The 10th edition of the mega event witnessed participation from 26 teams, consisting of some of the most evolved off-roaders of the country. The top three drivers of RFC India 2024 have won free entry to the RFC Global Series 2024 Finale to be held in Malaysia at year-end.
Expressing his happiness on winning the most coveted off-road motorsport trophy in the country in his fourth attempt, 38-year-old Dr Fahed, a paediatrician at an Ayurvedic government hospital in Kerala, said, “It’s a dream come true for me. RFC India is the toughest off-roading event in the country and in order to perform well, you need to be consistent throughout the competition as well as keep your brain engaged to come up with ideas on how to tackle each challenge. Unlike previous years when we played safe and tried to preserve the vehicle till the end, this year my co-driver Rajeev and I decided to go all out. Moreover, I had my family and my crew’s full support and they motivated me throughout to perform to the best of my ability.”
Congratulating the winners Cougar Motorsport Director Ashish, observed, “Off-roading is like a cult sport in Kerala and after years of sustained attempts by teams from Kerala, I am glad that the RFC India Champions trophy is finally going to God’s Own Country. It’s heartening to see that the level of vehicle preparation and competitors’ skills are now truly international and at par with anywhere else in the world.”
44-year-old Ujjal Namshum, runs a tea plantation in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh and was participating for the third time this year. Recounting his experience, “I have come to compete in RFC India after a gap of five years and this time I had a bigger and more powerful engine in my vehicle as well as the best co-driver in the country. Chethan is a brilliant strategist and he knows exactly where he has to be at any given point in an SS. This helped us save time and get the fastest timings in 11 of the 26 SS of the competition. Unfortunately, we had a few topples and since my vehicle was new, it took me a few days to get used to the car. This cost us majorly and we were unable to retain the lead we had taken in the first two days of the competition. It’s disappointing that we did not win but I thoroughly enjoyed myself, especially in the Special Stages that had speed runs.”
Apart from the Overall RFC India 2024 Champions and category winners, some special awards were presented. Goan driver Cedrick Jordan Da Silva, the only driver who has competed in all the 10 editions of RFC India, was given the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. Digvijay Sinh Parmar from Daman & Diu as well as Subhash Utekar were declared the ‘Rookie of the Year’ while Rajeev Lal from Kerala won ‘The David Metcalfe Jungleman Award’ this year. The father-son duo of Daulat Deepram Choudhary and Gaurav D Choudhary from Pune won the ‘Most Unique 4X4’ trophy. Team Mars won the ‘Environment Award’, the ‘Best Service Team’ award went to NC Garage from Kerala and Team Steel Heads got the ‘Team Award’ at RFC India 2024.
JOURNALISM, WRITING HAVE POWER TO SHAPE SOCIETY & NATION: DIPAK BANDEKAR
Journalism and writing have the power to shape the nation and society. It is essential that they are used responsibly and effectively, said Dipak Bandekar, Director of the Department of Information & Publicity, while speaking as chief uuest on the 104th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, organized by the Goa Union of Journalists and Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh in Panaji on August 2, 2024.
Bandekar highlighted Tilak’s notable contributions to the freedom struggle, including the founding of the Kesari and Maratha newspapers and his initiative in starting the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav. He expressed concern over how the festival’s focus has shifted, with less emphasis on social service and community involvement despite its continued celebration with enthusiasm and devotion. DIP Director Bandekar also called on individuals to adopt even a small portion of Tilak’s virtues, suggesting that doing so could help us collectively honor his legacy.
In his keynote address senior journalist Rajendra Desai discussed the transformation of journalism and the growing influence of social media over print media. He expressed concern that as print media focuses more on revenue, the traditional journalistic principles of informing the public and delivering truthful news are increasingly being compromised.
Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) President Rajtilak Naik welcomed everyone while Anant Sambhaji, (President of the Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh) also spoke on the occasion.
The program was compered by Vithal Gawade and Subhash Naik (Secretary, Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh) gave vote of thanks. Senior journalists were present for the function.
Journalism and writing have the power to shape the nation and society. It is essential that they are used responsibly and effectively stated Shri Dipak Bandekar, Director of the Department of Information and Publicity,while speaking as the Chief Guest on the 104th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, organized by the Goa Union of Journalists and Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh in the city today.
Shri Bandekar highlighted Tilak’s notable contributions to the freedom struggle, including the founding of the Kesari and Maratha newspapers and his initiative in starting the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav.He expressed concern over how the festival’s focus has shifted, with less emphasis on social service and community involvement despite its continued celebration with enthusiasm and devotion. Shri Bandekar called on individuals to adopt even a small portion of Tilak’s virtues, suggesting that doing so could help us collectively honor his legacy.
In his keynote address, Shri Rajendra Desai, Senior Journalist, discussed the transformation of journalism and the growing influence of social media over print media. He expressed concern that as print media focuses more on revenue, the traditional journalistic principles of informing the public and delivering truthful news are increasingly being compromised.
The function began with a welcome address from Shri Rajtilak Naik, President, Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ). Shri Anant Sambhaji, President of the Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh, also spoke during the occasion.
The program was compered by Shri Vithal Gawade, and Shri Subhash Naik, Secretary , Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh, delivered the vote of thanks. Senior journalists were present for the function.