ONIONS RS60, CRY!
DUE to heavy rains and disruption of supplies from Belgavi or old name Belgaum, the prices of vegetables in Goa have shot up steeply. The price of onions is Rs60 kg, from Rs35 last week. The price of garlic has gone up to Rs400 per kg. The prices of other vegetables like potatoes have also increased steeply between Rs50-Rs60 kg. One medium size elongated bitter gourd with the pavement vendors is now Rs10 each (Rs5 only till recently). Prices are being hiked by Rs10 straightaway and now the humble tender coconut water coconut is Rs50 and threatening to rise by another Rs10…most every vegetable is Rs10…a carrot, a cucumber, for Rs50 take ten tomatoes or one bottle gourd.
DIVAR, JACINTO UNDER THREAT
AFTER Vanxim, Divar and Chorao islands it is the Sao Jacinto island on the way to port city Vasco da Gama which are under threat from the real estate lobby. Ironically, current Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira has proposed that an island resort be set up in Goa. This means selling an entire island to an international hotel chain.
Islands in Goa are not tenanted and not barren land islands. Any resort on an island in Goa will mean the dislocation of its inhabitants. Even the Vanxim island which the Church sold off has a local residential population, church, church schools, other establishments which are now being threatened by a marina which is coming up courtesy a holiday resort…this inspiration to develop a money-spinning island resort comes from Singapore’s Sentosa island which offers 4.71 sq km, water parks and five-star hotels for tourists. However, Sentosa island in Singapore which is something like 500 hectares (1.82 square miles) in size is a far larger island, than Goa’s tiny Vanxim or for that matter Sao Jacinto island near Vasco which is less than two km in size. These are basically islets of the river Mandovi or let us say sister islands of Chorao and Divar.
However, imagine if the Mandovi river is slowly dying courtesy everything that has been happening in Karnataka where its head waters rise….then it is quite possible that’s it will be just a matter of time the islands of the Mandovi will fuse together to become one large contiguous island, more and more land and less and less river waters. So, do we want to save our perennial rivers and water resources and peace of life, or do we want more and more hotel resorts in Goa…till Goa itself ceases to exist give or take a few decades?
BADLAPUR ACCUSED SHOT DEAD
THE accused sweeper Akshay Shinde in the Badlapur child molestation case was shot dead by the police. Akshay Shinde was being escorted by the police when he was being shifted from the Taloja jail to the Thane Crime branch office. Police claimed that Shinde had seized a gun from a policeman and shot at them. The police claim to have staged an encounter in self-defence. The Bombay high court however has observed that it is hard to believe that Shinde was shot in an encounter with the pistol.
Justice Chauhan comments: “It is hard to believe that a man of slight build such as the accused could not be overpowered by the four policemen in the van when he turned violent….” The judge also pointed out that without training it is difficult to use the pistol. The high court has asked for evidence of the alleged encounter.
NOTICE TO BHUTANI PROJECTS
THE Sancoale panchayat on September 25, 2024 decided to issue a show cause notice to the promoter of the Bhutani mega luxury project in Sancoale. Parmesh Construction had promoted Bhutani infra to build multi-dwelling units at Sancoale. There are claims and counterclaims over who issued permission for hill cutting for this project. A public interest litigation has also been filed before the Goan bench of the Bombay high court. Meanwhile, Goa Foundation has challenged the amendment to the TCP act which confers power on the government to alter or change zone status from agriculture and orchards to settlement and commercial.
TARGETING MINORITIES
THE Himachal Pradesh government has directed all restaurants and fast food joints including roadside vendors to display the names of their owner on their signage. This may expose who is minority and who is majority community and there may be selective targeting for lynching from radical Hindutva groups. Reportedly, however, the excuse for displaying ownership is to enforce accountability.
The UP government has also reviewed the new directive to demand that all food establishments display the names of owners as well as cooks. The Supreme Court had earlier struck down the orders of the UP government.
HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT IN GOA
A SURVEY by the Central government has revealed that the unemployment rate in Goa is 8.7%, double the national average of 4.5%. The work participation by the labour force in Goa is 39% which is as against the national average of 42%. Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho has attributed the high level of unemployment to migrant labour. Addressing the Goa chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry CII, Godinho asked industries to hire only locals. Godinho claims that social tensions are going up due to a large influx of migrant labour.
NO POPE AT THE EXPOSITION
CONTRARY to the promise of Narendra Modi that he would invite Pope Francis to the Exposition of St Francis Xavier starting November 21, 2024, apparently, the BJP government has not extended any invitation to Pope Francis in Rome, Italy. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also promised to take up the matter with the prime minister. At the time of writing this it does not appear as though Pope Francis will visit Goa during the Exposition. Earlier, Pope John Paul II visited Goa in February 1986.
SUBSTANDARD DRUGS
THE Central Drug Standard Authority has revealed that a batch of “Pulmosil” drugs manufactured by Sun Pharma were substandard. Similarly, the popular drug “Pantocid” used for acid reflux has been found to be of poor quality. Over 50 commonly used drugs have been declared unsafe including popular brands of antibiotics including “Amoxicillin.”
TOURISM BIGGEST DRIVER NOW!
TOURISM has become the biggest driver of Goa’s economy, and so it’s important to train and create human resources to ensure Goans get the maximum benefit of jobs emerging in this sector, said Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant while speaking as the chief guest at the Yuva Tourism Clubs Meet organized by the Department of Tourism as part of the run-up to World Tourism Day celebrations (September 27), held at the Goa Raj Bhavan on September 26, 2024.
The CM added, “If we fail to create human resources people from outside Goa will come and take up those jobs. Yuva Tourism Clubs is an initiative to engage youth in tourism. It is a platform for youth, even the unemployed youth, to come forward and take up jobs in this sector which is fast expanding with the entry of varied forms of tourism like spiritual, wellness and other emerging forms of tourism.” He also urged the Tourism Department to invite selected youth to become part of its team when organizing world tours.
The Yuva Tourism website was launched along with a handbook on Yuva Tourism. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte in his take said the Yuva Tourism Clubs will be a medium to promote and foster unity and peace through tourism. The clubs will nurture leadership and team building towards responsible and regenerative tourism at school and college level. The future of tourism is in young ambassadors hands, he said, adding, “You have the power to shape the world.”
Present at the function were Director of Tourism Suneel Anchipaka (IAS), Secretary- Tourism Sanjeev Ahuja (IAS), President of Travel & Tourism Association of Goa Jack Sukhija, among others. Deputy General Manager-Marketing, Hotels, IT and Public Relations Deepak Narvekar proposed the vote of thanks.
BE COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC GOALS
MINISTER for Law & Judiciary Aleixo Sequeira advised student community to be committed to academic goals and achieve success in life, while speaking at an annual felicitation program organised by South Goa District Madgaon School Complex Co-Operative Credit Society held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on September 24, 2024.
He lauded the efforts of South Goa District Madgaon School Complex Co-op Credit Society towards the betterment of students and teaching fraternity. He also congratulated the meritorious students and their teachers. State Co-ordinator, Samgra Shiksha John Silveira stressed on initiating various efforts towards skills development in students. If young students are equipped with various technical skill it will help them to become independent. Vice-Chairman of the Credit Society Tulshidas Dessai also spoke on the occasion. Chairman Babaji Sawant detailed the various initiatives implemented by the South Goa District Madgaon School Complex Credit Society towards the welfare of teachers and students. Also present were secretary Sandeep Redkar and treasurer Lourencia Rebello and others.
YUVAGYAN – A STIMULATION FOR WIT
ARVIND Khutkar, director, Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, inaugurated “Yuvagyan: A Stimulation for Wit,” a one-day State-level seminar for youth organized by the Government Higher Secondary School, Sanquelim, in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs at GHSS Hall, Sanquelim on September 24. During the event, Khutkar encouraged participants to seek knowledge and foster positive societal changes. He emphasized the importance of self-determination in moral choices and highlighted the importance of NSS Day.
Awards for the Best NSS Volunteer, Program Officer, and Unit at the State level will be honoured soon, he informed. “The art of living is giving,” he stated, urging youth to contribute to their communities. Others who were present included seminar co-ordinator Sameer Prabhu, Lina Chari, in-charge principal, Dr Siddhi Naik, Pravin Sabnis, Amrut Singh, Petrisan Andrade who featured a musical concert. Aditi Shetye from GHSS Sanquelim served was compere while Hasina Shaikh proposed the vote of thanks.
GRAM NYAYALAYA AT VALPOI
A GRAM Nyayalaya at Valpoi was inaugurated by Principal District & Sessions Judge and chairperson of the North Goa District Legal Services Authority, Irshad A Agha on September 21, 2024. The event was organized by the District & Sessions Court of North Goa in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, was held at the Administrative-cum-Commercial Building in Valpoi.
A Agha emphasized that the purpose of the Gram Nyayalaya is to deliver speedy justice at grassroots level, “Criminal and civil cases will be addressed through a mobile vehicle that will travel to various locations.” He explained that this initiative aims to assist citizens who cannot afford to visit conventional courts, providing them with access to legal advocates and the justice they deserve. Advocate Yeshwant Gauns (president, Valpoi Lawyers’ Forum) highlighted the importance of accessible justice, “It is a fundamental right of every citizen to receive justice.” He praised the innovative approach of bringing justice directly to villages.
The program also included informative sessions on legal aid schemes by advocate Shivaji Dessai, and discussions on schemes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by Sashikant Narvekar and Bhingo Gawas, respectively. The function was compered by Anuradha Andrade, Ad-hoc Senior Civil Judge & JMFC, Bicholim with Waseem Rizvi, Civil Judge Junior Division and JMFC, Bicholim, delivering the vote of thanks. Other attendees included Rajan Sawaikar, advocate, Valpoi; Shantashri Sinai Kudchadkar, secretary, District Legal Service Authority, North Goa; and various officials from the court, students and others.
The Gram Nyayalaya, established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, aims to ensure that justice is accessible to rural populations, particularly in remote areas. With jurisdiction over the Gram Panchayats of Sattari taluka, the court can operate as a mobile unit; bringing justice directly to the communities it serves.
VMSCL – GIPARD ‘PROJECT POSH’
IN a significant step towards creating safer work environments in educational institutions, VM Salgaocar College of Law, in association with the Goa Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development (GIPARD), inaugurated the workshop series of Project POSH (Phase 3) on August 16, 2024. The workshop, aimed at empowering the Internal Committees (ICs) of high schools across Goa. The workshops are conducted in VM Salgaocar College of Law and GR Kare College of Law.
The first workshop for North Goa was inaugurated by Dr Seema Fernandes, Assistant Director of GIPARD. The principal of VM Salgaocar College of Law, Dr G Shaber Ali, welcomed the participants and shed light on the program’s objective: preventing, prohibiting, and redressing sexual harassment in workplaces and schools across Goa. The workshops for South Goa schools was inaugurated by Dr Goretti Simoes (principal, GR Kare College of Law).
Project POSH is an initiative of VM Salgaocar College of Law in collaboration with GIPARD to make all workplaces in Goa safe from sexual harassment and comply with the Sexual Harassment of Women At Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013. Under the project, the ICs of all higher education institutions and higher secondary schools have been completed in its first and second phases. Project POSH was supported by the Department of Higher Education, the Department of Education and SCERT.
Workshops like these help in creating the idea that educational institutions are not just places for learning, but also spaces where everyone: students and employees alike, feel secure. With this initiative, VM Salgaocar College of Law and GIPARD are taking concrete steps to strengthen the safety of workplaces for women across Goa.
Under the guidance of Prof Dr MRK Prasad and Dr Sandhya Ram, the coordinators of Project POSH, the initiative will train the ICs of around 440 high schools in Goa. Adv Emidio Pinho is the consultant resource person for project POSH. A total of twelve faculty members from both the Law Colleges and Goa University are the resource persons. The third phase of Project POSH started on August 16 and concluded on September 23, 2024.