PROLONGED THUNDER STORMS
AS IF as a parting kick the departing monsoon ushered in a stormy thunder and lightning and fabulous sunrises and sunsets into Goa every evening since October 7. While the day time presented sunshine and is all well by 6pm the sky turned heavy with grey clouds and thunder and lightning sent people on the streets scurrying for shelter, there were also accompanying heavy rains to cool the nights.
The MET department has revealed that during the 24 hours on Wednesday, October 9, Goa recorded 103mm rain in 24 hours. The historical Holy Spirit Church in Margao saw one of its roofing structures affected by vivid lightning strikes. On Tuesday night, October 8, over five flights scheduled to land at Dabolim airport were diverted to Bengaluru and Hyderabad because of the bad weather. Hot sweltering October has yet to set in and we hope November won’t end up as the new hot sweltering month instead of October! The weather gods are unhappy with all the tree cutting going on in Goa.
GOA TIGER RESERVE!
THE National Tiger Authority has overruled Minister of Forests Vishwajit Rane and directed the Goa government to demarcate a part of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Sattari taluka as a tiger reserve. This is on the basis of a survey by the Wildlife Board which has confirmed tiger sightings in the sanctuary area.
This tiger reserve is necessary to create a corridor for the larger tiger habitat in Karnataka. Rane has been opposing the tiger reserve as large parts of the Sattari district will be diverted to the tiger reserve. Though the excuse is that human settlements will be affected, the real reason is that the area is rich in minerals.
Indeed, former chief minister of Goa the senior Pratapsingh Rane had even opposed the declaration of the Netravali forests as a wildlife sanctuary.
OLD GOA BAN
ACTIVISTS have demanded that former RSS chief Subhash Velingkar must not be permitted to come into the jurisdiction of the Old Goa Panchayat where the St Francis Xavier exposition is due to begin later next month in November, “We need to ensure that Velingkar does not damage the sanctity of the sacred event. Strict action is necessary to ensure that he does not disturb the pilgrims.” In the meanwhile a single judge of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by Subhash Velingkar.
DE-CONTROL SCREEN TIME!
A STUDY conducted by the Directorate of Health has revealed that schoolchildren are beginning to have severe eye problems due to around the clock addiction to smart phone screens. A survey of 23 students from 200 schools revealed that 6% developed refractive errors and were in need of glasses.
Dr Medha Salkar who is incharge of the ophthalmologist’s cell of the Health Services says the eyesight problems are being caused by childrens’ addiction to their smartphone, tablets, laptops, without any restrictions. Amongst eye problems listed are myopia (near-sightedness) hyperopia (far-sightedness) and a number of cases have seen formation of early cataracts.
Will parents or school authorities do anything about these advancing techno addictions as they rebound with health issues?
MEDICO GETS RELIEF
A MEDICAL student, whose mother had to shift to Karwar for a job at the Kaiga atomic power station, had to join the Goa Medical College & Hospital. Her admission was first rejected on the grounds that she was not a domicile of Goa although she had done her 10th standard in the state. She had to shift to Karwar because of her mother’s transfer. However, since her father has settled in Goa the court directed that the daughter should be granted extension from the domicile rule.
RATAN TATA NO MORE!
RATAN Tata the chairman of the $100 million Tata Group of Companies passed away of respiratory problems at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on October 9, 2024. He lived up to 86 years. It’s well known that Ratan Tata transformed the Tata Group from corporate to a global company. Tata Steel acquired Corus, the largest steel maker in the UK. Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover in 2008. Tata Global acquired Tata Tea.
Ratan Tata was a great lover of dogs and his dogs enjoyed separate rooms in his Mumbai house. And for the stray dogs lurking around the offices of the Tata headquarters, he had a ground floor canal with a bathing area, and a team of doctors to treat the strays.
Noel Tata, the younger half brother of Ratan Tata, is expected to succeed him as chairman of the Tata Trust which owns a majority stake in the Tata companies. RIP Ratan Tata, widely recognized as a generous and philanthropic gentleman of the old school of Parsees in Bombay and India.
3 YEARS RI FOR FOOTBALLER
YOUNG football player Monu Kumar has been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment for eloping with a 17-year-old girl. Monu Kumar, 18-year-old footballer, forced the teenager who had just finished her NEET exam at a Dehradun stadium run away with him. On a complaint registered by the girl’s parents the footballer was arrested, even though the girl insisted that she had eloped with Monu voluntarily and so why should he be convicted? It was wrong law. Clearly there is a growing problem with teenage romances blooming between young team players. The Supreme Court has suggested that young people should not be dealt with so harshly.
WORLD STANDARDS DAY
THE Stakeholders Conclave, organised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-Hubli branch office, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Directorate of Industries Trade and Commerce, Department of Legal Metrology Goa, in coordination with DC-MSME and other organisations, was inaugurated by Jayant G Tari (director of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) at the venue of the Taj Vivanta in Panjim on October 8, 2024.
The event’s theme for the 2024 World Standards Day was “Shared Vision for a Better World – Standards for Sustainable Development Goals.” In his keynote address, Jayant G Tari highlighted the critical role standards play in everyday life, “Industries, businesses, and trade have all advanced by adopting standards, a vital step towards excellence.” He emphasized that recognizing standards as integral to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) transforms them from mere technical guidelines into essential tools for facilitating change and addressing complex challenges.
The welcome address was delivered by D P Kumar, Scientist-E/Director & Head of BIS, Hubli branch office, followed by a reading of a message from Ashutosh Agrawal, Scientist-B/Assistant Director. Dr Divya Singhal of GIM conducted a session on “Sustainability and Indian Standards: Promoting Green Manufacturing and Eco-Friendly Practices.” The event featured the Manak Geet theme song of the Bureau of Indian Standards and attendees included stakeholders, BIS Hubli branch officers, government officials, faculties and students. Jessica Sharma compered and vote of thanks was given by Ashutosh Agarwal, Scientist-B/Assistant Director.
ICG’S “STITCHED SHIP” PROGRAM
THE International Centre Goa (ICG) is organising a program on India’s “Stitched Ship” project, a revival of an ancient Indian ocean tradition on Tuesday, October 15 at 6pm. In this progam Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and Captain Saleh Al Jabri, retired officer of the Royal Navy of Oman will speak on the “stitched ship” project which is the brainchild of Sanyal. It is backed by the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy.
Captain Saleh commanded a stitched ship of the Oman Navy on a five-month voyage from Muscat to Singapore in the year 2010. Both Sanyal and Captain Saleh will speak on the long-enduring tradition of stitched ships. Interestingly, work has been underway at Goa’s Divar Island since September 2023 to build a “stitched ship,” a dying Indian Ocean tradition in which vessels were built by stitching wooden planks with coir rope. Other than kettuvallams in Kerala, stitched boats can be found in Goa and in the Lakshadweep islands.
The stitched ship is being built by father-son duo of Ratnakar and Prathmesh Dandekar, who are considered to be among India’s premier boat builders. Babu Shankaran, who was involved in the Oman government’s stitched ship project is also part of this project. The Indian Navy’s stitched ship is expected to be ready next year and will go on a voyage with a crew of 13 members from Cuttack to Bali in Indonesia in November 2025.
FOOD & NUTRITIONAL SECURITY
THE Consumer Protection Committee, in collaboration with Goa College of Home Science, organized a talk on the “National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013” on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the college premises. The session featured Tulsidas Dabholkar, assistant director of the Department of Civil Supplies, as the speaker. He explained to the participants that NFSA ensures food and nutritional security by guaranteeing access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices.
The Act applicable throughout India was implemented in Goa in December 2015. It covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, amounting to 67% of the total population. The welcome address was by Amita Salatry (chairperson of the Consumer Protection Committee, GCCI). Dr Mahesh Pai also spoke on the occasion, while K Sasindran Nair introduced the speaker. Prof Subhash Khautankar delivered the vote of thanks, the program was compered by Sanika Sawant, a final year student of the Goa College of Home Science. The event was coordinated by Prof. Medha Bhate of the college and Melane Rodrigues, Assistant Director at GCCI.
EMPOWERING TO EXCEL
THE recent Student Buddy Initiation Program organized by Vibrant Goa and JCI on September 21,2024 at the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), aimed at generating excitement for the upcoming Amazing Goa Global Business Summit. This precursor event sets the stage for the summit scheduled for November 8-10, 2024 and which promises to attract global business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Chief Mentor Jagat Shah, addressed 400 students from diverse fields, highlighting the transformative potential of participating in the summit. Over 30 past student buddies have secured international placements, while many have embarked on entrepreneurial journeys inspired by Vibrant Goa’s initiatives. Mr Shah’s insights into modern educational approaches highlighted the importance of experiential learning and leveraging AI tools to enhance career outcomes.
Successful alumni included Ashweta Manjrekar, entrepreneur, Krupa Parab, practicing lawyer and Akshay Ingle, engineering graduate, they shared their life-changing experiences arising from their engagement with the summit. Prominent figures present included Arman Bankley, president of Vibrant Goa, and Vinay Verma, chairman of Amazing Goa, the event was coordinated by Yogesh Kerkar, alongside Nirmesh Tyagi and Programme Director Sourav Sen.
The Amazing Goa Summit coming up promises to be a landmark event featuring exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities across various sectors including tourism, healthcare, education, technology, and hospitality. It aims to foster international collaborations and showcase Goa as a premier destination for business innovation and growth.
WRD MINISTER REVIEWS ROAD WIDENING PROJECT IN SHIRODA
MINISTER for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar convened a review meeting to discuss the progress of the road widening project from Tarir, Panchwadi to Khana – Bhat in Shiroda Constituency on October 10. The meeting was attended by the Executive Engineer PWD WD XVIII, Assistant Engineer, Junior Engineer, and the contractor, along with Sarpanch of VP Panchwadi, VP members, Government officials, and a large number of villagers.
Due to the recent rains, the work on the project had been stalled. However, to kick-start the project the minister performed the marking of road widening and laid the foundation stone at the site. This significant step marks the beginning of the project, which aims to improve the connectivity and infrastructure in the region in public interest.
According to the minister they are actively working towards ensuring the development of the infrastructure in the state. His efforts are focused on improving the lives of the people in Goa, and this project is a testament to his commitment to the people of Shiroda constituency. He emphasized the importance of timely completion of the project and directed the officials to work diligently to ensure its success. He assured the villagers that their concerns would be addressed and that the project would be completed with the highest quality standards. Sarpanch of VP Panchwadi Leena welcomed everyone and Christev D Costa, VP member, also spoke on the occasion. Abhay Kamat compered and gave vote of thanks.
DANDIYA CELEBRATION
AS part of SVEEP activities and the enrolment of women in the electoral roll during the Special Summary Revision 2025, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Goa organized a dandiya performance to mark the occasion of Navratri at IMB in the city on October 9.
Chief Electoral Officer Ramesh Verma, IAS, was the chief guest and he said that the primary goal of the event was to ensure that every eligible voter is registered. Everyone over 17 years of age can now pre-register. Registration can be done online or through physical forms. For any difficulties in the registration process, individuals may contact the Collector’s office or the BLO (Booth Level Officer). He emphasized the importance of strengthening democracy and reiterated that voting is essential for all citizens. He concluded with a vision of India becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Earlier, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Triveni Velip welcomed the gathering and shared that ECI has announced the schedule for voter enrolment from October 29 to November 28, 2024. Smt Velip further highlighted the special campaign dates scheduled on November 8, 9, 23, and 24, during which Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be available at polling stations to assist with corrections, modifications, or new registrations.
Eight dandiya groups performed at the function in the presence of Akshaya Amonkar, Mamlatdar-In-Collectorate, North and Dr Gervasio Mendes, Nodal Officer, SVEEP North Goa
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR RETAIL SECTOR
DID you know that the retail sector contributes to a total of 10-12% of India’s GDP and employees around 40-50 million people in India? The retail sector is also a significant employer in Goa, with a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and traditional markets contributing to livelihoods. Modern retail formats are also creating jobs, especially in urban and semi-urban areas. It is estimated that retail trade accounts for around 8-10% of Goa’s GDP.
Currently, retailers in Goa face significant challenges related to regulatory compliance and the formalization of the sector, particularly in areas such as Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation, the adoption of digital payment systems and Legal Metrology Compliances. Traditional stores are under increasing pressure from large retail chains and e-commerce platforms, intensifying the need for them to adapt and innovate in order to remain competitive.
To address these issues and provide retailers with the knowledge and tools necessary to overcome these challenges, grow their businesses, and thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with the Retailers Association of India (RAI), has organized a specialized event, an initiative designed to equip retailers with practical insights on innovation, regulatory compliance, and customer service strategies, empowering them to enhance their offerings and succeed in today’s competitive environment.
The event takes place on courtesy the GCCI in collaboration with the Retailers Association of India (RAI) on October 16, 2024. It will run at the GCCI’s third floor Surendrababu Timblo Convention Hall from 9.30am to 5pm. This is a certificate program on “Laws Relating to Retail in India.” The day-long program of sessions will offer practical guidance on navigating regulations effectively and much more. Attending this program will equip participants with a deeper understanding of the legalities surrounding the retail sector, empowering them to handle contracts, food laws, property due diligence, and compliance confidently.
Furthermore, GCCI’s contribution to the Retail Sector is as follows: It has already submitted a draft Retail Policy to the government of Goa; introduced courses at Goa University; and conducted retail surveys to understand the issues of retailers.