WOMEN DOMINATE COMPITITION
OF the 15 films in the competitive section of IFFI nine have been directed by women. One of the most anticipated films is “Fear and Trembling,” a world premier from Iranian film maker Manijeh Hakmat and Faezah Azizikhani. Which shows the struggle of older women grappling with fear and loneliness. “Gulizar”, a debut feature film from Turkish writer and director Bilkish Bayrak go into the life of a young women who is a victim of trauma. Canadian director Maryam film “Who do I belong to?” is about a woman torn between her love for her son and his dark secret. French film-maker Louise Courvoisier’s film “Holy Cow” is a drama about an 18-year-old whose carefree life is interrupted when he was forced to take responsibility for his younger sister. “Pierce” directed by Singapore filmmaker Nelicia Low explores sibling rivalry. The Indian entry “The Goat Life” by Blessy Thomas tells a story of a migrant worker’s survival in Saudi Arabia.
CHARGES AGAINST GOANKAR
AN audio clip in which an angry job seeker is demanding his money back from Sanvordem and BJP MLA Ganesh Gaonkar has gone viral. The job seeker claims to have paid Rs7 lakh to the minister for getting a government job. The recording has been exposed by social activist Sudeep Tamhankar who has filed a complaint with the Ponda police station.
In the audio clip the job seeker is heard saying “You have come to my place for almost five years. I paid Rs7 lakh to Monserrate of which you have paid me Rs1 lakh. When will you pay me the rest of the amount.” A person with a voice similar to Gaonkar is heard in the four-minute recording. The police are checking out the authenticity of the recording.
CERTIFICATE SCAM
THE Goa police have unearthed a new scam of forged education certificates. It has been alleged that Niraj Gawade received fake certificate from a distance-learning university. The accused Bindi Parab admitted that he had been issued a fake educational certificate from multiple institutions. The fees charged varied between Rs25,000 and Rs35,000 for secondary and higher secondary certificates. Parab charged Rs55,000 to Rs1.5 lakh to degree certificates. Payments were received in cash or through Google Pay.
CYBER SEX RACKET
THE CID branch of Panaji has blocked access to 78 escort related websites. The police claim to have arrested two suspects from Andhra Pradesh offering young women and girls to tourists through escort websites. The dealers fix the deals and payments and cash is collected via Googlepay or PayTm. The accused are also running similar escort services in Bengaluru and Chennai. The question needs to be asked: Are Indian women becoming richer or poorer at the bottom of the rung of the good life?
PAYTm SCAM
WE received a message on Truecaller allegedly from PayTm claiming that I had won Rs20,000 which was waiting to be deposited in my account. We were asked to press a button to avail of the offer. When the button was pressed a message claimed that I had an opportunity to earn Rs500! We do not know whether these messages are from PayTm. Online is full of such scam messages and do not get carried away by them. If something sounds too good to be true, it is a scam.
WIDOW THREATENED
A SENIOR citizen staying at the Sonata building at Miramar-Dona Paula bypass road received a threatening call saying that she had cheated the Customs of huge amounts of money. The senior who is not social media savvy tries to switch off her mobile. The caller warned her that all her actions are being monitored. She was also directed to switch off her camera and to remit over Rs5 lakh in compensation for hr wrongdoing. The stressed out senior called her neighbour more savvy than her and she managed to confront the caller and saved herself from being conned. Moral of the story is always take demands for money over phone calls with some caution and do not get afraid, unless you have something to hide and are afraid of being caught out.
TOURISM CONTROVERSY
RICARDO D’Souza, a partner of Titos Baga, has posted that charter tourism to Goa has dropped by 60% from earlier peak levels. Even the Travel & Tourism Association of Goa has admitted a drop in tourism arrivals compared to pre-Covid years.
Tourism arrivals have picked up this year but they are nowhere near former peak levels. It’s unfortunate that Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte is trying to mislead Goans who know better that foreign tourist arrivals are back to pre-Covid times.
Industry sources claim that south Goa has received a better response than north Goa this current ongoing tourism season. Most five-star hotels have been booked till mid-February. Budget hotels however are facing stiff competition for apartments available on rent.
`CHITPAKULIN’ & `GANDHARI’
KONKANI literature mogi make it to the release ceremony of two books in Konkani, namely “Chitpakulin” and “Gandhari” by Datta Damodar Naik on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 5pm at the Fomento Amphi Theatre, Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao. The books will be released at the hands of well-known writer Mukesh Thali and Prasad Lolienkar, Secretary of Education, who is the chief guest.
Also to be released are the Hindi, English and Konkani translations of the Marathi book “Atmabipo Bhav” — a book on personality development and management written by Datta Naik. The books have been translated by Chetan Acharya, Vibha Lad and Dilip Prabhudessai.
“The Jungle Shala,” a Konkani translation of the English book “The Jungle School” also written by Datta Naik and translated by Mansi Dhauskar will be released during the same function. All books are published by Bimb Prakashan. A new Youtube channel in English — “Datta Naik Speaks” – will also be launched during the function.
The function is open to all and all Konkani lovers are invited for the occasion according to a press release by Dilip Borkar of Bimb Prakashan.
GOA PAVILION AT IITF, NEW DELHI
GOA Pavilion at the much-awaited 43rd India International Trade Fair, an initiative of India Trade Promotion Organisation (A Government of India Enterprise), based on the theme “Vikasit Bharat @2047” was inaugurated by Director of Information & Publicity Dipak Bandekar on November 14, 2024.
Present at the mega event were Assistant Information Officer—DIP Shanto Naik and Siddhesh Samant, administrative Officer–IPB; also Sadashiv Pandit, manager, Goa Tourism Development Corporation; Sahadev Gaonkar, deputy manager, Goa Waste Management Corporation; Rohan Ghadi, engineer; Krupesh Dessai, project scientist, Goa State Council for Science and Technology; Deepak Parab, mentor, Department of Science & Technology; Shivraj Naik, project assistant, Goa State Biodiversity Board; Rupesh Velip and Arvind Naik. A brochure titled “Atmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna Goa” was released.
IITF is the largest integrated trade fair with a wide spectrum of business, social, cultural and educational dimensions that are weaved together where visitors and exhibitors, media persons, marketing professional, social activists, NGOs, etc, visit to source their needs and objectives. Government organisations use this platform to spread awareness about their programs and policies among the public.
The fair is set up on space admeasuring 203 sqmts earmarked by ITPO in Hall 3 (New Hall) designed in line with this year theme emphasising Goa’s rich cuisine, with inputs of Goan hospitality and achievements via audio visuals, small hoardings and photographic display.
The Goa Pavilion offers visitors a lively presentation of Goa’s rich cultural heritage and showcases local arts and crafts amongst other things. Kaavi art is represented for the first time. This distinct artwork is inspired by temple architecture and makes most of the most of earthy red and white murals celebrating Goa’s coastal culture. Built-in shelves are incorporated seamlessly to accommodate different handicrafts from coconut craft to pottery.
The Goa Pavilion features Goa’s coastal cuisines redolent of a variety of freshly ground masala, along with traditional sweets like dodol and bebinca. The Department of Tourism, GTDC, Department of Handicrafts, Textile and Coir, Goa Investment Promotion Facilitation Board Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation; Goa State Biodiversity Board; Goa Waste Management Corporation and Department Of Science, Technology and Waste Management are all participants in the fair with effective display of their schemes and products. Goan artisans have stalls marketing Goa’s art and craft and they will be there for the 14 days of the mega fair till November 27, 2024.
Sanman Kenkre and Aryan Khedekar, owners of Mirchi Republic Media Production have conceptualized, designed, erected and they will manage the Goa Pavilion and its allied activities on themes chosen by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under whose initiative IITF is being held in New Delhi every year. The fair was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal. Managing Director, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Ravi Dhawan (IAS) visited the Goa Pavilion. In the past the Goa pavilion has won accolades and been adjudged as the best pavilion for display among the smaller states in the country. A highlight of the Goa Pavilion will be performances by Goan artistes on a daily basis to enthral visitors.
SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE OPENS
GOA now has its own “Rising India School of Excellence.” This very first preschool in Goa opened on November 14, 2024 in the presence of several dignitaries. Reportedly this is Goa’s first truly international pre-school and is located at Dona Paula, capital city Panjim. The one-of-its-kind pre-school is committed to transforming early childhood learning and it marks the company’s foray as the one and only premier international school chain designed to elevate education in the rising cities of India.
Present for the unveiling of the school were Inspector General of Police Omvir Singh Bishnoi; president of the Travel & Tourism Association of Goa’s Jack Sukhija; chairman of Red Cross Society and city hotelier Gaurish Dhond and Tanvi Sawant, president of Rotary Club of Panaji Riviera. RISE International Preschool is designed to nurture curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young children in the age group of 1.5 years to 6 years, providing an innovative D.I.S.C.O.V.E.R.Y based curriculum and environment that prepares them for the ever-evolving world.
The school spread across 10,000 sqft is uniquely built with 20+ experiential learning zones and 50% of the space dedicated to outdoor play. The experiential learning areas include Pretend & Play, STEM, Library, Performing Arts, Sensory walks, Art Expression, Water Play and much more.
Speaking on the occasion CEO & founder Payal Gaba, expressed her vision for Rise Early Learning, stating, “We are extremely proud to bring a revolutionary approach to early childhood education starting with Goa. This is the one of many schools that we shall open across the Rising cities of India with the vision to elevate education and nurture thinkers, innovators and leaders who will shape country’s ascent as a global powerhouse. Our revolutionary Discovery Mind Model™ is designed to foster creativity, curiosity, and confidence from the early stages of child’s development. Our state-of-the-art facilities, enrichment programs, and a global-standard curriculum make us confident that this pre-school will set new benchmarks for early learning in India.”
The preschool’s proprietary D.I.S.C.O.V.E.R.Y curriculum is designed to equip children with the modern knowledge, skills, and mindset required to thrive in the 21st century. The curriculum integrates learning across dimensions of Design Thinking, Imagination, Scientific & Computational Thinking, Outdoor Play, Vocabulary & Language development, Ethics, Reflection and Yearning to learn.
Police chief Bishnoi said, “My one advice to all parents is to make your child fearless. We adults instil fear in our children. There is only fear around us. Make your children fearless. Goa is a safe place and will be safe.”
Gaurish Dhond opined, “Everyone wants to give their child the best of education and RISE India School of Excellence brings that excellence to Goa, which is a rising destination.” The Rise Early Learning curriculum ensures an intimate and focused educational environment with a 1:8 adult-to-child ratio, allowing each child to receive personalized attention and care. Enrichment programs such as Music, Drama, and Foreign Language are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, promoting not just academic growth, but a well-rounded development of creativity, empathy, and expression.
Tanvi Sawant emphasised that holistic education is essential for keeping cultural learning alive among children. “The best thing about Goa is its people. I’m delighted about the opening of the school. It’s important to remember to keep Goa’s culture alive and pass it on to the next generation, to our children of tomorrow,” she said.
The curriculum is supported by a team of globally trained experts, including Baljeet Oberoi (education director) and Dr Shilpa (pre-school head), the team holds expertise and experience across innovative educational models such as the Finnish, Reggio, Montessori, and Krishnamurthy. Admissions for the mid-session of AY 24-25 and new-session of AY 25-26 are now open for ages 1.5 – 6 yrs with the school to start operations on November 18, 2024.
IFFI TRAFFIC ARRANGEMEANTS
THE 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 will be held in Goa from November 20 to November 28, 2024 with the opening and closing ceremonies at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukhejee (SPM) Stadium. For streamlining the smooth movement of vehicular traffic during this festival period, elaborate traffic arrangement have been made.
Those attending opening and closing ceremonies on Nov 20and 28 and coming from North and South Goa (except Panaji) are requested to come via NH 66 and on reaching GMC Bambolim, take the Goa University road to arrive at the venue.
Those coming from Panaji should come via Taleigao or Dona Paula; the INOX lane (General Bernard Guedes Road) i.e. road leading to D B Marg from Panaji market along INOX complex will be closed near CCP market complex for the entire period of 09 days. Car passes will be issued by ESG indicating the category of pass and respective parking lots.
The parking lots identified for the opening and closing ceremony are Zone – A1: Parking lots inside Dr Shyama Prasad Stadium, Zone – A2: Open space adjacent to SPM, near overhead water tank and for invitees in the open space adjacent to SPM stadium, Goa University Cricket Ground and near AIR compound.
During the screening at INOX on November 20, 2024 vehicles with VIP passes will be park in the INOX parking lot and invitees’ vehicles will be in the lanes near the Directorate of Health Services. On other days of the festival vehicles with car passes may park in the Kala Academy parking lot, INOX parking lot, the service lane along INOX theatre. Vehicle without car pass may park at SAG and football grounds
Vehicles will not be allowed to park on the DBB Marg. Motorists are requested to note the same and co-operate with Traffic Police to ensures smooth flow of traffic in the city and at the venue of the festival.
DR SANJAYA BARU & ROHIT BANSAL AT ICG ON NOV 28
MEDIA experts Dr Sanjaya Baru and Rohit Bansal will interact with each other at the International Centre Goa (ICG) on Thursday, November 28 at 6 pm as part of ICG’s “Patrakar” series. ICG director Dr Pushkar will be the moderator. This event is free and open to the public. Dr Baru is a distinguished fellow, United Services Institution of India and has been editor of the “Financial Express” and “Business Standard” newspapers. His many important assignments include being, director for geo-economics and strategy, International Institute of Strategic Studies (UK) and media advisor to former prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. He has authored many books, which include, the “Accidental Prime Minister” (2014) and “The Class and a Cultural Revolution” (2021).
Rohit Bansal is group head of communications, Reliance Industries Ltd. A media leader and influencer, Bansal is listed in this year’s global Holmes List of 100 top, in-house communicators in the world. A multiple TEDx speaker and a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, Bansal serves on the national executive of FICCI and the inaugural industry-academia forum of CII.
Those interested in attending this session are requested to RSVP +91 92844 75746.