XMAS GREETINGS FROM MODI
ON behalf of the BJP, Narendra Modi along with Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, wish Goans a merry Christmas — in an advertisement released by the BJP. Secretly, the government of Goa has released an advertisement on behalf of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. The Department of Tourism has also released an ad on behalf of Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte. Among the Goan politicians who greeted Goans on Christmas day was Yuri Alemao, Leader of Opposition. The beef traders in south Goa have called off their strike due to a nasty incident involving Hindutva bhakts (as they are called), but reportedly this is too late as good Catholics have already done their Christmas shopping. The beef vendors have suffered losses and that’s a source of joy for some perennial malcontents.
CHRISTMAS COMMERCIALISED
THE official magazine of the archdiocese — Renovaca — has expressed regret over the fact that Christmas has become commercialized Christmas has crossed the boundaries of Christianity and entered into the commercialized world. Whether one has faith in Jesus Christ or not business is conducted in his name, says Fr Alexio Menezes. The market economy has captured Christmas from the religious realm and placed it on the racks of shopping malls. Even Christmas dances are sponsored by corporations including liquor companies. The article has urged Christians to bring back Jesus in their life!
MISSING PENSIONERS
A SURVEY has revealed that as many as 400 of those enrolled for the Dayanand Social Security scheme (DSS) are either dead or not traceable. The survey was conducted in October 2024. There are 26,000 beneficiaries aged 80 years and plus, plus under the DSS scheme. Similarly, has been found that a lot of young women registered for the Ladli Laxmi Scheme are not eligible under the rules. So there appears at least to be a big scam with regard to government schemes. Who cares. Not the government of the day.
MEDICAL INSURANCE CLAIMS
A SURVEY has confirmed the shocking fact that in private medical insurance that only one in 35 makes a claim. That’s how difficult it has become to make a claim, difficult enough to make it impossible to collect. The main culprit is apparently Policy Bazaar. Though they have been advertising prompt response. In contrast, public sector insurance company Oriental Insurance has a much better record as they reject only one in 500 claims. The real culprits are the third-party agents who are hired by the insurance company to examine and approve the claims.
CHRISTMAS IS FORMAL
IN the European tradition Goans still dress up formally in their suits to attend Christmas mass. The women are in their best Western dresses. The dances organized by Goan clubs are strictly formal affairs. The hotels of course do not impose a dress code as most of those who attend Christmas events are tourists and many of them Indian Hindu tourists. Till today for good Catholics Christmas is a family affair to drink, eat, dance and pray together.
NO GOOD SCREW IN IIT MUMBAI
A CONDOM manufacturer is among the biggest sponsors of the annual Indigo festival at the Indian Institute of Technology campus in Mumbai. There were banners up at the IIT campus *always up for the good screw*. The other banner was even more provocative which said we found the Jee spot. This refers to an intimate part of the female anatomy. Following protests from women students, the advertisements were taken down.
CATHOLIC LEAVING GOA
MANY villages in Goa have been depending on NRI remittances for survival. Radharao Gracious, advocate and former MLA, points out that there are branches of four nationalised banks in Majorda village with a population of only 8,000. The banks have been flourishing on huge NRI deposits. But correspondingly they have not been extending any loans to Goan families. In fact, the fat deposits are used to extend loans to non-Goan outsiders.
This is true of Goa as a whole. Goa accounts for a significant part of deposits in banks. But loans given are less than half the sum total of the deposits. Goa has one of the lowest credit deposit ratio in the country. More and more Catholic family have permanently migrated from Goa. This could lead to the shutting down of bank branches as they will have no business.
The migration of Catholic families has also affected the usual spirit of Christmas in Goa. We live in a predominately Catholic housing society at old Caranzalem. Over 80% of the flats are owned by Catholics who live abroad or in newer homes elsewhere in Goa. Most of the Catholic flat owners have migrated and rented out their flats to bhaile like us. The absence of Catholics is most noticeable during Christmas in the old complex in which we have rented a two bedroom hall kitchen flat. We did not here any jingling bells or listen to carol singing and even the strings of bright lights are missing where we stay, although all around in the surrounding back lanes the Catholic homes and even the not so Catholic homes are festooned with festive garland lights around and about the premises, not forgetting the trees. It’s lights twinkling away along with colourful or single color white starry lanterns shedding a soothing light. Where has the spirit of Christmas gone?
EMPLOYEES NEVER RETIRE
AT the Marriott resort where we celebrated our Christmas, I ran into a veteran staff of VM Salgaocar Corporation. This was Mr Anthony E Barreto, former company secretary, who is now a director and chief legal officer of the Dattaraj Salgaocar group. The whole family-run companies in Goa follow the Japanese tradition of keeping their employees for a lifetime. There is no retirement age and old-timers for the group continue to work as long as they are fit or wish. This is true of media staffers employed by Pallavi and Shrinivas Dempo’s “The Navhind Times.”
UNIVERSAL RELIGION
UNLIKE Hinduism which is limited to India mostly, in Goa both Christianity and Islam are global religions. Christianity is more powerful as it is the religion of the more prosperous, powerful and highly industrialised West. It is the protestant form of Christianity which is dominant in the United States and much of Europe, with the exception of Italy where the Roman Catholic Vatican State is located.
Islam, with its origins in the Middle East, has also spread globally through conversions and migrations.
The clash of civilizations between Christianity and Islam continues to this day. Both religions are institutionalized religions believing in the right to conversions, unlike Hinduism where there traditionally there has been no prostelysation. While Catholics integrate with local communities, Muslims usually like to retain their separate and exclusive identity. Perhaps this is why there is increasing resentment against Muslim migrants across Europe and the United States. It’s an old hostility.
VAJPAYEE BIRTHDAY
CHRISTMAS day is the birthday of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former prime minister. In fact, over a decade ago, we remember Prime Minister Vajpayee celebrating a Christmas weekend at the Taj Exotica in Benaulim. On his birthday the then Health Secretary Reena Rey had taken a group of handicapped children to wish Atal Bihari a happy birthday.
Among other Indian political leaders who like to spend Christmas and New Year in Goa is late prime minister Rajeev Gandhi’s family. Year after year this Gandhi family including Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka with the grandchildren come to Goa to spend Christmas and New Year at the Leela resort although since this one of Capt Krishnan Nair’s resort has changed hands…we are not sure where the Gandhi family is staying this Christmas and New Year season to usher in 2025! They cherish their privacy while in Goa instead of splashing it around like other politicians.
UIDAI EXTENDS FACILITY OF UPDATING DOCUMENT TILL JUNE 14, 2025
UPDATED Aadhaar helps ease of living, better service delivery, enables accurate authentication and continued accurate information on Aadhaar database. So the public is advised to take advantage of updating their Aadhaar card with supporting documents.
This is in the interests of residents, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has advised residents to update their supporting documents at least once by submitting Proof of Identity (P01) & Proof of Address (POA) in Aadhaar on completion of 10 years from the date of enrolment for Aadhaar. The Aadhaar Update Services can be availed at any Aadhaar Centre on payment of a nominal fee of Rs50 approved by the UIDAI.
The UIDAI has extended the facility of updating documents through “My Aadhaar” portal free of cost up to June 14, 2025. Aadhaar is a random 12 digit Unique Identification Number issued to residents to establish the resident’s unique identity which cannot be reassigned to any other individual. Aadhaar is mandatory, especially where proof of Aadhaar is condition/pre-requisite for receipt of government subsidy, benefit or service. Although, Aadhaar document update is not mandatory it is a preferred procedure in order to have the Aadhaar card up to date.
KAMAXI COLLEGE OF CULINARY ARTS SPREAD CHEER
STUDENTS and faculty of the Verna-based Kamaxi College of Culinary Arts (KCCA) recently whipped up a festive storm, preparing a spread of Christmas delicacies to mark the season of cheer. Under the watchful eyes of the faculty, the college’s aspiring chefs worked their magic in the kitchen, blending ingredients to create a patisserie feast to celebrate joy, love, togetherness to sum up the Christmas spirit.
“Christmas is the time for joy and good times,” said Parixit Pai Fondekar, founder of the Kamaxi Group. “Families come together to bond, to celebrate with joy and fun and we’re proud to recreate that spirit with our Kamaxi family.” The lunch feast wasn’t just about food cooked and served but a sensory celebration of the season, an opportunity for students to display their skills and connect with Christmas traditions.
LOKOTSAV TO SHOWCASE GOAN ARTISTS
THE Directorate of Art & Culture is organizing a special exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Goan artists and sculptors during the annual national level folk dance festival of Lokotsav 2025. This is organized in collaboration with the West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Rajasthan from January 17 to 26, 2025 at Kala Academy, Campal, Panaji. The special exhibition is to boost Goan artists and sculptors and showcase their artwork for ten days at the national level folk dance festival.
Entries are invited from Goans artists and sculptors to submit one artwork/sculpture before January 11, 2025 during office hours at the Kala Academy office. Please submit entries along with a covering letter mentioning details of the artist/sculptor at the time of the submission. For details contact on 08322404630/2404606/600.
GOOD GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES
THE Office of the Collector, North Goa District, as part of the ongoing Good Governance Week, organized a District Level Workshop on Good Governance Practices/Initiatives at Sanskruti Bhavan, Directorate of Art and Culture, Panaji. The workshop was graced by Daulat Hawaldar, IAS (retired), who highlighted the importance of trained personnel in delivering services efficiently and effectively. He talked about the bureaucracy in the state and stressed the importance of routine service delivery, ensuring that work is done diligently and on time.
While acknowledging the benefits of new technology, Hawaldar underlined that face-to-face contact is very important for enhancing human value in governance. Sneha Gitte, IAS, Collector, North Goa, also addressed the gathering, stating, “Good governance is about making the right decisions and ensuring their effective implementation. It serves as a bridge between the government and the public. The public should feel assured that their work is being handled swiftly and efficiently when they approach government services.”
Sagun Velip, Director of Art and Culture, shared his insights during the event along with other speakers who included Sanjivani Satardekar, Jt. Mamlatdar II, Tiswadi; Dattaprasad Toraskar, Jt. Mamlatdar III, Tiswadi; and Ishwar Madkaikar, Deputy Collector (DRO) of North Goa. The event was attended by Pallavi Mishra, Deputy Collector and SDM, Sattari, North Goa; Mahadev Araundekar, Additional Collector I, North Goa; Mamlatdars; officers and staff from the North Goa Collectorate and several other dignitaries.
The inaugural address was by Suyash Khandeparkar, Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition). The event was compered by Blossom Castelino and Pravin Hire Parab, Additional Collector II, North Goa, proposed the vote of thanks. As part of the ongoing Good Governance Week from December 19 to 24 special camps were organized to address the grievances of the general public related to government departments.
NATIONAL CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY CELEBRATED
THE Consumer Rights movements have created awareness among people about their rights as consumers and safeguarded them. The movement has gained importance and taken root among people, said Secretary Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS while addressing a function to celebrate National Consumer Rights Day on December …, 2024. It was organized by the Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs at Institute Menezes Braganza hall in the city.
Speaking further Sanjit Rodrigues stressed the need to reach the consumer rights movement at the grass root level. It has been noticed that incidents of fraud and cheating are on the rise. People are cheated right in front of their nose. It has therefore become necessary to educate and spread awareness among people about their consumer rights.
He said the government has enacted various laws to protect the rights of the people. This is not sufficient because people equally have to respond and cooperate. The celebration of National Consumer Rights Day is an occasion for us to renew our commitment towards the cause of protection of rights of consumers, he reiterated.
Chief Editor, Direct Selling Today, Rahul Sudan, who was the keynote speaker, enlightened the participants about empowering the modern consumer and modern dynamic business landscape through a power point presentation. A magazine on Landmark Judgements for the year 2023, brought out by Goa State Consumer Commission, was released by chief guest Sanjit Rodrigues.
President-Goa State Consumer Commission Bela N Naik, Convenor GOA CAN Roland Martins, consumers, students, staff of the Civil Supply department and others attended the function. Director-Department of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Jayant Tari welcomed the gathering