IMAGINE Panaji Smart City Development has started digging again after giving Panaji residents a break during Christmas and New Year. Without any notice or warning the Smart City contractors have started digging up arterial Panaji roads again all over again. The digging has started on MG road from the Don Bosco junction to Caculo island.
The other stretchers are from Geeta Bakery to Dayanand Bandodkar road through Panaji police station and the north Goa collectorate building. The road from St Inez junction to Caculo mall on 18 June road has also been dug up. The smart city boss Sanjit Rodrigues claims that the work will be completed by January 20. Piyush Panchal, a resident at Campal colony has filed a complaint against the Smart City management pointing out that the re-digging is been carried out without prior notice and signage or even proper safety measures. Even traffic police have not been posted to divert vehicles. It’s high time this kind of governance is nailed.
INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES 150 YEARS
THE India Meteorological department (IMD) was established in 1875. It has been carrying out various activities commencing from January 15, 2024 and up to January 15, 2025 to commemorate 150 years of its establishment. This year-long celebration included workshops, training, stakeholder meets, popular lecture series, children’s events, Olympiads, sport events, etc, at various state and regional meteorological centers as also IMD HQ in New Delhi. The celebrations conclude on January 15, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi with a large number of dignitaries participating in the concluding sessions, including one special
IN SWEDEN
HERE we have a Swedish citizen waiting for the train to return home after the day’s work. She bought a burger for her dinner. This is her picture after being asked to pose for a photo. The name of the citizen is Elva Johansson and her job? She is the Minister of Labor, Sweden. She has no caravan of cars, she has no line of guards. She doesn’t even have helpers. Sweden is a rich, developed country, but they show great discipline in the use of public funds! Developing countries can learn from this lady on how to use taxpayers money only for public infrastructure for the wellbeing of the people first. Will India ever be a Sweden?
GOA LEGISLATOR’S DAY CELEBRATED
GOA Legislators’s Day organised by Goa’s Legislators’ Forum, was celebrated at the Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Porvorim, on January 9. It was attended by former MLAs and MPs from Goa. The chief guest was Dr Pramod Sawant and while speaking on the occasion he commended the forum for the meeting. He further said that the Goa government would look into the issues and suggestions raised by the forum on such issues as the river Mhadei issue, clean and green Goa, etc.
The CM assured that the government is working on introducing reforms, and would be making financial provisions to aid these reforms. On the occasion members of the Vidhan Sabha of Goa (1989-94) were felicitated. The CM congratulated all of them and thanked them for their contributions to the wellbeing of Goa.
Goa Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar in his address said that the Goa Legislative Forum has underscored the activities of the forum. He highlighted the Youth Parliament which is one such initiative held to encourage new leadership. All have a role to play to create a bright future for Goa, he emphasized.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said that issues like the river Mhadei diversion, banning casinos and how Goa’s image was getting tarnished are critical areas in need of voicing and redressing.
Treasurer of GLF Sadanand Malik presented the audited accounts of the forum for the year 2023-24. The forum condoled the demise of former members and MLAs Francisco Monte Cruz and Suresh Parulekar who passed away last year. Vice-President of the Forum Victor Gonsalves proposed the vote of thanks. Secretary-Legislature Namrata Ulman was present on the occasion.
DATTA NAIK TAKES ON PRIEST
DATTA Damodar Naik, Margao-based businessman associated with Commonwealth Developers and the Monginis chain has incurred the wrath of the saffron brigade. Satish Bhat has filed a complaint against Datta Naik for his comment that “temple priest are looters.” In an interview with Prudent Media TV channel, Datta Naik reportedly commented “what have temples done in Covid time? There are no crematoriums in the villages. Have they built them like the Catholic Church has done? No schools hospitals colleges, no scholarships, no medical assistance. I don’t give a single paisa to god and religion. Temples are looting money. This priest, the Partagal Math, these temples would have looted me.”
When the FIR was filed Datta Naik was celebrating his 70th birthday and he insisted that he stood by his remarks. Though perhaps he should not have used the word “looters.” Datta Naik has always had the courage to confront the political establishment. I recall that during the BJP government and the chief ministership of Manohar Parrikar, Datta delivered a very powerful speech called Fahrenheit 15, the temperature at which paper burns. Datta Naik has been a rationalist who practices what he believes. In fact, he refused to perform any of the traditional rituals when his mother passed away.
GOMANTAK VIDHYA NIKETAN LECTURES
THE Gomantak Vidhya Niketen, which is the oldest socio-cultural institution in Goa, organised it annual intellectual festival between January 8 and January 12, 2025. The festival featured five distinguished personalities who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. They includes the social entrepreneur Piyush Tiwaril, who pioneered the Good Samaritan law in the country. The second day featured Marathi actress Chinmayi Sumit, who has promoted Marathi theatre and Prasad Gawade, the “Konkani Ranmanus.” The other participants were Carnatic music singer Mansi Prasad. The Vichar Vedh series will conclude with a talk by transgender activist Gauri Sawant. All the lectures will start at 6pm at Gomantak Vidhya Niketan hall in Margao. This will fill the gap created by the withdrawal of the lecture series that were organised by the late chief minister of Goa and India’s defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
HARVARD COMES TO GOA
THE Goa government has entered into an agreement with Harvard University of the United States to improve the quality of education in public schools for the benefits of poor students. Under the program a 100 high performing students — 50 male and 50 female — will be trained at class 11 by students from Oxford. The Harvard students will act as instructors at the higher secondary levels. This will certainly improve the quality of secondary education in Goa.
MICROSOFT TO INVEST IN INDIA
MICROSOFT, the most successful infotech company in the world, plans to invest $3 billion in India in Cloud and AI infra structure. Satya Nadella, visiting India, announced that the company will set up new data centers. Microsoft plans to train ten million Indians in AI skills by 2030.
FIGHTING CYBER FRAUDS
MOBILE phones have become very dangerous as cyber frauds have increased enormously. Cyber frauds often involve identity theft. If you part with your personal information it is likely to be abuse. You can incur huge losses if credit/debit card are hacked. The two most dangerous cyber scams are the quick get rich schemes which offer to double your income through investment in Bitcoins. The images of prominent industrialist like Narayan Murthy and Mukesh Ambani, cricket icons like Sachin Tendulkar and even senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, are being use to fool and con people.
Beware of cyber arrest by people claiming to be police or revenue officials on the claim that you have cheated. Nobody has the right to arrest you or extort money from you on the mobile phone. If you are a victim of a cyber fraud you can report to CERT.in at incident cert.in.org of call up +911800114949.
In case of complaints relating to women and children you can call 1930. If you want to report to the department of Telecommunication (DOT} you can dial 14422. You are advised to delete browsing history. Never share your password of pin with others. Most important do not share your OTP with anyone.
NIHAAL, NISHAD AND SIMRAN CREATE PICKLEBALL HISTORY
MARGAO-based Nihaal Borkar and Colva’s Simran Bundela made pickleball history in Goa, with the former winning a treble and the latter clinching the open women’s singles title. Nishad Shevde, another participant to win the treble in the open men’s singles category, saw the participation of 22 players. Nishad and Sweta Kantak also went on to win the finals of the open mixed doubles with a score of 11-5,10-12, 11-2. Twenty-one teams participated in the men’s open doubles category, with the pairing of Nishad Shevde and Ehrlick De Ataide defeating their opponents 11-8, 11-3.
Nihaal won triple crowns by pairing up with Ruta Borker to defeat Ehrlick De Ataide and Natasha Viegas De Ataide in the 35+ mixed doubles category, which saw nine pairs in contention. Nihaal and Ruta lost the first set 10-12, before winning two sets on the trot, 11-7, 11-9, to win the title. Of the nine teams in the fray in the men’s 35+ doubles category, the summit clash was won by Akhil Lawande and Nihaal Borkar, who defeated Chinmay Kantak and Ehrlick De Ataide 11-6, 11-6. The 35+ men’s singles category saw 11 players in the fray, with Nihaal Borkar defeating Noel Noronha 11-6, 11-5 in two straight sets in the final.
Goa’s tennis ace Simran Bundela won the ladies singles category based on cumulative points against her three opponents who had registered to participate in the segment. Simran won the title on the back of 33 points scored and losing six. The scores for the remaining participants were Tvisha Sardesai (26-13), Solania (14-26) and Sumangali (5-33).
The recently concluded three-day championship, the first such event in the state featuring the world’s fastest-growing paddle sport of pickleball, was organised at the BPS Club in association with the Goa Pickleball Association and All India Pickleball Association (AIPA). The debut championship, which featured 10 categories, witnessed a huge turnout with 123 players across genders and age groups registering to participate in the event. The winners of all 10 categories shared a winning purse of Rs1 lakh approximately.
The men’s 50+ doubles category witnessed the participation of nine teams, culminating in a thrilling clash between Lincoln Furtado and Willy Jaques against Clarence Noronha and Noel Noronha, with Clarence and Noel winning the final match 11-3, 7-11, 11-8.
The men’s singles 50+ category saw seven players in the ring, with Noel Noronha defeating Willy Jacques 11-7, 11-6 in the final. The open ladies doubles category saw four teams participate, with the final clash in the category featuring Audrey Menezes and Melanie Chowgule, who defeated Ruta Borker and Shweta Kantak with a winning score of 11-1.
CM LAUNCHES BIMA SAKHI YOJANA
THE government intends to empower women and make them self-reliant. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant stated this after launching Bima Sakhi Yojana initiative under its flagship program Swayampurna Goa 2.0, at a function organized by Directorate of Planning Statistics & Evaluation in collaboration with Life Insurance Corporation of India, at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan on January 8, 2025.
Around 1,000 women from various Self-Help Groups from all over the State attended the registration drive. The CM told the women that the government has in mind concepts like gas and housing for all, and Bima for all. In this respect there will be 1,000 Bima Sakhi during the next visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Goa. He said under the Rural Livelihood Mission the government provides a maximum loan of Rs20 lakh to Women’s Self-Help Groups to undertake self-employment and to empower them financially is another initiative. He appealed to women to avail of the scheme to secure their future and thus help accomplish the government’s Swayampurna Goa mission.
Sr Divisional Manager LIC-Goa Division Sangita Parab in her address, said this is the scheme implemented by the Central government in the interest of women. The scheme aims to register with LIC of India as insurance agent through which they can earn their livelihood, As an agent, she said, they can work full time or part-time, earning a stipend of Rs7,000 per month for the first year and Rs6,000 & Rs5,000 for the next two years only. Under this scheme if women become agents they can work independently.
Director DRDA-South Dipali Naik, Director-DPSE Vijay Saxena, LIC staff, DRDA North & South and others attended the function. Director DRDA-North Gopal Parsekar proposed the vote of thanks.
FOOD & CULTURAL FESTIVAL CONCLUDES
FOOD & Cultural Festival 2025 culminated in a spectacular celebration of Goa’s rich heritage, cultural and unparalleled culinary treasures. Organized by the Department of Tourism, the three-day extravaganza held at Costa/Dukle Properties, Margao, brought together locals and visitors to revel in the unique charm of Goa. The grand finale was a magnificent celebration of Goa’s cultural vibrancy. The day began with a captivating dance act by the Goan Image Dance Troop, followed by a dazzling singing performance by Rajesh Madgaonkar and Gautami Hede with their troupe.
Adding to all the excitement was another dance performance later in the evening. Music lovers were treated to a soulful session by Nishi Singh and her musicians, while a mimicry act by Manohar Bhingi had the audience smiling. The festival concluded with a power-packed performance by popular band Purple Rain.
Minister of Tourism Rohan A Khaunte, reflecting on the festival, said, “The Food & Cultural Festival 2025 was not just an event but a platform to celebrate and share the soul of Goa with the world. This festival plays a crucial role in promoting Goan culture and cuisine, showcasing our rich traditions. From our diverse culinary heritage to the vibrant performances by local artists, every aspect of this event reflects the unique identity of Goa. We hope events like these inspire more people to experience the essence of Goa, strengthening its reputation as a global destination for culture, art, and regenerative tourism.”
Director-Department of Tourism Suneel Anchipaka (IAS) observed, “The three-day festival engaged both locals and tourists, providing them with a memorable opportunity to celebrate Goa’s vibrant flavours and traditions. We aim to keep hosting events that celebrate our heritage and provide a platform for artists to showcase their talent.”
On January 3 and 4 the festival showcased a blend of culinary heritage and artistic diversity. The opening day set the tone with a delightful array of traditional Goan dishes complemented by captivating cultural performances that highlighted Goa’s unique blend of tradition. The excitement continued on the second day, which celebrated emerging talent and artistic vibrancy. Visitors were treated to melodious performances by singers and vibrant dances by the Goan Image Dance Troop. High-energy acts by Samruddh Chodankar and Vibha Algundage with their troupe kept the crowd entertained, while comedian Saidutt Kamat added a dose of humour. The day also saw an electrifying performance by the band Lace, leaving the audience energized and eager for the grand finale. Adding to the grandeur, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat graced the celebrations on the second and third day, lending a distinguished touch to the event.
As the curtains fall on this year’s festival, the Department of Tourism remains committed to promoting Goa’s culture and sustainable tourism practices. The Goa Food & Cultural Festival 2025 has set the stage for a promising future in showcasing the state’s traditions which embrace innovation and inclusivity.
VM SALGAOCAR EMERGING ARTIST GRANT 2024
SUNAPARANTA Goa
Centre for the Arts is pleased to announce the third round of
applications to the VM SalgaocarEmerging Artist
Grant 2024.
In 2022, we launched the VM SalgaocarEmerging Artist Grant for
young artists to support the advancement of research, practice and production.
In the second edition, Goa-based grantee, Kiran Tamboskar’s ongoing research dwells around the unexplored practice of Nabat, a dhol percussion that is believed to form a spiritual connection between the devotees and the divine.
The third edition of the Emerging Artist Grant program provides support to young artists based in Goa. Selected grantees will participate in a series of learning opportunities that include training, networking, and promotion. The grant will be interwoven with a dedicated professional development course that includes participation in our in-house mentorship program, one-on-one consultations, facilitating network building, along with the eligibility to participate on an exhibition platform.
The grantee will be facilitated by a mentor who will monitor the research and body of work produced over the one-year grant period. Upon completion, the artist will be required to submit a project report along with appropriate documentation, and engage in public discussions and presentations about their work and processes.
For more information on the Open Call,
eligibility, criteria and selection process, Phone: +91 8326750876
(Monday-Saturday, 10am–6pm), Email: info@sgcfa.org
MASS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
THE first-ever mass for the visually impaired pilgrims during the SFX Exposition was celebrated at the St Francis Xavier Training-cum-Production Centre in Old Goa. Fr Henry Falcao, Convenor of the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, was the main celebrant, with other concelebrants Fr Maverick Fernandes, director, Caritas Goa; Fr Savio Fernandes, executive secretary, Council for Social Justice and Peace and Fr Walter D’Souza, in-charge of SFX Training-cum Production Centre, Old Goa.
About 85 visually impaired pilgrims and their assistants from Goa and other states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh participated in the Holy Eucharist.
Fr Falcao, in his homily, stated that St Francis Xavier, who was in love with Jesus, attracted many people to Jesus during his lifetime and continues to charm people even 500 years later. “So many people have come together for this one event to venerate the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier. We are all pilgrims working and walking together in this journey,” he said.
Fr Maverick Fernandes welcomed the visually impaired pilgrims and their companions and spoke of his long association with Blind Welfare Association in Goa. Milagres Costa, convenor, Blind Welfare Association, a visually impaired Goan, presently based in the UK, thanked Caritas Goa for assisting in the organisation of the first ever special mass for the visually impaired in Goa. Later, Fr Savio Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks. Special provisions were made to enable all the visually impaired pilgrims and their companions to venerate the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier at the See Cathedral.