ON Wednesday, February 5, a US army plane carrying 104 Indian illegal migrants landed in Amritsar in Punjab. Of the migrants deported by the Trump government 35 hailed from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 33 from Punjab, three from Uttar Pradesh and two from Maharashtra. Among the migrants deported were 13 minors, six girls and seven boys aged between four and 17 years of age. The average age of the deported migrants is 25 years. There is a strong possibility that more illegal migrants will be sent back to India. Unlike governments of Mexico and some other countries India has agreed to take back its illegal migrants.

AGA KHAN DEAD

AGA KHAN, head of the Shia Muslims of the world, passed away at the age of 88 years in Lisbon, Portugal. The Aga Khan was the head of 15 million-strong Shia Ismailis, predominantly they’re from a business community. All the major Muslim business houses in Goa like the Viranis and the Adanis belong to the Shia Muslim sect of Ismailis.

This Aga Khan became the head of the community at the age of 20 years and was selected in preference to his father and his uncle. He was engaged in charitable works across the world and in India too. Bombay was the headquarters of the community till the third Aga Khan left for Europe, where he died on July 11, 1957.

Prince Kareem succeeded Aga Khan-III at the age of 20 and built up a huge empire with investments in luxury hotels and airlines. The Aga Khan Foundation has been instrumental in the redevelopment on the crowded business district in and around Kalbadevi in Mumbai. The present Aga Khan also helped restore the Humayun tomb and the Sundar Nursery in Delhi along with the Kutubsha Tombs near Goldkanda Fort in Hyderabad. The Aga Khans’ last visit to India was in February 2018 as part of the diamond jubilee celebration of his  leadership.

PROTEST AGAINST THE TAJ GROUP

THE residents of Candolim have strongly opposed the commercial development of Sinquerim hill by the Taj Group of Hotels.  The Taj Aguada is located at Sinquerim,  adjacent to the old central jail at Aguada. However, recently, the Taj Group acquired Sinquerim hill for commercial development on a long lease of 50 years. The plan is to set up an entertainment hub at the Sinquerim plateau. The local residents are not keen on this kind of development and they held a protest meeting at the historic Candolim church.

CANCER SURVIVORS

THERE are many prominent survivors of cancer in Goa and amongst them are Gyanpith award-winning author Damodar Mauzo, teacher-actor and women’s activist Prashanti Talpankar. Damodar Mauzo was a patient of the very rare breast cancer (which is not common in men), but fortunately in Mauzo’s case it was detected early, treated and he has recovered completely.

At about the same time Prashanti Talpankar was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She too is in complete recovery. Recently, on World Cancer Day (Feb 4),  Prashanti presented a theatrical monologue in which she sought to educate people on how to detect cancer signs and not to waste time. One may see the presentation on Facebook, it has been shared by Cecelia Rodriguez.

CELEBRITY TB VICTIMS

AMONG the most famous victims of spinal TB is much loved legendry actor Amitabh Bachchan. By coincidence or not Amitabh Bachchan was diagnosed with spine TB soon after he started anchoring the very popular Kaun Banega Crorepati show on television. Bachchan, like many others patients of spinal cancer (including yours sincerely) dismissed his continuing back pain as just back pain caused by sitting around in bad chairs. Indeed, Bachchan kept changing chairs, thinking his back pains would end.

However, his tuberculosis of the sine was detected and he was treated, within a year he was cured of it. Not many perhaps know that now Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador for TB of the spine in the country.

Amongst other famous victims of TB was Kamala Nehru, the wife of the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. But she died of pulmonary TB, that is TB of the lungs, the more prevalent TB, in a sanatorium in Switzerland – she was only 39 years old when she passed on. Indira Gandhi is the daughter of Kamala and Jawaharlal Nehru.

GCCI : UNION BUDGET BOOSTS GOA ECONOMY

THE GOA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had its usual live viewing of the Union Budget 2025-26, presented by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on February 1, 2025. Following the budget presentation, a press conference was held for key stakeholders from Goa’s business and industrial community, who shared their views on the budget’s impact.

GCCI President Shrinivas Dempo welcomed the new budget saying that it prioritizes growth, while addressing cyclical concerns, and laying the groundwork for long-term economic expansion. He highlighted the significant boosting of labour-intensive sectors like agriculture, MSME, footwear and food processing. He expressed his happiness over many of the Chambers suggestions such as tax relief, rationalisation of TDS and boost to MSME, were accepted by the honourable finance minister.

The key highlights of the budget are:

Simplified Taxation: A new Income Tax Bill aiming to simplify compliance and decriminalize taxation
– Increased Thresholds: Higher TDS and TCS thresholds to reduce compliance burdens
– Reduced Litigation: Measures to reduce litigation on transfer pricing issues
– Presumptive Taxation: A presumptive taxation regime for non-residents
– Zero Income-Tax: No income tax up to ₹12 lakh (excluding capital gains)

Mr Dempo believes this budget will transform the middle class financial landscape, boost consumption and personal investments. This insight carries significant weight, given his experience as chairman of the Dempo Group of Companies which has diversified interests in various industries.

GCCI Vice-President Pratima Dhond  appreciated the budget for the benefits it offered Goa’s tourism and fisheries sectors; she welcomed the enhanced credit guarantee limit from Rs5 crore to Rs10 crore, increased medical seats, and the expansion of district hospitals and cancer treatment centers. She emphasized that the decision to develop India’s top 10 tourism sites under private partnership would boost Goa’s infrastructure. She also welcomed the introduction of Mudra loans for tourism-related projects and the increase in the income tax exemption limit to Rs12 lakh, which will greatly benefit lower- and middle-income groups. Several of GCCI’s demands had been addressed in the budget.

GCCI Past President Manguirish Pai Raikar praised the budget for contributing to national development under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. According to him the  increased IT exemption limit would boost investment and economic activity.

GCCI treasurer and chairman of the Taxation & Financial Services Committee, Rohan Bhandare,  noted that this was the eighth consecutive budget presented by the current finance minister and that people’s expectations were largely met. He welcomed the increased threshold limits for MSMEs, the rationalization of custom duties, and the removal of double taxation on transactions subjected to both TCS and TDS. The budget would enhance consumer spending and economy positively.

GSIA president, Anirudh Dempo, praised the government for exceeding expectations, particularly in personal income tax reforms, noting the increase from Rs2.5 lakh in 2014 to Rs12 lakh now. The focus on nuclear energy, acknowledging the strategic importance of diversifying energy sources beyond wind and solar as well as social security measures, insurance, and healthcare are  welcome.

 Milind Shirodkar of ICAI Goa appreciated the budget’s focus on the four pillars of the economy — agriculture, MSMEs, investment and infrastructure. He  praised the government’s approach of Trust First & Scrutinize Later in personal taxation.

VIA president, Kalpak Arware, acknowledged the boost to exports and the resolution of the inverted duty structure, considering it a major win for the manufacturing sector; AGTPA’s Santosh Patil described the budget as all inclusive, while GSIC’s  Pravin Dhapodkar said it was a forward-looking and mature budget, highlighting the extended gestation period for start-ups and its focus on sectors crucial to Goa’s economy. Chairman of IEA Goa Region Anwar Khan praised the government’s continued investment in infrastructure, acknowledging the significant boost provided to various sectors.

Overall, the Union Budget 2025-26 has been well received by industry leaders in Goa, with expectations that it will drive economic growth, foster innovation and enhance the business environment in the state and the country at large.

HOW CAN WE TRUST THESE PEOPLE?

Are Americans in USA finally sitting up to listen to the feisty Massachusetts-based Dr Shiva Ayyadurai, EMAIL inventor, MIT graduate several times over and Covid hero extraordinary…a pity President Donald Trump didn’t listen to him, if he had a lot of American lives could have been saved!   

TRUST who? The people who spend our money to build up their own personal fortunes to kingdom come! It’s the same everywhere. Corruption is a monumental global problem as the gap between the haves and have-nots grows mind-bogglingly.

We have always been in awe listening to the Massachusetts-based systems biologist and crusader keen to bring down the powers-that-be in government, who make policies to fleece, cheat, and bring working class Americans to their knees. The inner cities in the US are in a mess, says Prof Shiva Ayyadurai, he is now almost into five years of campaigning to be a senator first and then presidential candidate – an attempt thwarted over and over again in high places including the Supreme Court. He’s started a most unique movement going called the TruthFreedomHealth.com movement to teach people how they can vote for a change for a kinder, safer, more equitable world.

Says Ayyadurai in one of his latest message,   “We are not here to be diplomatic to people who are fascists, we are here to accelerate human change…go study, you have an F right now in my class!” He urges working class Americans across all walks of life to pay heed to his insightful words, to join his movement to bring down those who seek power, profit and control to build up their own financial empires, at the cost of public infrastructure for the many whose votes are sought — but the machines are fixed at elections time by techno whizz kids!

Take our advice, join the truthfreedomhealth.com movement, the fastest growing movement in USA today. Dr Shiva Ayyadurrai’s call is irresistible. We hear him loud and clear and pray he wins his battles and wars to bring Liberty back to the US of A!

RENEWABLE ENERGY AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE!

THE government aims to provide free electricity to households by facilitating the installation of rooftop solar panels. This was stated by Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy Resources Ramkrishna alias Sudin Dhavlikar, in his address after  inaugurating a two-day training program – “PM – Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana” — (grid connected solar rooftop systems) in Panaji on  February 3, 2025. He said the scheme offers a subsidy of up to 40 percent to households, making renewable energy more affordable and accessible.

The program was organized by National Power Training Institute, Ministry of Power (government of India) and it is to empower residential households to generate their own electricity and increase the share of solar rooftop capacity. The scheme is being implemented under National Programme Implementation Agency (NPIA) at the national level by state implementation agencies (SIAs). The widespread use of solar power will help the government to save electricity costs. This will also  support India’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.         

Chief Electrical Engineer, Department of Electricity, Stephen Fernandes, said  that routine sources of energy are not sufficient and we have to strive for alternative sources of energy. About PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, he said, it will help to generate energy by protecting the environment. NPTI’s Dr Tripta Thakur in her keynote address stressed on the need of allied sources of energy and enlightened the participants about the central government Muft Bijli Yojana.

 IGDGM MNRE, Raman, superintending engineer Mayur Hede, engineers and others participated in the workshop, along with Director, National Power Training Institute (Bangalore) Sanjay Patil who welcomed everyone.      

DIGITAL HEARING AIDS ARE HERE!

THE Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Cell, Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Goa, informs that in a significant step towards improving hearing care services in Goa, the NCD Cell is collaborating  with Dmello Telepower, a key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner. The  partnership has secured a financial contribution of Rs22 lakh, to procure 290 state-of-the-art digital programmable hearing aids. These hearing aids are  supplied by Oticon (Denmark) and will be made available to eligible beneficiaries across both district hospitals in Goa.

Compared to traditional analog models, the advanced hearing aids provide a refined hearing experience, greatly improving the quality of life for individuals with hearing impairments. The project aims to ensure that those with  hearing loss have better access to modern, effective hearing assistance technology. The initiative also focuses on capacity-building for healthcare professionals. ENT surgeons and audiologists from both district hospitals and the GMC & Hospital have undergone comprehensive training sessions.

SCHEMES FOR WOMEN ARTISANS

THE Candolim Legal Aid Cell of the Legal Aid Society, VM Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar, organized an awareness talk on “Exploring Government Schemes for Women Artisans” at the Shantadurga Devasthan Hall, Candolim, on January 31, 2025. The session had an attendance of over 50 members from the Mahila Mandal of Candolim. The program was attended by Prof Siddhesh Tari  (professor in-charge, Candolim Legal Aid Cell), Sonali Vernekar (block project manager) and Anita Mahale (inspector, Department of Handicrafts, Textile & Coir) who was resource person. 

Ms Mahale provided insights into various government schemes, including the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, initiatives by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises which the mahila mandal could benefit from, and training programs such as the Vishwakarma Kaushal Yojana and Swavalamban Yojana. She also highlighted skill development initiatives like handloom weaving, carpentry, tailoring, embroidery, and sewing machine repair. 

During the interactive question answer session, Lata Naik (block resource person) proposed a field visit to artisan workshops and training camps, a suggestion welcomed by attendees, with over 20 women expressing interest.  The program was efficiently conducted by the Candolim Legal Aid Cell members, Pooja Thakur  compered the event, Achal Candolkar  introduced the cell’s initiatives, Maria Fernandes delivered the vote of thanks, while Anshika Harmalkar and Avika Naik coordinated the proceedings.