Panaji, September 5, 2017   .. Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar presented State Awards to teachers from different sections of Education at a State Level Teacher’s Day Function organised by Directorate of Education today.  The teachers who were honoured include- Primary section: Smt. Kusum V. Salkar, Govt Primary School Saligao Bardez and Smt. Renuka Maruti Rao Goral, Govt Primary School, Morpirlla Quepem.

Secondary section: Smt. Aruna Rajesh Patnekar-St. Mary’s Convent High School, Mapusa, Shri. Jayesh Manohar Naik- Mushtifund High School, Cujira Bambolim and Shri. Ambrose D’Souza-Dr. Sakharam Gude High School, Vanzagal Shiroda.

Headmaster’s category: Shri. Shrikrishna Saju Naik, Govt High School, Kudchire Bicholim,  Smt. Purnima Ramesh Naique, People’s High School, Panaji and Smt. Pratibha Amul Agranayak, Popular High School Comba Margao.

The State Award for College teachers were presented to Dr. Smitha Bhandare- Kamat- S.S. Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Cujira, Dr. Nandkumar Sawant, Principal of Chowgule College, Margao  and Dr. Bernard F. Rodrigues from Department of Botany, Goa University.

Awards were also presented to taluka Assistant District Educational Inspectors (ADEIs) for generating funds towards teachers in need. The ADEIs of Bardez, Salcett and Bicholim bagged first, second and third places respectively.

Secretary of Education Shri. Daulat Hawaldar, Director of Higher Education Shri. Prasad Lolyenkar, Director of Education Shri. Gajanan Bhat were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister congratulated the Award winners and stated that a teacher build a human being which further forms a healthy generation. “The advantage of becoming a teacher is that- he/she earns satisfaction out of his/her work and is fateful when students climb the ladder of success.”

Shri Parrikar also proposed to change the selection process for these awards from next year. “I am making a suggestion to let the students recommend their best teachers from the upcoming year. Ex- students can also be a part of this process by via online poll.  Reviews from colleagues may also be considered. This will provide us with deserving as well as good teachers and help in maintaining transparency,” the Chief Minister stated.

He also urged the teachers from unaided schools to register for D.Ed till September 15 as it will be made mandatory from 2019. He also spelled out his plans to introduce value education, civic sense, traffic rules and personal hygiene in middle school education as special subjects from September 6-11. “Dispensing machines will be provided to schools by end of this year to ensure health of girl students. Rotary Club had already shared this responsibility in few schools. A person who doesn’t keep him and his surroundings clean may be literate but is uneducated. So, Swatch Bharat and education are closely related and a program will be drafted for primary section.

Our tradition of ‘guru-shishya’ edifies us to respect our teachers. Vice versa, a teacher also, must not keep any question raised by a student unanswered. Let your students learn to think. It is only then we will attain quality education,” the Chief Minister said.

Shri Hawaldar welcomed the gathering. Students of D.Ed College, Porvorim presented welcome song. Shri. Gajanan Bhat proposed vote of thanks. 

Panaji: September 5, 2017….  State Council of Educational Research and Training, Alto – Porvorim will conduct the State Level National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) 2017-18 FOR Std. X and National Means –  Cum – Merit Scholarship Examination (NMMSSE) 2017-18 FOR Std. VIII at 12 taluka centres in the State of Goa on Sunday November 5, 2017 from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

          Students from all recognized High Schools in the state are eligible to answer the State Level NTSE, while as students from Government High Schools and Government Aided School are eligible to answer the (NMMSE) 2017-18. Students from unaided schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Schools with Boardings facility and Navodaya Vidyalaya are not eligible to answer NMMSS.

          Circular cum application form for the above examinations has already been via e-mail to all the schools.

          National Talent Search Scholarship is a very prestigious scholarship. Hence it is appealed the students to participate in large number and make it a grand success.

          The Heads of the schools are requested to obtain the copy of the circular and submit completely filled application forms by September 8, 2017 during office hours at State Council of Educational Research and Training, Alto Porvorim Goa.

Panaji: Sept. 5,2017 … The Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar along with Power Minister Shri Pandurang Madkaikar inaugurated GED Connect Android Mobile App for electricity consumers at Secretariat yesterday.

This App has been developed by REC PDCL and their technological partner TATA Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. The key features  of this App are access bill details, payment consumption history from mobile device.  Tracking of complaints notification registered at call center. On registration of mobile notification through SMS for the planned shutdown and services.   

The Chief Minister speaking on the occasion  said that this is a step towards the fulfillment of the goal of digital India. Through this App he said power consumers  can make   payment of their bills online. Not only this, it will also make easy to know the history of the bill  right from consumption of power, earlier payment, due payment if any etc.

Shri Sanjay Goel Secretary for Power, Shri Nilkanth Reddy, Chief Electrical Engineer,  Shri Salil   Kumar Addl. CEO RECPDCL, Shri Amit Garg, HAD BD Tata Powers Delhi Distribution Ltd.Officials of Electricity Department were amongst those who attended the function.

Panjim, Sept 4: A high level meeting was convened by the Department of Tourism and chaired by Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Govt. of Goa comprising of Coastal taluka MLAs and Village Panchayat Sarpanchas who today unanimously resolved to complete all tourism related infrastructure development projects under Swadesh Darshan within a period of one year.

While the first phase  of the Coastal Circuit  Development Plan covering  beaches of North Goa will be completed within the next six months,  projects envisaged under the  second  phase of  the Coastal Circuit Development  covering  beaches in South Goa is proposed to be  completed within the next one year.

Site inspections for identification of areas for setting up of public conveniences namely toilets, changing rooms, locker facilities on the beach belts will begin from tomorrow and will be completed by September 15.

The Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar addressing the  high level meeting on Monday morning said, “ Goa Tourism  has received  Rs 200 crore (Rs 100 crore in the first phase and Rs 100 crore in the second  phase)  from the Central government under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for  setting up tourism  infrastructure  in the State. It is important that we utilize the money and complete the projects expeditiously so that this infrastructure development gives a big boost to tourism, in particular the beaches, and attracts tourists from all over the world.”

Mr. Ajgaonkar today  impressed on the  Village Panchayats  to  identify land,  furnish all  NOCs and also  obtain  required clearances  for initiating these projects  so as to avoid  hurdles causing any delay in the execution and completion of works.

Ajgaonkar requested the MD GTDC, Mr. Nikhil Desai to initiate the process for CRZ approvals immediately.

The Hon’ble Chairman  GTDC and MLA Curchorem, Mr. Nilesh Cabral  also addressed  the meeting  of  coastal taluka MLAs and  VP Sarpanchas and appealed to the  stakeholders to  extend  their full co-operation  with Goa Tourism  in augmenting tourism  infrastructure in  the coastal areas.

Earlier, Mr. Nikhil Desai, Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation made a detailed presentation of the circuit development plans phase I & II.  A time schedule was thereafter prepared for site inspections starting from tomorrow on the beach belt for identification of land and other issues to start the project development works.

Mr. Ajgaonkar today also impressed on the village panchayat representatives that Goa Tourism is working in the interest of boosting the profile of coastal areas cutting across all party lines.

Present at today’s meeting included, Minister for Panchayat, Mr. Mauvin Godinho, Minister  for Housing Mr. Jayesh Salgaonkar,  Leader of Opposition, Mr. Chandrakant Kavlekar,  Cortalim MLA Mrs. Alina  Saldanha,  Nuvem MLA Mr.  Wilfred D’Sa, St. Andre MLA Mr.  Francis Silveira, Mandrem MLA Mr. Dayanad Sopte along with their respective VP Sarpanchas and members. The Board of Directors of GTDC Dr. M. Modassir, Dr. Shrikant Ajgaonkar, and Mr. Jeet Arolkar were also present.  The Commissioner, CCP Mr. Dipak Desai also attended the meeting.

Coastal areas that will get a fillip under the coastal circuit development plan phase I include Morjim-Keri, Anjuna-Vagator, Sinquerim – Baga.

Coastal areas that  will get a fillip under the  coastal circuit development  plan phase II include  Miramar, Dona Paula, Baina, Colva,  Agonda, Palolem,Benaulim, Cavelossim, Mobor and many others.

Other components namely parking facilities,  CCTVs,   tourist  information centers, solar panels, solid waste management, signage,  seating arrangement at beaches,  mobile  toilet models, GS mapping, cycle tracks, gazebos, drinking water facilities, Wi Fi,  lighting,  rescue boats  and water scooters  will be taken up in the  development plans.

Panaji: September 4, 2017 …. Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Shri Pramod Sawant administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected members of the Goa Legislative Assembly Shri Manohar Parrikar and Shri Vishwajeet Rane in his Chamber at Assembly Complex, Porvorim today.

 It may be noted that the bye elections to the Panaji and Valpoi Assembly Constituencies was held on August 23, 2017 following the resignations of Shri Siddharth Cuncolienkar for Panaji constituency and Shri Vishwajeet Rane for Valpoi Constituency.

 Minister of State for Aayush (Independent charge) Shri Sripad Naik, Revenue Minister, Shri Rohan Khaunte, Panchayat Minister Shri Mauvin Godinho, Leader of Opposition Shri Chandrakant Kavlekar and MLA’s Shri Dayanand Sopte, Rajesh Patnekar, Smt. Alina Saldanha, Praveen Zantye, Prasad Gaonkar and Shri Siddharth Cuncolienkar former MLA were present on the occasion.

Panaji: September 4, 2017 …. Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar has extended his warm and very sincere greetings to the teaching community of Goa on the occasion of Teacher’s Day to be observed on September 5.

In his message, the Chief Minister says that Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, whose birthday is celebrated as Teacher’s Day was a teacher par excellence, a great Philosopher and a noted educationist. “While celebrating Teacher’s Day, we respectively pay homage to him and recall the monumental role played by teachers as builders of the nation,” he says.

Shri. Parrikar has appealed the teaching community of Goa to draw inspiration from Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and discharge their duties with renewed sense of dedication and commitment.

Panaji : September 2, 2016 …… In order to effectively implement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the villages, the Governor of Goa Dr. (Smt.) Mridula Sinha, who is also the brand ambassador for this national programme has announced Rs. 50,000/- each to two cleanest villages, one in South Goa and another in North Goa, by September 2017.

The rewards will be presented to the concerned Village Panchayats on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, 2017, at Raj Bhavan. In this connection the Chief Secretary has been requested to send a communication to all the Village Panchayats so that they can rejuvenate their activities.

The Chief Secretary has also been requested to form two Committees, preferably under the Chairmanships of the two District Collectors to survey and recommend the names of two cleanest villages qualifying for the awards by September 15, 2017.

Earlier, the Governor had announced Rs. 1.00 lakh to the cleanest city among Panaji, Mapusa, Ponda, Margao and Vasco. The award will be presented to the concerned Municipal body on December 19, on  Goa Liberation Day at the At-Home Reception at Raj Bhavan.

Panaji: Sept. 1, 2016 …. Maintaining that the State Government is committed to provide better health facilities to the people of Goa, the Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant  Parsekar said and added that an amount of Rs. 4500 crores will be spent to construct Superspeciality hospitals in the State. The Government, he said has already initiated efforts to ensure that the benefit of health care facilities are availed by rural populace on par with urban population.

The Chief Minister was speaking after launching the unique Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), a scheme to provide universal Health cover through Insurance for the entire resident population of Goa in the distinguished presence of Dy. Chief Minister Shri Francis D’ Souza, MLA and Chairman EDC, Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar, Shri Sudhir Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Health, Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Dr. Sanjiv  Dalvi, Director Health Services, Dr. Pradeep Naik, Dean GMC at function held at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panaji, today.

The Chief Minister said DDSSY would cover entire resident population of the State, residing Goa for five years and more. He said benefits under this Scheme are provided on a cashless basis to the beneficiaries upto the limit of their annual coverage i.e. cover upto Rs. 2.5 lakhs per annum for a family of three or less members. Cover upto Rs. 4 lakhs for a family of four and more members. The Insurance benefits can be availed individually or collectively by members of the family besides these, facilities will be available at the doorsteps in rural areas with the nearest private hospital and people may not travel long distances. The Specialized services not available in Government hospital can be availed from private hospital wherever available in Goa or outside the State, he added.

The Chief Minister who presented consent letters to 19 private hospitals empanelled under scheme on the occasion for the welfare of the people of the State and said that this was the endeavour of Government and the launching of DDSSY is decisive step in this direction. Government, he said is spending 100 crores in health sector for providing health infrastructure so that the benefit are derived by the people of Goa. Efforts, he said will be made to see that Goa emerges as a medical hub in the Country.

Dy. Chief Minister Shri Francis D’ Souza in his address said DDSSY was launched on Goa Statehood Day  May 31, 2016  and the benefits of the scheme will be made available to the population of Goa from the September 1, 2016. He said if there are discrepancies in scheme will be modified to make it effectively operative.

The Dy. Chief Minister said the notion of the people is that the private hospitals are providing better treatment facilities as against the Government run hospitals. In this context he said this scheme will give scope for competition as the DDSSY scheme has been made operational by empanelling 19 private hospitals in the State.

The Dy. Chief Minister said the Government has deposited an amount of 14 crores with the Insurance Company for the implementation of the scheme.

Earlier Shri Sudhir Mahajan, IAS, Secretary, Health welcomed. Dr. Vandana Dhume compere the function.

Panaji: Sept. 1, 2016 …. Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant  Parsekar has said that the role of the Physical Education teacher is very important as he strives to inculcate different social values like sense of sportsmanship, team spirit, unity, togetherness etc. He acts as a guide and mentor, of the students and to encourage and motivate children to be active in life, he added.

 Shri Parsekar was speaking after inaugurating state Seminar for Physical Education Teachers for Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools on “Role of Stakeholders for promotion of sports and games organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs in collaboration with all Goa Higher Secondary Schools Physical Education teachers Associations (PETA) at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panaji, today.

 Shri Parsekar said that Government has given more thrust for strengthening adequate infrastructure for schools in the state. He said, compared to other schools in the country the infrastructure provided to schools in Goa is far better. He said, the physical education teacher shoulders unique responsibilities in the school physical activity programms to ensure that students remain physically active.

Shri Siddharth Kuncokienkar, MLA and Chairman of EDC speaking on the occasion appealed to the teaching community to promote yoga in schools for the wellbeing of younger generation. He Shri Kuncokienkar referred to the proposed Panaji smart city and said initiatives will developing  jogging track, walking parks will be taken to the benefit the public..

Chief Minister felicitated to Shri Ankush Prabhu, Physical Education teacher of VVS Lad High School Physical Education teacher and Shri Vinod Dhamaskar, Physical Education teacher of R. M. Higher Secondary School, Margao by presenting mementos, shawl and sriphal on the occasion.

Shri V. M Prabhudesai, Director of Sports welcomed the guests. Shri S.A Haldankar Asst. Director proposed the vote of thanks.