August 8, 2014 …. Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar has exhorted the people of the State not to be a part of regressive society and urged them to join hands together to wipe out the dreaded killerHIV/AIDS, especially the stigma attached to the epidemic.

 Shri Parrikar was speaking at the Legislative Forum on HIV/AIDS organized by Goa State AIDS Control Society and Goa Legislative Assembly with the support of AIDS Control at Assembly Complex, Porvorim, today.

 Shri Parrikar citing the example of the recent incident at Rivona mentioned that common sense needs to be used to come out of the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS. Stressing the need to know why, how and through what it can or cannot be contradicted.  We need to be vigilant and arrest the spread of this disease which is spreading mostly due to ignorance, he added

 He further informed that Ebola is at the forefront of the major disease affecting the globe at present. Ebola is a disease in which the red cells busts internally taking human life instantly, he added.

 Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Shri Rajendra Arlekar speaking on the occasion underscored the need to change our thinking and have one’s own self control. He said, self control can do away with such illness while our positive thinking can bring a total change towards the affected people and show the way to others while pointing out that the problem lies with not the people who are infected but with people who are not infected with the disease.

 Health Minister, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar said it is the State dream to have zero new infections within 4-5 years time.  Goa being a literate state and the annual infective detentions being reduced every year can definitely be brought down, he remarked.

 Complimenting the GSACS for the wonderful job, the Health Minister said Goa has a total of 15484 people inflicted with HIV/AIDS infections has been having a reduction in fresh detention at 523 people from 1100 person every year since 2009-13.

 He stressed the need to create awareness among the Panchayat/School and rural areas.  The stigma/discrimination attached to such epidemic needs to go and we can do it in our own way by playing a small role of social responsibility, he said.

 Principal Secretary(Health), Shri Parimal Rai in his welcome and inaugural address gave the statistics of HIV/AIDS cases prevalent in all parts of Goa  Salcete(18.4%) Mormugao(12.8%) Tiswadi(11.5%) and Bardez(14.5%) highlighted the very basic step of delaying the inevitable, i.e prevention and then prolong our life through intervention  once infected. 

 Shri Rai called upon the people to play a role in prevention of HIV by sharing information and providing our support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

 Dy. Chief Minister, Shri Francis D’Souza; Minister for PWD, Shri Ramkrishna(Sudin) Dhavlikar; Co-operation Minister, Shri Pandurang(Deepak) Dhavlikar; Dy. Speaker, Shri Anand Shet; MLA’s, Dr. Pramod Sawant; Shri Rohan Khaunte; Shri Subhash Phal Dessai; Shri Ganesh Gaonkar; Dean, GMC, Dr. Pradeep Naik; Director, DHS, Dr. Sanjeev Dalvi Dr. Digamber Naik were amongst those prominent persons present on the occasion.

 The forum was held for the Legislative Members as the action by such members has helped immensely toreverse the HIV and AIDS epidemic in many countries around the globe.

 It was also felt that it helps to advocate for development of new schemes and amendment of existing policies/schemes to make them HIV sensitive apart from as opinion builders, raise HIV/AIDS related issues at public forum, in the meetings of various Districts/State/National committees of which they are members.

 Later, Dr. Madhu Sharma, Project Director gave a brief presentation on the various aspects, objectives and the role Legislative Members can play in removing the myths and misconceptions in the minds of the public about HIV/AIDS  the life threatening disease.

Panaji, August 8, 2014 … The PNDT Advisory Committee discussed about the proposals received from various Clinics for setting up of USG machines, renewal of licenses and related other issues at the meeting held under the chairmanship of  Shri. Swapnil Naik , Additional  Collector  in his chamber at the Collectorate, North Goa, Panaji, yesterday.

          During the course of discussion at the meeting, the Committee  decided to impose  penalty of Rs.10,000/-  on Vrundavan Shalby Hospital for its irregularities  under section 23 of the PC-PNDT act.  In this context, inspection was conducted and show cause notices were  issued to Vrundavan Shalby Hospital.  However, they have  not  complied  which is necessitated as per the act.

          The meeting also decided to issue show cause notice to Goa Scan Centre,  Porvorim  for  non submission of  Form   ‘F’.  The  meeting also decided to  send final show cause notices   to  St. Anthony Hospital and Gomantak  Ayurveda Clinics  giving  them  seven day’s time to  submit  ‘F’ Forms regularly   and incase,  if it is  not received within the stipulated time  the operation of the clinics can be placed under  temporary suspension with immediate effect.

 The Advisory Committee urged the USG Clinics to submit Form ‘F” regularly failing which stern action will be initiated against them  as per the provision of PC-PNDT act. The Directorate of Health Services has  made available  online  facilities  for   Form ‘F’ submission.

          The meeting  was attended by Dr. Shirley Rebeiro, Chairperson  of Advisory Committee,  Dr. Mahendra  Ghanekar, Member Secretary,  Ms. Vasundhara Desai, Ms. Neeta  Marathe  and  Shri Shashikant Khandolkar all committee members.

08/08/2014 …. The Konkan Railway has has decided to run following special trains on Konkan Railway route to clear extra rush of passengers during Ganpati Festival in co-ordination with Central Railway. 

Train no. 02045/02046 Lokmanya Tilak (T) – Karmali – Lokmanya Tilak (T) AC Premium Special (Reserved)

Train No. 02045Lokmanya Tilak (T) – Karmali special train will leave from Lokmanya Tilak (T) at 01:10 hrs on 28^th  August, 04^th  and 11^th September 2014.  The train will reach Karmali at 11:30 hrs on same day. 

Train No. 02046 Karmali – Lokmanya Tilak (T)  special train will leave from Karmali at 11:55 hrs on 28^th  August, 04^th  and 11^th September 2014. The train will reach Lokmanya Tilak (T) at 22:15 hrs on same day.

The train will halt at  Thane, Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, and Kudal stations.

The train will have One First A.C. coach, Three  2-tier A.C. coach, Eight  3-tier A.C. coaches, one Pantry Car and Two luggage cum Brake Vans.

Panaji, August 8, 2014 … The District Magistrate North has brought to the notice of the public that  the sale  of plastic flags is prohibited.

Public  should  refrain from purchase of plastic  flags and in case, they found any person selling plastic flags, they should inform the police. Public may however buy the paper flags.  Many times, it is seen that these National Flags are thrown on the road or in the dustbins and other places after the  functions are over, mostly  unintentionally. 

This is an offence under Emblems and Names (prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention  of Insults to  National  Honour Act, 1971 and the  offender is liable for punishment under these Acts. 

This is to appeal to members  of general public that they should refrain from any action  that would cause disrespect to the National Flag including throwing of National Flags on the ground, dustbins and other public places. Paper flags should be disposed of in private consistent with the dignity of the flag.

The organizers of all public functions on  the occasion of Independence Day should also ensure  strict compliance of the requirements, as per the Flag Code of India, 2002 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.

          Any person  found making or selling plastic flags would be arrested and punished in accordance  with law.

08/08/2014 …As part of IDCF (Intensive Diarrhea Control Fortnight) which is observed from 28th July to 8th August and Breastfeeding Week which is observed from 1st to 7th August every year, an awareness programme was organized by Primary Health Centre- Corlim in collaboration with Military Hospital on 6th August at Military Camp Auditorium, Bambolim. The programme was attended by about 300 residents (ladies) of Military Camp.

The function was inaugurated by Commanding Officer -Military Hospital, Dr. Jaidev Biswas. Later, Dr. Kedar Raikar, Medical Officer Incharge, Primary Health Centre, Corlim made a power point presentation on importance of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) and zinc in control of Diarrhea and also advised the audience homemade remedies for rehydration. He also educated the people on sanitation and hygiene, especially hand washing.

Dr. Vandana Dhume, Chief Medical Officer, State Family Welfare Bureau, Directorate of Health Services, made a power point presentation on Importance of Exclusive Breastfeeding. She pointed out some common myths regarding Breastfeeding and cleared the doubts of the audience.

Dignitaries from Military Camp , Umesh Kholkar, Extension Educator, Directorate of Health Services and staff of Primary Health Centre, Corlim staff were also present.

Miss Bhakti Sawant, IEC Officer, PHC Corlim concluded the progamme with Vote of Thanks.

08/08/2014 … stating that he was totally against irregularities taking place in to the state of goa Pwd minister sudhin dhavlikar on Thursday said a new law for controlling spa and massage parlours was required in to the state of goa which could take strict action on illegal things taking place in spa and massage palours

It may be noted that the chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday had informed the assembly that his government would bring in a new law with adequate teeth to regulate massage parlours in the state and to prevent their misuse for the purpose of prostitution.

Parrikar had made the announcement while replying to a calling attention motion by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo who had stated that the lack of action from state police officials had allowed prostitution activities under the government approved centres of massage parlours, spas and Ayurvedic treatment in the state.

Commenting over the issue pwd minister sudhin dhavlikar said that there had to be a stop on illegal madssage parlour while genuine legal massage parlours had to be permitted to carry out their operations in the state

Meanwhile st cruz mla babush monsoratte commenting over the issue said that there was a need for the law to be in totally transparent as it was the police officials themselves who did not help to tackle illegal issues but were the other who were creating more complications and were good in taking benefits out of it

07/08/2014 ….Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, has announced a fresh government initiative to ensure that organs and tissues are collected scientifically from donors and distributed to patients-in-need at minimum cost.

 He said that Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi will house the first National Organ &Tissue Transplantation Organisation (NOTTO). It will maintain computerised networks with 24 identified transplant and organ retrieval centres in Delhi. It will be commissioned within 18 months, he informed.

 “I wish to see a body pledging revolution in India. But before that I will put in place a state-of-art interface system between organ and recipients. At present only a handful of private hospitals are controlling information on organ availability, which is making costs prohibitive for the common man. Soon public institutions will make possible for speedy and effective distribution of kidneys, hearts, lungs, bones, tissues, cornea, skin and cells at token cost to those who can pay and free to the poor,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

Yesterday, a dry-run was successfully carried out between IGI Airport and a Gurgaon private hospital in which a dummy heart was transported over a 15.4 Km distance in 15 minutes through rush hour traffic. In normal days, this would have taken at least twice the time. In June, two heart transplants were carried out in Chennai using the “green corridor” system.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “I am convinced now that Indian society is ready for a revolution insofar as organ donation and transplantation are concerned. It is my job as Minister to make it work on the ground.”

The Health Minister added that he would consult the state governments at the next meeting of the Central Council of Health on setting up NOTTO-like institutions in all state capitals. The proposed Universal Health Assurance Plan which Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has articulated will have an organ donation component, he stated.

Under the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017), Rs 149 crore had been allotted for setting up organ donation facilitation infrastructure. However, in the first two years only about Rs 10 crore was spent, the Minister said. The new government intends implementing a nationwide programme for not only setting up NOTTO-like bodies, but also spreading social awareness so that there is never a dearth of organs and tissues for recipients, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said.

The Health Minister said that today, organ donation from the brain dead to patients-in-need is facilitated by law. But having progressive laws is not enough. The rate of organ donation in India is only 0.16 per 1 million population, compared to 40 in Spain and 35 in the United States, he said.

07/08/2014 …. Following is the text of speech of Minister of Tourism and Culture Shri Shripad Yesso Naik at a function in New Delhi on 6th August, 2014 on the occasion of release of new tourism brand for the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli:

“I am happy to be present here today for launching the new tourism brand for the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, as well as the release of the Vision 2020 publication for Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

 The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is promoting India as a brand across the world. Our “Incredible India” campaign has been highly successful. However, for maximizing our tourism potential, the Government’s effort needs to be supplemented by each State Government and Union Territory Administration. Many States and Union Territories are already well known for their tourism potential, and have also been proactive in promoting their destinations across the nation as well as at international level but there are others that are now trying to make a beginning.

 Both Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli share their rich history with Goa. While Goa is already world-famous as a tourist destination, very few people know that Daman and Diu are also endowed with excellent beaches and rich Portuguese heritage. Dadra & Nagar Haveli, on the other hand, has lovely forests, lakes and gardens which make it an enviable destination to spend time with nature. Unfortunately, people of India are still not aware about the tourist attractions in these UTs.

 In this backdrop, the attempt by the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli to promote tourism by establishing a new brand image is highly commendable and welcome step.

I am especially delighted to note the forward looking approach of the UT Administration by conceiving, designing and publishing its vision for Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Though promotional campaigns may be outstanding, they need to be backed by quality infrastructure to make every tourist satisfied with his overall experience. I am, therefore, happy that both Union Territories have invested a lot in connectivity, basic infrastructure and tourism and have drawn a long term strategy before taking the important step of creating and launching their tourism campaign.”