06/09/2014 …. Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed matters relating to grant of Citizenship that takes a long time for completion of the entire process. This causes hardships and difficulties to applicants, especially to minorities from neighbouring countries who are often of poor economic standing. In this regard, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has received representations from time to time.

 The Union Home Minister approved the setting up of a Task Force to monitor and expedite processing of Citizenship and Long Term Visa (LTV) applications, which will start functioning in two weeks time. The Task Force will be headed by Joint Secretary (Foreigners). 

The Task Force would, inter alia, undertake the following activities:

 (a) Cases having complete documents will be expedited so that all processing is completed within two months.

 (b) Where representations are received about specific pending cases in State Governments, MHA will follow up with State Governments concerned. MHA officials may also be sent to coordinate with State Home Department and FRO officials.

 (c) Since the initial applications are filed online, the Task Force would monitor the applications filed and keep track of progress.

 (d) For many applicants, the grant of LTV would have to be processed/considered first. The Task Force will coordinate LTV related matters also. 

06/09/2014 …. Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has asked the Jammu and Kashmir State Government to identify suitable land for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants. 

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah regarding implementation of the rehabilitation scheme, the Union Home Minister has suggested that land may be identified near the native places they migrated from. He also advised that such areas should be selected keeping in view the availability of adequate security in close proximity of the place. 

At present there are about 62,000 registered Kashmiri migrant families in the country, who migrated from the Kashmir Valley to Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country due to onset of militancy in the state of J&K in early 1990s. 

Shri Rajnath Singh further mentioned that the Union Government is committed to facilitate the return of the Kashmiri migrants to the Kashmir Valley and their proper rehabilitation. A sum of Rupees 500 crore has been earmarked in the Union Budget 2014-15 for this purpose, the Home Minister added. 

September 5, 2014 … Captain Sanjay D’Cunha took over as the Commanding Officer of INS Mandovi at a formal ceremony at the Naval Base in Verem on 05 September. The officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in Jul 1991.

A specialist in Communications and Electronic Warfare, the officer has the distinction of serving on several frontline warships, including the missile corvette INS Kuthar, missile frigates INS Brahmaputra and INS Trishul, and the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi.

 Captain D’Cunha is a Post Graduate in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Naval War College. He has also done the Spectrum Management Course in Mississippi, USA and the prestigious SSTR course at Hawaii, USA. Prior  to his present appointment he was responsible for Communication and Electronic Warfare of the Western Naval Command.

 Belonging to a military family, his father Maj Gen Ivan D’Cunha retired from the Indian Army after 40 years of distinguished service. Captain D’Cunha hails from Curtorim, Salcette. The officer is married to Genevieve and the couple have two children.

05/09/2014 …. GoaUniversity has proudly announced the second visit of Smt. Shubha Mudgal, (Padmashree Awardee  and  well known Indian singer of Hindustani classical music, khayal, thumri, dadra and popular Indian pop music) to the state of Goa, in her capacity as Visiting Research Professor, Nana Shirgaokar Chair in Indian Classical Music at GoaUniversity.  

During this visit Shubha ji would be conducting a Course entitled, ”Improvisation in Khayal, Thumri & Allied Forms of Music”. Blessed with a remarkable ability to reach out to a mixed bag of participants, Shubha ji would be taking them with her on a fascinating journey of discovery of the variety and rich foundations that go into the making of India’s contemporary music tradition.

This highly innovative Course is offered by the University with no Registration or Course fees and is open to all music lovers.  It would be covered through lectures supported by audio and video references and interactive sessions culminating in a presentation by the participants. 

Significantly, the Course is designed such that no prior knowledge of classical music is envisaged. The Course is scheduled in the evenings from 08 – 17 September 2014 at the Multipurpose Hall, Sanskriti Bhavan (Central Library), Patto, Panaji, for which Registrations are open on www.unigoa.ac.in/vrpp by clicking on the Course title that appears on the page.

Further details are also available through this website link. The Course Coordinator Prof. Usha Muraleedharan (us**@*******ac.in ; Ph: 6519356) or the Chief VRPP Coordinator Shri Ramrao Wagh (ra****@*******ac.in) may be also be contacted if required.

Ramrao Wagh, Chief VRPP Coordinator, GOA UNIVERSITY   

September 5, 2014 …. The Deputy Chief  Minister and acting Chief Minster Shri Francis de Souza has expressed deep grief on the death of former Governor  of  Goa Shri Mohammed Fazal. In November1999, he was appointed the Governor  of Goa, a post he held until he was appointed as Governor of Maharashtra in October 2002.

           In a condolence message, the Deputy Chief Minister recalled his contribution to the public life and prayed that almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

Panaji, September 5, 2014 …. Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar has greeted the teachers on the occasion of the 53^rd  Teacher’s Day. In his message, he says I have great pleasure, in extending my warm and very sincere greetings to the teaching community of Goa.

          September 5^th  is the birthday of late Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, our former  President, who was a highly learned and distinguished  teacher, besides being a renowned educationist  and philosopher.

          Since, time immemorial,  the teacher has been revered as a role  model who  shapes the lives of young and budding students, and gives them the light of  knowledge and ignites their minds. A good teacher, can only, give and give. On  this day all our teacher’s should strive to achieve  the best out of their students and  Society.

          While celebrating Teacher’s  Day, we respectfully  pay homage  to him and recall the monumental role played  by teachers as builders of the Nation.

          On this occasion, I appeal to the teaching community of Goa, to draw inspiration from Dr. S. Radhkrishnan and discharge  their duties with renewed  sense of dedication and commitment. I extend my greetings and felicitations to  all the teachers of the State of Goa and wish  them all success.

Panaji, September 4, 2014 … The  Department  of Animal Husbandry  and Veterinary Services is  implementing the Government of India Scheme “Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP) Sixth Round” under Livestock Health and  Disease Control which will be conducted in phases at six monthly intervals.

          In this connection, the programme  will commence from  October  7, 2014 wherein all efforts  are being  made to vaccinate  all the cattle and buffalo  population and sera samples  will be collected from selected villages, pre and post vaccination to ascertain the immune status of the herd.

          The dairy farmers are requested to extend their full hearted cooperation to the teams/staff of the Department in this endeavor of immunization of the entire cattle and buffalo population in the State with a view to  eradicate Foot and  Mouth Disease which is highly contagious, causing high economic losses in milk production, draft power, growth and reproduction.