Goa, August 27, 2014: Goa has been awarded the best designed stall at the TTF Ahmedabad held on August 22-24, 2014 held at Gujarat University Exhibition hall. The award was received by Department of Tourism officials and presented by the organizers of Fairfest media Pvt. Ltd.

The Goa stall design broke new paradigm’s to win the Best Decorated Stall award. Designed with multiple depths, and three dimensional work, the stall literally jumped to life besides giving a very realistic feel. The mammoth Aguada fort tower stood like an icon at the pavilion making it stand out from the crowd at the exhibition.

The Goa stall had the participation of more than 13 Travel and Trade operators from Goa, and saw a peak of more than 2000 holiday explorers during the public visiting hours, in addition to visits from trade representatives. The stall, done in classic Goan architectural style attracted keen eyeballs from members of the travel trade and general public, eager for a taste of Goa.

The three day fest has brought together a whopping 175 participants, including representation from 19 Indian states and nine countries. TTF is a part of India’s biggest network of travel fairs. The exhibitor profile included tourist organizations, State Govt. Tourism Depts., our operators, travel agents, hotels, resorts, adventure tourism, airlines, car rentals, railways, cruise liners, etc.

A trade and media evening was also organised at a prominent hotel in Ahmedabad, which was saw the participation of more than a 100 leading tour operators and media representatives. A cultural show profiling authentic Goan folk culture was also organised for the invitees, followed by informal interaction between Department of Tourism officials and members of Ahmedabad’s travel trade and media fraternity.

Panaji, August 26, 2014 … Shri Rajendra Arlekar, Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly has been nominated by the Speaker  of  Lok Sabha on the Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) as a Regional Representative from India for a period of  3 years i.e. from 2014 to 2017.  This is a prestigious post assigned to the Speaker of Goa.  It is also a honour to the State of Goa.

The post was earlier held by Shri Kiyanilie Peseyie from a Commonwealth Country.

 The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) having its headquarters in London, UK is aimed to promote and disseminate knowledge of the Constitutional, legislative, political, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy and to built up international amongst the Commonwealth nations.

Panaji, August 26, 2014 …  The Directorate of Agriculture has released  agricultural  prospects  for the month of August, 2014.

Sowing  as well as transplanting of Kharif paddy crop has been completed. System of Rice Intensification, method of paddy cultivation which can give  higher yields with less seed use is being popularized in Kharif season. 216 ha. area  covered under the same.

One day Training Programme on Micro Irrigation System, their calculation  and  methods of laying the system was  successfully  organized.

          Awareness Programme for revised scheme guidelines of National Horticulture Board  (NHB), Gurgao, was organized by this Directorate in  association with NHB in the Conference Hall, of this Directorate, wherein 50 numbers  Entrepreneurs  from Goa attended the programme.

          1400m²  Land Leveling  and 2940 numbers Crescent shaped structure were constructed  under Western Ghat Development Programme and  14 Poly houses constructed.  Four  in Pernem, four  in Sanguem,  two in Dharbandora, two in Bardez and two in Ponda.  1779 numbers. Soil samples were  tested at Soil Testing Laboratory, Ela Old Goa and  Margao.

          Four Agriculture Training Camps and  four Home Science Training Camps were conducted at Ela, Old Goa, wherein 35 farmers and 151 farmwomen attended.

Panaji ; Aug 25, 2014 … Pernem, Mamlatdar Office has invited application from interested parties residing in the locality of Casarvarne Village Panchayat Viz, Co-operative Societies of educated unemployed, Registered Co-operative Societies, Educated unemployed , Scheduled Cast and Scheduled Tribes, Freedom Fighters, Physically handicapped and other having spacious premises for handaling and storing P.D.S. and non P.D.S. commodities and should be financial sound with reasonable business to run a Fair Price Shop No. 14 at Casarvarne, Pernem.

In case of Co-operative societies of educated unemployed are necessarily required to be educated unemployed and should be on the live register of  Employment Exchange for two years and they should be within the age limit of 18 to 35 years of each members.

Educated unemployed should have passed S.S.C.E through any recognized school in Goa State and should be on the live register of the Employment Exchange at least for two years and should be within the age limit of 18 to 35 years.

Besides, he should be completely free from encumbrance of studies. No member of family of the applicant should have authorization  to run the Fair Price Shop in the Casarvarne Village of Pernem Taluka. 

The application should reach the Office of the Mamlatdar of Pernem, Taluka, on or before September 30, 2014. 

Panaji ; Aug 24, 2014 …. Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar launched New Patrol Vessel “AVEMARIA-14”   at the Fisheries Jetty Panaji  and thereafter  inaugurated  a Modern Control Room at Fisheries Department, today in  the distinguished presence of  Minister for Fisheries,  Shri Avertano Furtado and MLA Shri Jose Luis Carlos Almeida.

The function was organized by Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Goa.   

Director of Fisheries, Dr. (Smt.) Shamila Monteiro was also present on the occasion.

          The new 15 meter length Patrol Boat, would be able to cover more than 40 nautical miles offshore of Goan waters at the speed of 30 knots. This new vessel is installed with various and latest electronic equipment such as marine radar, VHS, radio communication instruments, etc. It is hoped that with this new fisheries patrol boat, the monitoring, control and surveillance of the Goan waters would be more efficient and effective to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries resources. 

          Expressing happiness the Chief Minister said that the Department of Fisheries is committed to provide better infrastructure to the fishing industry in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of the fishermen, increase the fish production in the state on scientific basis and explore different aspects of fisheries.

The control room is equipped with a wireless communication facility, which enables the Department to broadcast weather conditions and tides at sea and warn fishermen venturing into rough seas. Therese broadcasts will be made every hour and the fishermen will be advised to tune in to weather channels for updates. The control room will also be provided with a radar and AIS receiver which will enable the control room to recognize friendly fishing vessels within its range.

          The Chief Minister along with Fisheries Minister and others were taken around in the new vessel to have a firsthand feel of the same.

August 25, 2014 … The Education Department has very successfully distributed 100 page and 200 page notebook sets to 52,336 students from government and government aided primary schools studying in II, III and IV standard in the State for the current academic year.

The highest number of students who benefitted under this scheme are from Salcete where altogether 11,011 students benefitted while the least beneficiaries were from the new formed Dharbandora taluka where 1,085 students benefitted.

Bardez taluka where 9,142 students benefitted ranked second amongst the talukas. Note books distributed to students in other talukas are: Pernem – 2,324, Sattari – 2,470, Bicholim – 3,745, Canacona – 1,863, Quepem – 3,720, Mormugao – 4,522, Tiswadi – 5,588, Ponda – 5,451 and Sanguem – 1,451.

As far as raincoat is concerned, the department distributed 12,090 raincoats to students of I & II standard students of government primary schools in the State.

The highest number of raincoats numbering 1,785 was distributed in Ponda taluka followed by Salcete taluka where 1,433 raincoats were distributed and Bicholim taluka where 1,336 raincoats were distributed.

Raincoats distributed in other talukas were as follows: Pernem – 756, Sattari – 1,268, Bardez – 1,036, Canacona – 705, Quepem – 797, Mormugao – 819, Tiswadi – 844, Sanguem – 696 and Dharbandora – 615.

Panaji, August 23, 2014 … Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (Independent Charge) Shri Shripad Naik has advised the student community to draw inspiration from   great  eminent Goans’ personalities like  Dr. Elgar Stephan de Sa  a senior scientist so that they can mould themselves into better citizens of tomorrow and  contribute for the welfare of the state.

 Shri Naik was speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion of Eminent Goan Day celebrations at a function organized by Goa Cultural and  Social Centre in collaboration with Convent of Jesus and Mary Sarvajanik High School at Carambolim in Tiswadi, today.

  The Eminent Goan personalities Dr Elgar Stephan de Sa and Shri. Dharma Chodankar were felicitated at the hands of  Union Minister on the occasion.

            Speaking further Shri Naik told the students to strive hard in their studies to achieve excellence in  education to face  new challenges.  He complimented the Goa Cultural and Social Centre for its activities which  will help to develop a well cultured Goan  society.

 Dr. Elgar Stephan de Sa said that responsibility lies on the younger generation to save Goa for posterity and   told the students to pursue higher studies in the field of Science and Engineering so that they can  channelize their energies  towards a better Goa and a better India of the future.

Shri. Dharma Chodankar, former MLA said that besides their studies within the classroom of the school the student community should participate in extra-curricular activities to build up their  personalities and develop better leadership.

 On the occasion  Mast. Kaksham Kalidas Naik,  the first ranker student who secured highest marks in  Konkani subject in SSC and  Miss Diksha Naik and Miss Laxmi Mangaldas  Prabhu in  HSSC examination in the academic year 2013-14 were honoured.  Meritorious  students from Cumbharjua area  were also honoured on the occasion.

 Shri Shripad Naik and other dignatories offered floral tributes to portraits of late Dr. Joseph Barros, late Rev.  Fr. Mario de Santa Rita Vaz  and late Madhusudan P. Shirodkar on the occasion.

 Shri Milagres Fernandes, President of Goa Cultural and Social Centre welcomed the gathering while Shri Francisco A. de Noronha, General Secretary proposed the vote of thanks.  Ms. Maria Gonsalves compered the function.

 Rev. Fr. Orlando Marques, Parish Priest of Carambolim,  Sr. Lavita Fernandes, Principal, COJMSHS,  Shri Isac H. Dias, Vice President, Shri Remedios da Silva, Joint Secretary and Prominent Citizens were present on the occasion.