Panjim: January 13, 2020 … Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant recently inaugurated 21^stNational level folk festival Lokostav-2020 organized by the Directorate of Art and Culture in association with West Zone Cultural Centre and other agencies which is being held at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy Panaji. Minister for Art and Culture Shri. Govind Gaude, Secretary, Art and Culture Shri. Chokha Ram Garg, IAS,  Director, Art and Cuture Shri. Gurudas Pilarnekar, Programme Officer, West Zone  Cultural Centre Shri. Tanera Singh Sodha were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant praised the folk festival Lokostav which is being held every year at Kala Academy for becoming phenomenal in boosting rural economy along with promoting cultural wealth of the State. Lokostav can also be seen as a magnificent platform to exchange the rich folk culture as it accommodates diversified folk culture and art performances of different States, he added.

Chief Minister also lauded the Directorate of Art Culture for upgrading the standards of Lokostav with innovative ideas and also appreciated efforts of Artists and Artisans from various States who will be displaying their folk art and handicrafts at Lokostav 2020 till January 19, 2020.

Minister for Art Culture Shri. Govind Gaude said that increasing public participation and response towards Lokostav has made this event to achieve great heights, thus appealed to the people to continue their support to Lokostav in future.

Secretary, Art and Culture Shri. Chokha Ram Garg also spoke on the occasion. Director, Art and Culture Shri. Gurudas Pilarnekar welcomed.

Smt. Siddhi Upadhye compered the function. Deputy Director Art and Culture Shri. Ashok Parab proposed vote of thanks.

Panaji, January 11, 2020 …. The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant launched the teaser and merchandise of the Third Bird Festival of Goa at Althino, Panaji, recently. The festival will be held from January 17-19, 2020, at Valpoi.

Present at the launch were Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Goa, Shri Subhash Chandra, IFS, Shri. Santosh Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Shri Santosh Kumar, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests, North, Shri Kuldeep Sharma, IFS, and Sub Divisional Forest Officer, Shri Anand Jadhav.

Panaji, January 10, 2020 …. The Government will come out with shack policy for private shack owners from next year assured the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant at a meeting held with private shack owners and representatives of various Government Departments, at Altinho, Panaji, recently.

In response to several issues raised by the private shack owners represented by President of Private Property Shack Owners Association, Goa, Shri Dharmesh Saglani, Dr Sawant said that till a policy comes in place, the process to register the private shack owners with the Department of Tourism will begin which will help give better facilities to the private shack owners and also help the Government generate revenue.

Present at the meeting where Secretary, Tourism, Shri Ashok Kumar, IAS, Director of Tourism, Shri Menino D’Souza, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Shri Nikhil Desai, among others.

PANAJI: GFDC Dona Paula Lioness topped the table with nine points to emerge winners in the Khelo India U-17 Women’s Football League organised by the Sports Authority of Goa in association with the Goa Football Association at the Bambolim stadium recently.

While GFDC Utorda were the runners up of this league with six points. The President of GFA, Churchill Alemao was the Chief Guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

“This football league aims at taking women’s football forward. We are hopeful at least five are selected from here to represent Indian in the U-17 women’s world cup. There is a need to place India back on the world map in football,” said Alemao.

The Minister for Ayush, Shripad Naik who was the Guest of Honour praised Churchill Alemao for his contribution in Goan football.

While the Secretary to the Chief Minister, J Ashok Kumar mentioned that Khelo India League is a new initiative by the government of India to promote sports among the girl students.

There were various individual prizes distributed at the award ceremony. GFDC Dona Paula bagged three awards, Karen Estrocio won the Golden Boot, Thais Mascarenhas was awarded the Golden Ball award and Dyumna Madan won the Golden Glove. The Rising Star was awarded to Nusrat Kotwala from GFDC Utorda.

GFDC Member Secretary, Aleixo Da Costa and from DSYA, V M Prabhu Desai were also present at the occasion.

Panaji: January 8,2020 … The Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant had meeting with the Minister for Public Works Department Shri Dipak Pauskar and the Minister for Water Resources Department Shri Phillip Nerry Rodrigues at his official residence Altinho recently. The meeting was in regards of addressing the issue of water supply all over the state.

MLA Shiroda Shri Subhash Shirodkar, MLA Nuvem Shri Wilfred D’Sa,  Principal Chief Engineer PWD Shri Uttam Parsekar, Superintending Engineer WRD \Shri Pramod Badami, Chief Engineer PWD Shri  Shrikant Patil,  EEs of both PWD and WRD attended the meeting.

During the course of the meeting the Chief Minister said that Government intends to provide round the clock ( 24X7 ) potable drinking water to the people in the State. Those departments which are interdependent  has to coordinate and  meet every fortnight so as to resolve the issues between them and see to provide uninterrupted water and power supply in the State. He suggested to avoid months of delay in extending interdepartmental cooperation like issuing NOCs etc. The Chief Minister directed the concern authorities to take up necessary improvement and augmentation works of water supply to ensure desirable water supply in the State.

Panaji: January 05, 2020….District Superintendent of Police, North Goa has issued order prohibiting people to convene or collect as an assembly, taking out any procession or stage any demonstration on the road, street or thorough fare and also prohibited public meeting in the jurisdiction of Police Stations Porvorim and Panaji from January 07, 2020 till the Assembly gets over. In view of 11th session of the Seventh Legislative Assembly commencing from January 07, 2020.

Person or class of persons intending to convene or collect such assembly and take out processions/demonstrations individually, collectively or otherwise will have to apply to the District Superintendent of Police North, for permission as per order.

Panaji, January 04, 2020 …The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant recently held a meeting with the Heads of various Government Departments (HODs), at the Secretariat, today. Present at the interactive meet were Chief Secretary, Shri Parimal Rai, IAS and the Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shri J. Ashok Kumar, IAS. The purpose of the meeting was to resolve issues that were affecting efficiency in the functioning of the administration in various Government Departments.

The Chief Minister said that the Government administration should be accessible to the people and transparent and for that it was important to streamline administration. Dr Sawant said that it was important to monitor the behaviour of Government staff and ensure that they maintain punctuality and discipline.

Dr Sawant asked Government Departments to work on revenue generation, wherever possible. He asked the HODs to prioritise Government projects and avoid delays.

Dr Sawant also sought status on completed Government projects that were lying unused for various reasons. He asked Departments to identify Government owned properties and offices which are lying idle, and which can be used for Government purposes instead of working in premises which are on rent.

Dr Sawant further stressed on the importance of inter-departmental coordination saying that Departments should plan together and communicate with each other so that administrative work goes on smoothly.

Dr Sawant asked Heads of Departments to avail of centrally sponsored schemes, which will benefit the people of Goa.

The Chief Secretary, Shri Parimal Rai, IAS, asked Heads of Departments to exercise financial prudence and avoid unnecessary expenditure. He asked the HODs to take steps to take administration to the masses, ensure transparency and maximum utilisation of assets, and work as a team.