22/11/2016 … panaji … Following strong objections to the Road Map for Indian Football as proposed by AIFF and their marketing partners on 17^th May, 2016, Sporting Clube de Goa along with fellow goan Club Salgoacar F.C, after several rounds of deliberations, had taken the painful decision to withdraw from the forthcoming edition of the I League.berryjam.ru

After our decision to pull out was announced on 23^rd June, 2016 AIFF swung into damage control mode and General Secretary Kushal Das, I League CEO Sunando Dhar along with Chirag Tanna representing IMG-Reliance had dashed down to Goa and met the representatives of goan clubs which also included Dempo S.C..

At this meeting AIFF General Secretary assured to call a meeting of all I League clubs, consult the AIFF President and Executive Committee and also their marketing partners IMG Reliance and revert back with a final binding proposal on or before 31^st July, 2016.

After the above meeting,  nothing was heard in matter from AIFF till an Executive Committee of AIFF decided,  on 28^th July, 2016,  to form a Small Working Committee to speak to all stake holders and then decide on restructuring of Club Football in India. As to which stakeholders this committee spoke to we are not aware.

Our Club and another I League club Mumbai F.C took the bold step to write to FIFA and AFC expressing their concerns with regards to the state and direction of football in India.  This prompted AFC to form a Task Force to assist AIFF in preparation of a road map for India Football.

FIFA President Giovanni Infantino and AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa along with Secretary Dato John Windsor descended on Goa  at the end of September  to attend the Extra Ordinary Congress of AFC, and made all the right noises.

The Task Force consisting of high ranking officials of AFC, AIFF and IMG-Reliance also had its first meeting in Goa on 27^th September, 2016. We are in the dark as to what transpired at this meeting,  as sadly there was no representative of any I League club there, which fact itself tells its own story.

In the meantime AIFF President Praful Patel kept on tomtoming that the Road Map for the future of Indian Football is only a work in progress and that I League is the main league of the country.

All this time we at Sporting Clube clung to the hope that following the statements coming from the Presidents of FIFA, AFC and our own AIFF, and following our representation to FIFA and AFC, a fresh Road Map which did not envisage the forced demotion of the I League teams, would be announced well in time to allow us to field our team in the forthcoming I League.  With that hope, we even participated in the Club Licencing process and secured our National Licence.

But we now realize that all our hopes have been belied.  At the book launch function of Saji Prabhakaran’s book “Back to the Roots” recently in Delhi  AIFF President Praful Patel  made the following statement “We (the AIFF) have set the cat among the pigeons”.  One knows very well what happens when the cat is set amongst the pigeons.  This statement is a pointer to the thought process of AIFF as to the future course of India Football and leaves us with no other option but confirm our withdrawal from the I League.

However please note importantly, that this is only a tactical decision to stay out of the I League,  till AIFF gets it Road Map right and  Sporting Clube will continue with all other football activities like Grassroots and Youth Football development and also maintain a strong first team to compete in Goa as well as in All India Football tournaments.

Panaji: November 22, 2016 …. The Directorate of Art and  Culture, will be releasing the book “Goa Land Life and Legacy” authored by Shri Vinayak Khedekar, on November 25, 2016 at Multipurpose hall, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji  at 4.30 p.m.

           The book deals with the study by Shri. Vinayak Khedekar on Goa’s land, life and legacy, the behavior of the people of Goa for past years.

           Minister for Art and Culture Shri Dayanand Mandrekar will be the Chief Guest for the function and will release the book in the presence of Shri. Daulat Hawaldar, Secretary for Art and Culture.

            Dr. Nandakumar Kamat will be the Guest of Honour and will speak on the book along with other dignitaries.

            The directorate of Art and Culture requests the Educationists, Students and literature lovers to witness this book release function as scheduled.

Panaji: November  21, 2016 …. The 44^th sugarcane crushing season of Sanjivani Cooperative Sugar Factory has began today. The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar inaugurated sugarcane crushing in the distinguished presence of Cooperation Minister Shri Mahadev Naik at a function held at Dayanand Nagar Dharbandora today. The Government in this season  has planned the crushing  of sugarcane  in an average of one lakh metric tone and above.

The Chief Minister in his address  expressed his satisfaction over beginning of crushing season quite early this year. He said Government may consider to undertake allied production so as to adjust losses. The renovation of the factory and replacement of new machinery would be  done hereafter he added.

The Chief Minister further speaking  called for collective efforts for the survival of factory and advised the workers to maintain  cleanliness at their workplace to make the surrounding conducive for working .

The Cooperation Minister Shri Mahadev Naik  in his address  called upon the farmers to undertake sugarcane  cultivation in large scale by taking benefit of schemes of Government for agriculture. The present sugarcane production of 58 thousand metric tone is not  sufficient.  More production of sugarcane will help  extend  crushing period   of the factory.  This factory  has facing some problems  which will be addressed soon.

Secretary Cooperation Smt. Padma Jaiswal in her while addressing at the function stressed on the need to upgrade and replacement of new  machinery. She  said the existing  machinery being old may cause breakdown  while in full operation. The proposal for undertaking allied production of mineral water  which has been proposed  already need to considered to coop heavy losses  of the factory.

MLA and Chairman of IDC Shri Ganesh Gaonkar and Shri Rajendra Desai President Sugarcane Farmers Association  also spoke on the occasion.

Shri Damodar Morajkar, Additional Collector, Ponda and Administrator welcomed the gathering. 

Smt. Smita Palkar compered the function while Shri Prasad Parab, Managing Director proposed the vote of thanks.

20/11/2016 … PANAJI: The Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) unveiled the trophy and announced the qualifying teams for the Inter Centre League of ‘GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival’ Edition IV at the hands of GFDC Chairman, Dr. Rufino Monteiro, in the distinguished presence of GFDC council members, Shantaram Naik, Agnelo Fonseca and Socorro Vaz at GMC Stadium, Bambolim, on Sunday.

This festival will kick off this week with over 1,500 budding footballers aged under-13 vying for top honours. In the course of time, 120 matches will be conducted by GFDC with 91 teams across 38 centers. The grand finale will be held after the students finish with their final examinations of the academic year.

GFDC Council member, Shantaram Naik while addressing the trainees felt great pride in seeing young boys and girls in football attire and thanked GFDC for working so hard towards development of football and the young trainees. “We are in the fourth year and are promising that this initiative to promote football at the grassroots will be taken forward. I wish the trainees all the best in the inter centre tournament,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rufino Monteiro expressed pleasure over the success of the intra centre tournament. “As we kick off the GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival next week, I am very happy to see the skill and competitiveness displayed by my GFDC trainees. It augurs well for the future course of this tournament and for the rising standard of our state sport,” said Dr. Rufino.

“It is not an easy task to organise a tournament with 3,500 trainees and find the best. I would like to give credit to the coaches who have been successful in doing so.  From the previous edition few trainees have got into our academy and we do not stop at those 30. We have to now select a few more and spot the best talent,” he added.

Panaji: November 19, 2016 … Smt. Anuradha Joshi, Commissioner of Commission for Person with Social Disabilities inaugurated a 3 days programme for the celebration of Child Rights Week which was organised by Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) at multipurpose hall Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto Panaji. Others present on the occasion were Chairperson of GSCPCR Dr. Sushma Kirtani, member Ms. Prachi Khandeparkar and others.

While speaking on the occasion Smt. Joshi appreciated work of GSCPCR towards protection of child rights. Smt. Joshi said that all children have common rights and law protection. Working towards the good society should come from the mind and everything law doesn’t treat stressed Smt. Joshi. Dr. Sushma Kirtani spoke about the importance of Child Rights. She also said that November 14 to November 21 is observed as the Child Rights Week.

Mrs. Prachi Khandeparkar compared the programme. Childrens from Sanjay School, Anand Niketan, School for Appropriate Learning, Disha School for Special Children, National Association for the Blind and Bahujan Hitay presented various cultural programmes. There will be an Elocution competition for the students from Schools across Goa on November 22 and prize distribution ceremony on November 23 for the winners of drawing and poster competition held by the commission during awareness programmes.

Panaji: November 19, 2016 …. Chief Minister Shri. Laxmikant Parsekar today inaugurated new facilities Mirror Magic gallery and Children Corner at Goa Science Centre and Planetarium, Miramar Panaji. The Mirror Gallery showcases mirror effects using combination of multiple mirrors while the Children Corner consists of playful exhibits for children where they can learn science in a fun filled way. Others present on the occasion were Chief Scientist of National Institute of Oceanography Dr. N. Ramaiah, Director of VITM, Banglore and representative of the Director General NCSM Shri. K. G. Kumar, Director of Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai Shri. S. M. Khened, Project Coordinator of Goa Science Centre Shri. M.M.K Balaji and others.

In his inaugural address Shri. Laxmikant Parsekar said that children of today are very lucky and fortunate, as every facilities are easily available to them. Government is trying to develop common utilities in State and also there is a plan to set up Ideal Educational Complex. Shri. Parsekar said, there are lot of things in Science Centre to study and enjoy Science. Study has to be beyond classes and books from which practical knowledge is gained. It should be a part of curriculum to visit places where students will get practical experience. By visiting Science Centre not only students but every person will not just only enjoy Science but reason out and try to understand principle behind the each of the phenomenon he concluded.

Dr. N. Ramaiah said that value of mirror in life is very much important in order to reflect yourself. Mirror is the reflection of mind and therefore the students should be cheerful in every stage of life he said. Dr. Ramaiah appealed to students to be creative, curious and innovative by focusing on life.

Shri. K. G. Kumar said that National Council of Science Museums have 27 Centres in India which is a largest chain of network of Science Centres in world. C M released broachers and posters related to this. The facilities will be open for public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Shri. S. M. Khened welcomed while Shri. M. M. K. Balaji proposed vote of thanks.

Panaji : November 18, 2016 …. The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs will be hosting the North, South District and State level Youth Festival on November 24, 25 and November 30, 2016 and December 1 and December 14 and 15, 2016.

          The entries for the North District Youth Festival should be submitted to the respective taluka APEOs/TSOs on or before November 22, 2016 at Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali.

          The entries for the South District Youth Festival should be submitted to the respective Taluka APEOs TSO on or before November 28, 2016.

          The State level entries for the following events should be submitted to the Head Office of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs on or before December 8, 2016 for Street Play, Monologue, Tal Jagor, Rangoli, Poster, Photography, Young Artist, Yuwak Kruti, Power Point Presentation and Traditional Dress Competition.

          The entry forms along with rules are available on the Department Website www.dsya.goa.in.

The Director of settlement and land records Shri. Venancio Furtado in his welcome address elaborated the hardship faced by the people which are because at present, certified copies of these documents are issued to the public, only from the Head Office. Applicants from the entire State of Goa, i.e. from Canacona to Pernem, have to visit Head office in Panaji for obtaining identifying old survey numbers / Communidade Planta numbers/ Title number/ Alvara number/lease/A.G.M. number and submitting application and second visit after five days to collect these documents due to following reasons, but as the offices provided in every Taluka will ease the hardships of the people and will save time and money.sports74.ru

Through this newly I S & LR office, the people of Pernem Taluka will provide required land documents as per their convenience in Pernem without visiting to Panaji in several trips. This office will cater to the need of entire Taluka.

Panaji: November 17, 2016 … Government of Goa has commenced the procedure to scrutinize the provisional SC and OBC Caste Certificates issued by respective Deputy Collectors. Accordingly, the Scrutiny Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Social Welfare), Government of Goa for verification of the Provisional Caste Certificate.

In this context, instances have come to the notice of the Scrutiny Committee and Directorate of Social Welfare that there have been some Caste Certificates issued to individuals not belonging to the respective communities. As a result, large numbers of disputed cases are coming up for inquiry before the Scrutiny Committee.

Therefore, it has been decided by the Government to display the names of the applicants who apply for the verification of their Provisional Caste Certificates on the Notice Boards of the concerned local bodies i.e. Village Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporation of the City of Panaji.

All stake holders are requested to take note of this process and forward their objections if any to Directorate of Social Welfare, Panaji within 15 days from the date of display of the notices on the notice boards of respective local bodies.

Panjim, Nov 17: Goa Tourism put up an impressive show at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2016.  The WTM – London,   a leading global tourism fair was held this year from 7^th-9th November.veroxybd.com

Goa Tourism’s pavilion at the WTM 2016 showcased all its new initiatives and activities.

The stall was beautifully set up depicting the various facets of the state including temples, churches, rich heritage, new attractions launched by tourism, adventure sports, beaches, MICE, etc.  The Goa Tourism delegation consisted of Deputy Director of Tourism, Mr. Rajesh Kale and PRO of GTDC, Mr. Deepak Narvekar.

On the second day of the three day exhibition a ‘Goa Evening’-   showcasing Goa’s folk dances, cuisine and culture was held at the Goa Tourism Stall. It was attended by leading travel and tour operators, from United Kingdom and representatives of International Media, who interacted with Goa Tourism officials, and co-exhibitors. Prominently present at the stall were members of the State Level Marketing and Promotion Committee (SLMPC) Mr. Ralph D’Souza, Mr. Ernest Dias and Mr. Mark Mendes.

Prominent media people included Mr. Mathew Jackson, Managing Director and Publisher of National Geographic Traveller and Ms. Laura Fowler, Editor of CondeNast Traveller.

“This year, the WTM was significant for Goa Tourism due to the various factors including promotion of e-tourist visa (ETV) facility introduced last year as the UK is an important destination in the ETV list. This has helped boost the numbers and will continue to be a big game changer for Goa Tourism,” said Deputy Director of Tourism, Mr.  Rajesh Kale. Other areas of interest including heritage tourism, wedding tourism, Medical & wellness tourism, festival tourism, fashion and film tourism were some of the many facets that Goa Tourism showcased at WTM.

Tourism stakeholders  from Goa like hoteliers and  travel and tour operators who participated at the WTM included Grand Hyatt ,Alila Diwa,W hotel, Blue Ocean Hospitality, The Pride Sun Village Resort Goa,  Novotel Goa Resort and Spa, Ibis Styles Goa, D’souza Group and tour operators included Freedom Holidays, Alpha Holidays, Splendor Holidays and Scuba Evolution India, Minar Travels and Spice Route tours and travels Pvt Ltd and many  more.

Several B2B meetings were conducted between travel operators from London and Goa Tourism officials and delegates.

Special meetings were also held between Thomas Cook Airlines and Goa Tourism delegates for increasing the frequency of Thomas Cook flights from London to Goa and to add more facilities for   tourists visiting Goa from London and other parts of the globe.

Prestigious awards for Tourism Minister and Goa by PATWA at WTM London

Minister  for Tourism, Govt. of  Goa , Mr. Dilip Parulekar has been  awarded The Best Innovative Minister by Pacific Area Travel Writers  Association  (PATWA) at an award ceremony held  at  the WTM  London  2016. Goa was also awarded The Best State for leisure and Entertainment. On behalf of the tourism minister, the award was accepted by Deputy Director of Tourism, Mr. Rajesh Kale and Deepak Narvekar, PRO of GTDC.

Minister for Tourism, Mr. Dilip Parulekar said, “I am truly honoured by the PATWA Best Innovative Minister Award and dedicate it to the hard work put in by my team in making Goa a State with the most innovative tourism attractions. During the last four and a half years Goa Tourism has taken the world by storm with the introduction of unique and niche tourism products. The stage has been set and I am confident that Goa Tourism will keep rolling out newer products and services in the months and years to come.”

Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Mr. Nilesh Cabral said, “Goa is indeed a unique State for Leisure and Entertainment.  The GTDC has taken pains in ensuring that tourism facets of various touristic interests are given a boost. This has helped leisure and entertainment tourism in Goa. Everyone wants to be in Goa to enjoy its beauty and to party. We are augmenting our infrastructure to cater to the increase in footfalls and also taking adequate steps to ensure cleanliness and safety for all tourists visiting Goa. Goa rightly deserves the award for being the Best State for Leisure and Entertainment.”