Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu lauded the efforts initiated by the State government for the betterment of tribal communities in the State. She was speaking after interacting with the members of tribal communities of Goa at Raj Bhavan, Goa today in the presence of Governor of Goa, Shri. P. S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant. She said Goa perhaps is the only State in the country wherein Tribal portfolio is held by the Chief Minister of Goa. In view of this, President exuded confidence that tribal community in Goa will never lack behind in terms of improving living conditions and bring them in the mainstream of the country.

Tribal community should not think them self as inferior. Tribal community are life giver and  conservator  of  our Forest, water  and land  she added  .While sharing her experience of  having  her  interaction with tribal  in various States, President of India said that she  is happy to see  that tribal from Goa are two steps ahead as compared to other states . They are well-educated and are professional doctors, lawyers and are also seen engaged in business activities.

Tribals are very different from other communities as they believe in living together in unity. We have to inculcate this value from this community, she asserted. President advised the tribal community to come into the mainstream and contribute for the betterment and welfare of the country.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant in his welcome address said that State Government have been continuously working for the betterment of Tribal community and approximately 17 schemes are made available from the Department of tribal Welfare. Chief Minister informed that over 1221 sanad have been handed to several beneficiaries under the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest Dwellers under Forest Right Acts,2006. Chief Minister also assured the tribal community that the statue of Tribal Leader Birsa Munda will be soon installed at Tribal Research Institute of Goa.

Chief Minister presented the President of India her Portrait created by Rangoli Artist Shri Akash Naik

Also present on the occasion were the Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Shri. Ramesh Tawadkar, Social Welfare Minister, Shri. Subhash Phaldesai, Former Deputy. CM. Shri.Chandrakant Kavlekar and officials of Tribal Department.

Goan athlete Geetanjali Nagvenkar wins gold medal in the Level D 800 metres finals at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games that got under way in Berlin, last Saturday.

Her Goan teammate Asheef Malanur also put herself in contention for a medal as she entered the Level B 800 metres final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

The Goan squad has 23 members, including 13 athletes as part of Team India at the Berlin Games that are being held from June 17-25.

Joining Malanur and Nagvenkar was Indian athlete Soham Rajput, also in the Level C 800 metres final.The men’s 4x400m squad has also qualified for the finals, while Libin Mallika Rajakumar made it to the finals of the Level B 200 metres.

Madhav Madan set his eyes on a double as he reached the Level A 25m breaststroke and the Level A 25m Freestyle. Not far behind him was teammate Dinesh Shanmugam in the Level B 50m Breaststroke, and Level A 25m Freestyle.

Another swimmer Abdul Rahman showed fine form while reaching two finals – Level B 50m Breaststroke, Level A 25m Freestyle, while Tinu Moncy made it to the Level A 25m Freestyle final.

There were a few commendable performances in the women’s section as well as Prathna made it to the Level 25m Freestyle final and Aleena Anthony powered her way into the Level B 50m Freestyle final.

“We are pleased with the way our athletes have been responding to challenges before them at this global meeting. We are definitely looking forward to some medals from our Goan athletes,” Victor R. Vaz, National Sports Director of Special Olympics Bharat, noted.

“Our athletes were fortunate to have a strong pre-competition training schedule. There are going to be jitters and butterflies in the stomach, but we expect our athletes to cope with this and return home victorious,” he added.

The 13 Goan athletes in Team India are involved in Futsal (male), Athletics (male and female), Roller Skating (Female), Basketball (male and female), Judo (male and female),unified Volleyball (male and female) and Handball.

Based on the unifying power of sport, the Special Olympics is a global movement that seeks to change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Held every two years, the Special Olympics World Summer Games Berlin have attracted more than 7,000 athletes representing 190 delegations in 26 different sports disciplines.