Panaji : July 17, 2018  …  The Economic Development Corporation’s (EDC) Start-Up Incubator and Co-Working space ‘Ignite-EDC Innovation Hub’ was inaugurated on monday.

While speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar said that this was one of the important aspects of the Government’s program for employment. Shri Parrikar spoke of the plans to create more jobs for Goans.

 Minister for Information and Technology, Shri Rohan Khaunte launched the website www.edcignite.com 

Shri Khaunte said that the Government was keen on making Goa an IT and knowledge hub.

Chairperson of EDC Limited and former MLA, Shri Sidharth Kuncalienker spoke of the creation of jobs through Start-ups. Chairperson of GSIDC, Shri Deepak Pauskar, Secretary, Information Technology, Shri Ameya Abhyankar, IAS, Vice-Chairperson of EDC, Shri Santosh Kenkre, Managing Director, EDC, Shri Kiran Ballikar among others present on the occasion.

 Panaji : July 16, 2018 …  The Directorate of Social Welfare,  has issued a circular asking Heads of Departments/Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous Bodies of Corporations etc  to comply with Section 37 Special Schemes and Development Programmes for Persons with Disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (Central Act No. 49 of 2016)

The said Section provides for five percent reservation in allotment of agricultural land and housing in all relevant schemes and development programmes, with appropriate priority to women with benchmark disabilities; Five percent reservation in all poverty alleviation and various developmental schemes with priority to women; and five percent reservation in allotment of land on concessional rate, where such land is to be used for the purpose of promoting housing, shelters, setting up of occupation, business, enterprise, recreation centres and production centres.  

 Panaji: July 15, 2018 … The Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Law and Justice,  Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad in the presence of Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar launched the Goa IT Policy and Schemes at a concluding ceremony of two days  Goa IT Day Celebrations  held in INOX at  Campal in the city today.

 The Government also signed two MoUs with the IT companies   and officially inaugurated office for STPI Goa centre  at the hands of the Union Minister on the occasion.\

 Shri Prasad speaking on the occasion said that, India has a potential to lead  digital revolution and become vast digital market in the world.  where in he said Goa has a capacity to lead IT sector in India. He described the Goa IT policy as extra ordinary and well planned and called for  the need of digital skilling for which he assured central support.

 Shri Prasad further speaking announced that the Goa soon will have a National Institute of Electronics and Information & Technology centre. The various apps and schemes launched by the   Indian Government in bringing people and services to a digital platform. He also informed that India will become a vast center for data analysis in future which he said will definitely benefit the agriculture and education sectors besides Governance.

 The Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar while addressing the gathering said that the Goa has ample talent, influence of English language and therefore can play a leading role in making digital India. The IT Minister he said will successfully drive the policy and by the end of this year Goa will achieve 100% online transactions.

The Minister for IT, Shri Rohan Khaunte in his address said the Goa IT Policy which is formulated by the Government aims to make Goa as IT destination. It will help to generate employment avenues. The Goa IT policy he says also focuses on Infrastructure development, fiscal incentives, governance and human resource development. There is a special provision for capital investment subsidy for Goan Diaspora he informed.

.  Mrs Nivruti Rai, Country Head Intel India,  and Shri Ashank Desai, Co-Founder of NASSCOM and Chairman Global IT Ecosystem MASTEX, were the keynote speakers for the function.

  Shri Jayesh Salgaonkar, Minister for RDA and Housing Board, Shri Dharmendra Sharma, Chief Secretary, Shri Mohandas Pai, Chairman Manipal Global Education Services, Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General STPI, Shri Amey Abhyankar , Secretary IT were among those who attended the function.     

    Panaji: July 14 ,2018 … The Secretary for Health, Women and Child Development Shri Ashok Kumar ( IAS ) inaugurated a three-day Orientation Training programme  on “Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and Integrated Child Development Scheme for the Stakeholders of Goa’’ in Panaji, recently. This was organized by the Directorate of Women and Child Development in collaboration with National  Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development Bangalore

Shri Ashok Kumar while addressing the gathering stressed on the need of such an orientation programme so that stakeholders working in the area   of child welfare know of the latest developments in this field. Shri Kumar said that the media fraternity should be cautious while dealing with incidents of child abuse and advised the organizers to organize special session to sensitize media pertaining to various laws, Acts and schemes which are in force and are implemented for the welfare of children. He hoped for a healthy exchange of ideas for better and effective functioning in this sector.

The Assistant Director, National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, Bangolore, Shri Arwind K. while speaking said that the purpose of this orientation training is to brief the stakeholders of child welfare regarding the laws relating to this issue and to help those in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection by catering to their basic needs through proper care, protection, development, treatment, social re-integration by adopting child friendly approach and in the adjudication and disposal of matters in the best interest of children and for their rehabilitation through the process provided.

 Shri Gurunath V. Dhume, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) North, Smt Lida Joao, Chairman Child Welfare Committee South, Shri Y. B. Tavde, Smt. Vijaya Laxmi, all Members of CWC and Adv. G.V.Malik, Shri Shripad Arlekar, Dy. Director Apna Ghar,  Shri Narayan Amonkar, Judicial Magistrate CWC were among those who attended the function.    

 Shri Deepak Desai, Director Women and Child Development (WCD) was present on the occasion. Ms Sharah Quazi, Programme Officer, WCD compered the function while Smt. Dipali Naik Jt. Director, WCD proposed the vote of thanks.           

Panaji. Dated: July 13, 2018 … The Governor of Goa, Dr. (Smt) Mridula Sinha flagged off 108 Ambulances for Cardiac Patients, New Born Childrens and free drop service ambulances at Raj Bhavan recently. Health Minister Shri Vishwajeet Rane was present on the occasion.

After flag off ceremony, the Governor along with Health Minister and Doctors inspected the emergency and safety measures in the ambulances and the vehicles.

Addressing on the occasion, the Governor said that this top class services is first of its kind in any state in the country. She further hoped that this will lead to the creation for a healthy competition among the other states to provide better health care facilities to the people. She complimented the people of Goa and said that this service will benefit Goans tremendously.

Health Minister Shri Vishwajeet Rane informed that, keeping in mind the vacuum in cardiac care, five new Advanced Cardiac Care Ambulances have been flagged off today. Same will be made available for major hospitals at GMC, Margao, Ponda, Mapusa and Cancona. The Doctors deputed on ambulances are trained and can stabilise a patient and shift him to nearest district hospital or GMC.

Besides Cardiac ambulance two Neonatal ambulances were also flagged off, which will be made available at for the service of new born babies at district level. Drop back Delivery Ambulance Service was also launched at hands of Governor. This facility will be made available at ID Hospital, Ponda, District Hospital in Mapusa and at GMC campus.

Briefing about the service of Cardiac Ambulance to the Governor, Dr. Guruprasad Naik, who heads the Cardiology Department said, this will help to diagnose the patient and give them good service in the cardiac ambulance itself.

Dr. Ram Kripal Sinha, Spouse of the Governor graced the flag off ceremony.

 Dr. Sanjiv Dalvi, Director of Health Services and Dr. Rajnanda Desai, former Director of Health Services graced the function.

Panaji : July  12, 2018 … Directorate of Social Welfare is implementing welfare scheme for the Grant of stipend and scholarship separately for Differently abled persons who are studying in various schools/colleges/institution.

The stipend for the Students Std. I to VIII  is Rs. 200/- per month for 11 months, scholarship for the students IX to XII standard or equivalent as per University Courses is Rs. 500/- per month for 11 month for Day Scholar. Rs.200/- per month for 11 month for Hostellers and  Rs. 75/- for Readers allowance for Blind per month for 11 months. For   B.A. /B.Com. / BSc etc. students, it is  Rs. 650/- per month for 11 months for Day Scholar. Rs. 270/- per month for 11 month for Hostellers and Rs. 115/- for Readers allowance for Blind per month for 11 months.

For those pursuing BE/B.ARCH/MBBS/LLB/B.Ed/Diploma in professional and Engineering Courses etc. and MA/Msc/M. Com/LLM/MED  it is  Rs. 900/- per month for 11 months for Day Scholar. Rs. 360/- per month for 11 month for Hostellers and Rs. 150/- for Readers allowance for Blind per month for 11 months.

The criteria for eligibility to apply under this scheme are that The students should possess a minimum disability for 40% and above duly certified by Medical Board, the students should have secured a minimum 45% marks and above in the previous annual examination, the annual income of parents of the student should not exceed RS.1,50,000/- p.a. from all the sources and the students should have identity card issued by Directorate of Social Welfare.

Scholarship is also awarded to pursue education in Music and Vocational Courses through recognized Board of Education or University. Application forms may be collected from the Directorate of Social Welfare, 18^th June Road, Panaji from  July 15, 2018 on any working day during office hours.  The Scholarship/Stipend applications should submitted to this office on or before  September 30, 2018 duly recommended by the concerned schools/colleges/institutions etc. For further inquiry contact  Assistant Director (WDA), Tel No.0832-2232257, 2223784, Fax No. (0832-2228172), ****************@********il.com” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Email:so**************@********il.com.