Panaji, May 7, 2018 … Health Minister, Shri Vishwajit Rane laid foundation stone for construction of temple at Shel Maloli in Sattari today.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Rane said that temple plays a vital role in the integration and the development of the entire community.

Emphasizing upon efforts put in the Health sector, Shri Rane said that his vision is to ensure that Health care facility is on par with private hospital, apart from reaching at the door step of the common people to provide them relief.

“Government has already initiated to improve the infrastructure and facilities such as pathology units, free insulins and cancer hospital etc. at Government Hospitals, Rural Medical Dispensaries  and  Primary Health Centres”, said Shri Rane.

Shri Premnath Hazare, ZP member also spoke on the occasion. Shri Rama Melekar, President of Devasthan Committee welcomed the guests. While Shri Shyam Sangodkar, Secretary of Devastan Committee proposed the vote of thanks.  Shri Santosh Melekar compered the function.

Panaji: May 06, 2018 …. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (GSA) (village self Governance Campaign) which began on April 14, 2018 recently got concluded at the Menezes Brangaza hall at Panaji in the distinguished presence of  Governor of Goa Dr. (Smt.) Mridula Sinha, Member of Parliment, Lok Sabha, South Goa. Adv. Shri Narendra Sawaikar, Union Minister for State (Ayush), Member of Parliment, Loksabha, North Goa, Shri Sripad Naik, Minister for Rural Development Shri Jayesh Salgaonkar, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Shri Vinay Tendulkar, Secretary to Governor, Shri Rupesh Kumar Thakur were also present on the occasion along with other dignitaries like Director of Panchayat Shri Ajit Panchawadkar, Chef Executive Officer of GSRLM Shri V.N.Shetye and Zilla Panchayat adhyaxa (North Goa & South Goa).

The programme was organised by the Department of Rural Development along with Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM) Streeshakti. The day was celebrated as “Aajivika Diva under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

          The Governor, while addressing the gathering felt that the work done by self help groups is note worthy and laudable. The number of groups in the country are increasing year after year. In 2014, the total number of groups was 18 lakhs, in 2015 it was 23 lakhs but in 2017 the figure increased to 46 lakhs. The Governor also reminisced her days of childhood where she expressed how her mother has to save money so that it can be used in need. She also shared her various past experience about people working in salt farm and understood their difficulties and accordingly took up the issue to Government to provide some facilities to them.

Shri Salgaonkar expressed that, the need of market place for the product prepared by self help groups is genuine need and therefore Goa Government has decided to go ahead with the concept of Goa Bazar at Merces having  approximately 150 shops were items prepared by these groups can be sold. Also provision for cultural activities, theatre, lok kala, food stall etc for tourist attraction. Government has been working for making provision for such type of stalls  in new Government  buildings.   

Shri Shripad Naik said that self help groups are doing good work in the state.

The Member of Parliament for South Goa Shri Narendra Sawaikar  and Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha Shri Vinay Tendulkar  also spoke on the occasion

           Dr. Roopa Chari compered the function while Smt. Snehal prabhu, Project officer proposed the vote of thanks.

Panaji: 5th May 2018 :::: The 9^th Goa State Film Festival award ceremony will be held today, Sunday 6^th May 2018 at 5.00pm at INOX, Screen 1 in the presence of Shri. Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri. Vijai Sardesai, Hon’ble minister for Town & Country Planning, Shri. Pandurang Madkaikar, Hon’ble minister of Power, Shri. Vinod Palyekar, Hon’ble minister of Water Resources Department and Shri. Vinay Tendulkar, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

The celebrities who will be present during the festival are Ms. Yami Gautam, actress, more popularly known for Vicky Donor, Kaabil, Sarkar 3. Mr. Sumeet Raghavan, Television, Marathi and Hindi film actor, known for his roles in Shubh Mangal Savadhan, Huddkardi and presently filming Bucket List with Ms. Madhuri Dixit. Ms. Pallavi Subhash, is an Indian film and soap actress. A Maharashtrian model turned actress has started her career with Marathi plays, films and TV Shows and then she has appeared in Hindi TV shows. She acted in various language films such as Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada but in Sri Lankan language too. She is more popularly known for her role in Happy Journey and TV serial Ashoka Samrat. Ms. Mrinal Kulkarni, actress cum director known for Rama Madhav and Prem Mhanje Prem Mhanje Prem Asta. She has acted in films like Ye Re Ye Re Paisa, Yellow and many more. She is popularly known as ‘Son Pari’ and Mrs. Chinmayee Sumeet, actress, will be present for the award ceremony.

Lifetime achievement Awardee Shri. Suryakant Lavande was born in Pomburpa, Goa. He moved to Mumbai to pursue his passion for cinema and cinematography.  He started his career at the Filmistan studio in Goregaon and was fortunate to work under stalwarts like the Mistry brothers, Jaal and Fali who were associated with the films of Raj Kapoor, Chetan Anand, Dev Anand, Manmohan Desai and the likes. He worked with Jabbar Patel on the highly acclaimed Marathi film Samna (1974) which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. They teamed up again to deliver yet another landmark film, Sinhasan (1979) written by Vijay Tendulkar. He also worked with other popular directors as well including Sachin Pilgaonkar and Mahesh Kothare and some of films include Sasurvashin (1978), Gupchup gupchup (1983), Navri Mile Navryala (1984), Dhoomdhadaka (1985), Gammat Jammat (1987) and Kunku (1994).

The main highlights of the award ceremony are performance by Jasraj Joshi who has so far sung for Rustom, Time Please, Bedardi and other films. He is also winner of Zee Hindi Sa Re Ga Ma, Sonia Sirsat, renowned singer from Goa, comedy act by Ortencio Pereira from Goa and Imran Shaikh from Bangalore. There will also be dance performances by Siddhai Mumbai and Amit & Sakshi from Goa.

Panaji, May 4th, 2018 … Forest Department  has constituted new Private Forests Review Committee to review Private Forest areas identified by North and South Goa Forest Division Committee which were constituted in November 27, 2012 for identification of Private forest and earlier Sawant and Karapurkar committee.

          It is informed that in view of the grievances received from citizens and NGOs regarding inclusion and non inclusion of certain areas as private forest and in order to ensure an uniform approach  towards the issue the new Private Forests Review Committee has been constituted by the Forest Department.

 The new Private Forests Review Committee comprises of Dy. Conservator of Forest, Working Plan Division, Ponda as Chairperson and Director, Settlement and Land records, Panaji , Additional Collector of Revenue Department dealing with land records of North Goa District, Panaji,   Additional Collector of Revenue Department dealing with land records of South Goa District, Margao,  Asst. Conservator of Forest, Head Quarters of North Goa Division, Ponda, Asst. Conservator of Forest, Head Quarters of South Goa Division, Margao, Shri Sandeep Azrenkar, Environmentalist, Margao, Shri Shirang Jhamble, Savoi-Verem are members of the committee, also the Chief Forest Surveyor of Forest Department as Member Secretary. 

The 9^th Goa State Film Festival 2018 was inaugurated by Shri Sudin Dhawalikar, Minister of PWD & Transport & Adv. Narendra Sawaikar, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, South Goa on 3^rd May, 2018 at 5pm at Inox Screen 1, in the presence of Shri. Daulat Hawaldar, Secretary I & P, Shri Sidharth Kuncalienkar, Chairman EDC Shri Rajendra Talak, VC-ESG, Shri Ameya Abhyankar, (IAS) CEO-ESG. and all the 12 Producers of the films which will be screened during the film festival.

10 Feature Films like K Sera Sera, Connection, Mahaprayan, Mogaan, Big Ban, War Onn, Disha, Soul Curry, Mogan Tujea, Martin & 2 Non-Feature Films like Plastic Dhoti and Aaba Aiktaay Na? will be screened during the festival Maquinez Palace, auditorium 1 & 2.

Several leading cinema personalities from all over Goa were also present on the auspicious occasion. Goa State Film Festival will showcase stellar improvements in film making in terms of productions, values, stories, cinematography and other aspects of film making. This film festival will also ensure a confluence and synergy of creative energies. It will also create an evolution in Goan Cinema and give an opportunity to promise a great future to the budding Goan film makers.

K SERA SERA was screened as the Opening Film of the Festival. On this occasion all the producers who participated in this festival were presented with mementos.

The Festival will go on till Sunday i.e 6^th May.

Panaji, may 1st, 2018… The Startup and Innovation Day was recently celebrated by The Goa Start Up and Promotion Cell at a function held at Hotel Cidade–de- Goa, Dona Paula.

The two day ‘Goa Start up and Innovation Day, function  started  today in Goa.   Over a hundred delegates from startup and funding organizations  gathering under the same roof to discuss Goa’s potential as startup destination.

 Dr Prit Singh, Chairman Startup Council of India, While welcoming the gathering said that the Goa has enough potential to become IT Hub. In Goa people come from all over the world to enjoy the peace and natural beauty of this state. Goa has lot to offer especially a quality life and political back up to boost IT sector in Goa. He said with the launching of start up and Innovation Policy it will open way for the IT Investors and those who dream to excel in IT entrepreneurship.

The panel discussion on the topic the ‘First Step to Funding, was participated by  the IT experts from IT sectors which included  Smt. Nandini Mansinghkar Chairperson, Mumbai Angels Shri Arun Dubey, ILG 5B, Shri Sanjay Zha, Co- founder Let’s Venture, Shri Rama Bethmangalkar, Investor Director Qualcomm Venture3s, Shri  Anil Joshi Managing Partner Unicom India Ventures etc.

 Minister for Information and Technolgy Shri. Rohan Khaunte, Shri. Amey Abhyankar , Director  IT Department, Delegates from Start Up and Funding  Organization and others   present on the occasion.

Panaji: April 30, 2018 ….  Minister for Housing Shri. Jayesh Salgaonkar recently commenced the hot mix carpeting work of 2.5Km stretch road of Vidya Enclave Colony at Reis Magos and also unveiled the Logo of Vidya Enclave Resident Association (VERA) on the occasion.

          Minister informed that, estimated cost of hot mixing of 2.5 Km Stretch Road is approximately Rs.72 lakhs and this particular project was pending for almost ten years. `due to the initiative and continuous follow up by residents of Vidya Enclave especially efforts taken by president of VERA Shri.Yetindra Maralkar this work could get expedited“, Minister said.

          He further mentioned that, open space area park will constructed in due course of time and will handed over to VERA resident for the use of senior citizens and children. “This  work started immediately after  the erection of electricity poles and LED street lighting of the entire colony which was also pending for  substantial time, Minister added.

Panaji, April 29, 2018 … “Follow road rules not because someone is telling you to follow them but follow them with your heart,” said the Minister for Transport, Shri. Ramkrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar, today at the inaugural function of the 29th National Road Safety Week-2018 organised by the Directorate of Transport, in Bambolim.

            The theme for this year’s Road Safety Week is ‘Road Safety, Life Safety’. While speaking further on the occasion, Shri Dhavalikar asked the people to make road safety a priority. Shri Dhavalikar further said that they would continue to work towards improving roads in Goa.

            Shri. Pratapsingh Rane, MLA of Poriem Constituency, said that strict rules should be followed while issuing licenses. “Life is precious. Make road safety a habit,” he said also suggesting that the young should work alongside with the traffic police to get a better understanding of road safety.

            Shri Francisco Silveira, MLA of St Andre Constituency in his speech said that parents’ should not give vehicles to their minor children.

            Dr. Pradeep Naik, Dean of Goa Medical College (GMC) said that the doctors at GMC try their best to save accident victims but often injuries are very severe. He said that accidents occur often because of the casual attitude of road users, especially the young generation. “Accidents can be prevented,” he said. 

            Dr. Muktesh Chander, IPS, Director General of Police (DGP), spoke of the importance of educating youngsters on road safety. “Parents should realize that teaching their children about road safety is as important as learning academic skills. Road safety should be inculcated as a habit from schools. Believe in road safety,” he said.  

            Shri. Nikhil Desai, Director of Directorate of Tranpsort, said the youngsters and students can be torch bearers to spreading the message of road safety. He also spoke of the steps being taken to curb accidents.

            The Assistant Director of Transport, Shri Sandeep Desai proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Dayanand Rao compered the function.