Page 16 - Goa

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Goa ration card holders get rice swarming with maggots, mites, fungus

Goa's Department of Civil Supplies has now once again drawn attention over alleged mismanagement by supplying rice infested with maggots, mites and fungus to ration card holders in the coastal state

SpiceJet suspends flight operations from Ahmedabad-Goa for a month

The bench led by NCLT President Ramalingam Sudhakar directed SpiceJet to attend the hearing on the given date

India highlights inclusive, sustainable development agenda at G20 DWG meet

India has put forth an ambitious agenda for the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) which aims to bring inclusive and sustainable development, a senior Central government official told delegates from various countries on the first day of the DWG meeting in Goa. More than 80 delegates from member countries and nine invitee countries and various international and regional organisations are attending the three-day meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by India's DWG Co-Chairs Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretaries Nagaraj K. Naidu and Eenam Gambhir. "India has put forth an ambitious agenda for the DWG that aims to bring inclusive and sustainable development and accelerating achievement of SDGs at the forefront," Secretary (Economic Relations) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, told the delegates in a video address. Ravi stated that the outcome documents proposed by India including High-Level Principles (HLPs) for Data for Development, HLPs for LiFE and Action Plan

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Goa declares paid holiday on K'taka poll day; Oppn, industry bodies fume

The BJP government in Goa has declared May 10 as a paid holiday, which will also cover private establishments and industrial workers, in view of voting for the Assembly polls scheduled in neighbouring Karnataka. However, the Pramod Sawant government's decision has not gone down well with Opposition parties and industry bodies. Goa State Industries Association said they may have to take legal recourse against the holiday. But, a senior official from Goa Chief Minister's Office said it is a practice to give a holiday when there are elections in neighbouring states. He claimed a holiday was declared in Karnataka on the day of polling in Goa last year. The Goa government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said. Goa State Industries Association president Damodar Kochkar ...

Goa announces paid holiday on Karnataka polls day, Opposition fumes

The BJP government in Goa has declared May 10 as paid holiday, which will also cover private establishments and industrial workers, in view of voting for Assembly polls scheduled in neighbouring Karnataka on that day. However, this decision of the Pramod Sawant government has not gone down well with Opposition parties and industry bodies. Goa State Industries Association said they may have to take legal recourse against the holiday. The government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to elections for Legislative Assembly in Karnataka. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said. Goa State Industries Association president Damodar Kochkar questioned the rationale behind the state government's "absurd" decision. Industries in Goa feel this is absolutely absurd and stupid decision...taking industries to ransom for electoral gains, Kochkar alleged and said they ar

Police recovers 'incriminating materials' from club at Anjuna beach in Goa

"Incriminating materials" have been recovered from a club at Anjuna beach in North Goa during a probe into a drug case, police said. The club was raided on Saturday after two drug peddlers arrested recently claimed during interrogation that drugs were sold there, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi said. "Many incriminating materials were seized and sent for forensic examination as they are suspected to have traces of drugs, he added.

Pak foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto arrives in India to attend SCO meet

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in Goa on Thursday to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in the first such high-level visit to India from the neighbouring country since 2011. Bhutto Zardari's visit comes amid continued strain in ties between India and Pakistan on a number of issues including Islamabad's continued support to cross-border terrorism. People familiar with the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) conclave preparations said there is no plan for a bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bhutto Zardari so far as there was no request for it from the Pakistani side. "On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan's strong commitment to the charter of the SCO," Bhutto Zardari tweeted ahead of his arrival here. "During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I lo

SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting to kick off in Goa today; all you must know

Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto will also attend the meeting but it is unclear if he and Jaishankar would conduct a bilateral meeting or not

Get 'labour cards': 90% of crimes in Goa due to migrant labourers, says CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that about 90 per cent of the crimes in the coastal state are committed by migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other areas, urging contractors to obtain "labour cards" before employing them. Sawant made the claim at a Labour Day function on May 1 in Panaji. The chief minister said that every migrant labourer working in the state should have a labour card given by the state government. The Goa government issues labour cards to those working in the private, unorganised and industrial sectors to keep a record of employment as well as extend welfare measures to this category. Sawant said that it is necessary to track the details of labourers as after committing a crime in Goa, migrant labourers often return to their state and it becomes difficult to locate them. The chief minister said that about 90 per cent of the crimes in Goa are committed by migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other areas. Sawant said that the stat

Maximum crimes in Goa are committed by migrant labourers: CM Sawant

Sawant speaking during a Labour Day program in the state capital, said that every labourer coming to Goa should have a labour card

Goa beaches to get trained dogs, AI-powered systems for safety operations

A team of 11 dogs, called the 'paw squad', is being trained, and it is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Asia

Obtain fresh environment clearances: HC to bidders of Goa's mining blocks

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered the successful bidders of the recently-auctioned mining blocks in the state to obtain fresh environmental clearances (ECs). A division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes of the high court passed the order. The ruling is likely to delay the resumption of the state's iron ore mining operations that came to a standstill in 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. In December last year, the Goa government had said that it completed the first phase of auction of mining blocks with four companies winning bids for the extraction of ore from different mineral rich stretches of the coastal state. The mining industry used to be one of the major revenue earners for the state. "We clarify that fresh ECs will have to be obtained even by the successful bidders...," the high court said in its order. The Goa Foundation had submitted an intervention application over a petition filed by mining firm ...

Regional airline Fly91 receives govt approval, targets Oct launch

Goa-based carrier is promoted by former executives of Fairfax and Kingfisher

Skill development is primary focus under Swayampurna Goa 2.0: CM Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said skill development is one of the primary focus areas under the state government's Swayampurna Goa 2.0 initiative. Speaking at the launch of a booklet by the Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the chief minister said the state government has been undertaking various programmes to boost employability of Goan youth in all sectors. The state government's Shiksha Sangam programme will enhance the scope of skilling, upskilling and reskilling, he said, expressing hope that the youth of the state will benefit from the programme. Sawant further said the government has undertaken an apprenticeship programme in collaboration with industry and educational institutions to provide on-field experience and skill development to youngsters. The chief minister released an apprentice circular focusing on the importance of apprenticeship in the institutions and signed memorandums of understanding with L&T Limited, Daikin, Abhinav ...

People-centric health innovations in focus at G-20 meeting in Panaji

The third day of the Health Working Group meeting on Wednesday under India's G20 Presidency witnessed engaging technical sessions on digital health innovations with a people-centric approach, and the issue of digital divide among others. In line with the "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or "One Earth, One Family, One Future," theme of India G20 Presidency, the discussions emphasised the country's commitment to "healthcare for all" through vibrant global and local collaborations. Three panel discussions were held on the issue with the first focusing on "Innovations in Healthcare - Health service delivery aided by Technology Interventions", a health ministry statement said. The session saw health experts pushing for a lifecycle-care framework where open-source software can enable data innovations, it said. Suggestions such forming a central organisation/coalition in the world to guide national governments, along with regional implementation hubs, paradigm shift towards artificial general ...

Mansukh Mandaviya visits Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre in Goa

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya along with invitee countries' delegates, international organisations and development partners visited the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC) at Corlim in Goa on Tuesday. The field visit was undertaken as part of the ongoing second G20 Health Working Group Meeting here. During the visit, Mandaviya appreciated Goa's capacities in the healthcare sector. Goa has over 201 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), Jan Aushadhi Kendras, medical colleges for training young medical professionals among other initiatives. "The AB-HWCs are equipped with primary care services and facilities for non-communicable diseases screening. They also have laboratory facilities, diagnostic facilities, facilities for minor procedures, comprehensive management and awareness activities," he said. AB-HWC Corlim showcased the ground implementation of India's vision of ensuring universal health coverage and digital healthcare landscape in th

Amit Shah's Sunday rally to kickstart BJP's 2024 LS poll campaign in Goa

Union Minister Amit Shah's rally on Sunday in Ponda will kickstart the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Goa for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, a senior party functionary said. Shah will arrive in the state at 3:30pm on Sunday, chair a meeting with party functionaries to discuss organisational issues, and then address a public gathering in Farmagudi town, some 30 kilometres from Panaji, Goa BJP general secretary Narendra Sawaikar said. "We are expecting more than 25,000 people to attend the rally. Allies will also take part. This meeting will kickstart the BJP's Lok Sabha campaign in Goa," he said. Sawaikar exuded confidence the BJP would win both Lok Sabha seats in Goa. Incidentally, Sawaikar had lost from the South Goa Lok Sabha seat to Congress' Francisco Sardinha in the 2019 polls.

Goa to test G20 delegates showing Covid-19 symptoms amid rise in cases

Delegates arriving in Goa for a G20 summit next week will be tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms of coronavirus infection, an official said on Friday. The state's Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has decided to start antigen testing at the Goa International Airport, Dabolim, and the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, for the G20 delegates who would be arriving in the state, he said. India currently holds the Presidency of the G20, or Group of Twenty an inter-governmental forum of the world's 20 major developed and developing economies. The first of the eight scheduled G20 meetings in Goa will be held from April 17-20. Dr Kedar Raikar, officer on special duty (health), told reporters that although COVID-19 testing is not mandatory, it will be done as a precautionary step for the delegates coming for the G20 summit. Only the delegates with symptoms will be tested, as authorities have adopted a 'no symptom, no testing' policy, he said. Raikar said that the DHS has starte