News Clips from Goa
 

‘Goa one of the biggest destinations of trafficking’ Goa, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata are the biggest destinations of trafficking of women and children, both from other parts of India, as well as abroad. Internationally, Bangladesh and Nepal are the biggest sources for trafficking people into India. The increase in human trafficking has made the Centre issue an advisory asking states to adopt a “victim-centric” approach to tackle the problem. It emphasizes the need to ensure quick justice to victims, and asks states to appoint one or more designated courts that deal with offences committed under the Immoral Traffic [Prevention] Act (IPTA). [H]

Tourism Minister Mickky booked for extortion Coincidence or otherwise, but days after Tourism Minister, Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco, created a flutter in the political corridors by burying the hatchet with the Alemaos, the Goa Police’s Crime Branch yesterday booked a case of extortion against him over his May – June unsavory episode at a casino in South Goa. The Crime Branch, which had been investigating the complaint and counter complaint of the Casino management and Pacheco, have booked the minister and his associates including the owner of Kentucky Restaurant at Colva, Mathew, for allegedly extorting Rs 3.69 lakh in May – June 2009. [GT]

All that glitters comes from beyond Goa It’s the festival of nine nights in progress now – Navratri – and a reason to deck up at the best for the popular traditional dance Garba raas and Dandiya raas. Quite famous among Gujaratis, the glittery festival is now graced with the presence of other communities, as well. The Gujarati community in Goa under different banners besides celebrating their annual festival away from their native town, here, shells out a huge amount of money to shop for the festival. [GT]

Rainfall crosses 100 inches The rainfall in Goa crossed 100 inches mark on Monday even as the showers remained sporadic in the State. After the spate of dry spell, the monsoons have become partially active over the State for last two days. Till date the State has received 2515.3mm of total seasonal rainfall. In last two days the state has received hardly 9mm of rainfall. [H]

20 tourists saved from drowning at Baga A major tragedy was averted on Saturday afternoon by the agile lifeguards of the Surf Life Saving Goa at Baga when they rescued 20 people, including a family from Kolkata who had entered into the sea for swim, from drowning. The biggest ever operation was launched by seven lifeguards after they noticed that many people hailing from different parts of the country were caught in rib tide and were struggling to save themselves from an imminent catastrophe. [NT]

Government panel had rejected film script?: Was the script of Pula Paltadacho Munis (Man Beyond The Bridge) which has won an international prize two days ago in Toronto bringing glory to Konkani, the same that was rejected by the State government-appointed Screening Committee of Film Finance Scheme in 2006? Or was the script changed later?, Members of the screening committee including Tomazinho Cardozo and film maker Rajendra Talak say the script was different when they examined and rejected it three years ago and that it underwent a change during a national workshop here. [H]

Free medicines for a ‘price’ at GMC Patients can avail of free medicines at OPD Pharmacy of the Goa Medical College but only if they succeed with their grit in the serpentine queue -- poor patients and their relatives are compelled to wait for hours together to reach to the counter as there are few counters to cater to increasing patients. [H]

Mid-day meal generates heat in Calangute The mid-day meal scheme has generated heat in the coastal belt of Calangute with parents and others complaining of poor quality meals. According to sources, the mid-day meal scheme of the State government has come under fire for poor quality of meals, where school children in the locality have been constantly complaining of stomachache, etc. [H]

50 pc quotas for Goans: CM Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday welcomed the Union Cabinet decision to set up National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Goa and added that 50 per cent seat would be reserved for Goan students. The Chief Minister profusely thanked the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for fulfilling the assurance given to the people of Goa and disclosed that the state government will a lot land for setting up the NIT. [GT]

Further drop in tourists to Goa expected http://villagetinto.com/news/further-drop-tourists-goa-expected-455 By: Village Tinto | Published on: Tue, 15/09/2009 The tourist season in Goa officially begins on October 1 but the industry is already wary with indications of a drop of nearly 200 charter flights, compared to last year. While last year the state received 640 charter flights, this year industry estimates peg the figure at 476 flights, as per the bookings done by the tour operators. Charter tourists from Europe and Russia form a substantial portion of tourist in-flow to Goa. But with the economic downturn, these numbers had dropped last year. Tourism industry sources feel unless there is a turnaround in the economy in Europe, this year will be even worse. The first flight carrying British tourists from Manchester is scheduled to arrive on October 4 while the first flight from Russia would arrive on October 9.

Calangute health officials wake up to dengue death http://villagetinto.com/news/calangute-health-officials-wake-dengue-death-480 Published on: Sun, 20/09/2009 | By: Village Tinto Health officials at the Candolim Primary Health Centre stepped up measures to curb the spread of dengue in the area. The action follows the death of a 6-year old boy from Calangute. PHC Health Officer Dr Govekar said, “Besides other measures, we checked for stagnant water at the construction sites in the area. However, we did not observe much stagnant water, which may have been a cause for concern.” Preventive tests were carried out at the school where the boy was studying. While these measures are being carried out in the area of the boy's residence in Naikawaddo, Calangute, this is merely a reactionary move. What is called for is a pro-active move to check the unsanitary conditions prevailing in the entire Calangute area where widespread mosquito breeding is a major cause for concern.

Goa Govt Relocates Village From National Park Panaji, Sep 22 (PTI): Capping up a decade-long exercise, Goa government has completely relocated a cluster of houses from state's National park, a senior official said. Nandran, a village on the periphery of National Park at Mollem in south Goa, was taken up for rehabilitation in 1997. "Entire settlement has been shifted outside the national park ending a decade-long process, this year," deputy conservator of forest, Debendra Dalai told PTI. The rehabilitation process was carried out with a Central government package worth around Rs 2.5 crore, Dalai said. All the 14 households were compensated for their land and cultivation and also given alternate plots to construct new houses, he said. An area of 10,000 sq metres each was allotted to them outside the park to build their houses, Dalai said.