News Clips from Goa
 

Release of Tiatr Book “When Curtains Rise” "When the Curtains Rise... Understanding Goa's vibrant Konkani Theatre" written by Andre Rafeal Fernandes, PhD, was released at an impressive function at the Goa Tiatr Academy Mini-Hall at Campal in Panjim on April 17, 2010 which is being celebrated as Tiatr Day in Goa. (Courtesy to : Joel D'Souza )

Release of Tiatr Book "When the Curtains Rise... Understanding Goa's vibrant Konkani Theatre" writter by Andre Rafeal Fernandes, PhD, was released at an impressive function at the Goa Tiatr Academy Mini-Hall at Campal in Panjim on April 17, 2010 which is being celebrated as Tiatr Day in Goa. "Called one of the most vibrant forms of modern Indian theatre, the tiatr strikes a deep chord with its audiences," says Fernandes, while tracing "the growth of the tiar right from its diverse, sometimes overlooked, roots in zagor and khell". The book "unearths references to the earliest Portuguese plays in Goa. It helps understand theatre in Goa, the region's cultural history, and the role of diaspora communites in keeping the Konkani language vibrant. Andre Rafael Fernandes is Associate Professor at Goa University's Department of English, and hails from Raia in Salcette. 201 pages in all, the book costs Rs.195 in India.

Heavy rains lash Bicholim, Sanguem Heavy rains accompanied by gutsy winds lashed parts of State including Sanguem, Bicholim and Curchorem on Friday. Bicholim correspondent adds: Property worth Rs 1 lakh was damaged, after a tree crashed on a house at Sarvan-Bicholim on Friday evening. According to fire service officials, the incident occurred due to heavy wind in which a tree got uprooted and fell on the shed constructed on top of the house belonging to one Vinayak B Sawant from Sarvan. The loss was estimated at Rs 1 lakh. The fire force rushed to the site and cleared the debris. Sanguem correspondent adds: The unexpected rains and stormy winds, which commenced at 4.30 pm, caught people unawares causing panic, particularly among those residing in remote areas of Sanguem taluka. [H]

'Unwanted' patients make GMC their home Ward No 104 of Goa Medical College & Hospital at Bambolim has become a home for three persons who came to be admitted to the Orthopaedic Ward long ago. But with no relation of theirs to take care of them, the overworked staff is compelled to look after them even though the trio is virtually fit for discharge. The three have nowhere to go and ward authorities can't disown them as no relations of these patients have come forward to take them. On the other hand, the hospital administration has not made any serious effort to make alternate arrangement to shift the persons elsewhere burdening the staff especially, nurses and servants as they have to look after them besides their regular duties, sources told this paper. [H]

Illegal mining: Farmers point finger at Joaquim, Gaonkar Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott,a farmer's collective, has accused two politicians, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao and Sanguem MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar, of being involved and shielding illegal mining at Bati village in Sanguem. GXE activist Abhijit Prabhudesai alleged that locals have seen Joaquim Alemao Physically present at the Bati site where the alleged illegal mining is being carried out. [GT]

Goanet NEWS: Report from rural Bardez -- Pomburpa's Spring Fest 2010 http://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg60510.html Goanet News | Sun, 18 Apr 2010 Two hundred students of St. Elizabeth High School, Pomburpa, and adults from all over Bardez, attended the week-long "Pomburpa Spring Eco Summer Camp 2010" beginning on 12 April that culminated on World Heritage Day i.e. 18 April, with the 'Spring Fest 2010'. This was arguably the best "Spring Festival" held in spring season to celebrate a natural water spring that is reputed to have healing properties for eye irritations common during the summer season in tropical Goa. It happily coincided with the eve of the festival of the Earth Goddess Lairaee in Shirgao and her twin sister now famous all over Goa as Milagris Saibinn of Mapusa. The zatra and the feast coincide this year on 19 April, 2010. The festival was inaugurated on Monday 12 April by Dr. Walter D'Sa, Principal of St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, a college that was started at the neighbouring village of Bastora in 1963 before moving to the market town in 1968. Benhill Antao then demonstrated to the participants how to handle snakes if they dare and advised them to contact the Forest Department's animal rescue squad to show that they care. Reptiles are also the children of Mother Nature. For persons residing in Bardez, the Green Cross [Ph.9822123042] also provides the free service of catching snakes that may stray into houses in search of food, water or coolness during summer, especially as their natural habitats are being destroyed by the rapacious real estate developers. On 13 April, the young Mr. Harish Sawant promoted the learning of glass painting through hands-on experience. He also showed the students the finer points of sketching. The best of these works were on display at the Spring Fest on 18 April. On 14 April was "A Day with Joe Rose". This singer from Aldona has settled in Pomburpa and added life to the camp with his singing, a skill he taught to the participants so well that they demonstrated it with gusto at the Spring Fest. Sujit Kumar Dongre of the Centre for Environmental Education [CEE], Porvorim, interacted with the participants on biodiversity on 15 April, while Alva Fernandes of the Food & Drug Administration [FDA] interacted on 16 April. The action shifted to St. Elizabeth HS on Saturday 17 April. Goa's garbage specialist, Clinton Vaz from Benaulim, re-activated the compost pits set up some years earlier with the sponsorship of the Pilerne-based Green Ray Foundation [GRF]. It was a happy occasion for Tony De Sa, Trustee of GRF and former Headmaster of Sacred Heart High School, Parra, the mother school of the more famous St. Britto and St. Mary's High Schools of Mapusa. Funds from GRF are available for similar projects in schools anywhere in Goa, informed Tony. The best was kept for the last. The Pomburpa Spring Fest 2010, displayed the Natural Heritage of the spring and its surroundings as well as the Cultural Heritage of the village to all on World Heritage Day. There were displays of fruits, nuts, vegetables, spices, flowers and plants of commercial importance like the Soapberry or Rinta and Bhirindam or Kokum. There were mangoes, cashews, jackfruit, chickoo, pineapples, kokum, carvandam, cherries, churna [Zizyphus rugosa] and the increasingly popular Soursop [Anona muricata] that is reputed to have cancer curing properties. Miguel Braganza, who writes the popular weekly column "Green Thumb" for plant lovers, enlightened the participants on the reasons why the Tulsi [Ocimum sanctum] and the Banyan tree were conserved by Indian rituals like Tulsichem laginn and Voddachi Punov and why the Maddi [Sterculia foetida] was planted at the fama of each church feast. Traditions like drinking sol-kaddi for cholesterol balance and using the non-corrosive soapberry for washing children's were also highlighted. Editor of Vavraddeancho IXTT, Fr. Feroze Fernandes; noted architect Dean D'Cruz; former Sarpanch of Moira, Vigilia DeSa; ex-Sarpanch of Pomburpa, Sara Maria Braganza; Communidade researcher Leroy Veloso; Loss Prevention Manager of Marriott Michael D'Melo; hotel management faculty Moses Fernandes: Agriculture Officer Rena Fernandes; St. Xavier's College lecturer Alice D' Cruz; journalists Pamela D'Mello and Govind Potekar; Joe Rose, Tony De Sa and others were present for the Spring Fest. Many of them would like to have such events in their own villages. Mario Fernandes [ph.9881344379], the moving spirit behind the Pomburpa Spring Eco Camps since 2008, to bring the heritage site into focus for conservation and improvement, and Fr. Santan Carvalho, the Parish Priest of Mae de Deus church, Pomburpa, have offered their expertise to do such events for the love of Goa.

Follow Me - released on "Low Sunday " From : www.goanet.org | Godfrey Gonsalves | Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:29:28 -0700 Did you know that the Church of Our Lady of Snows of Rachol in Salcete (1556) is the first  Church in Salcete and hence the “Mother Church” and the Church of the Holy Spirit (1564) in Margao is the second ? the Rachol Seminary founded by the Jesuits is re-christened as the “Patriarcal Seminary of Rachol” , now Diocesan Major Seminary? the first Mass in Salcete was celebrated at a make shift –structure at Old  Mardol , in Verna where a cross still exists ? there were then 80,000 Catholics in Salcete and hardly any Hindus ? there were as many as 24 churches and 23 chapels in Salcete alone? every parish in Goa had a school maintained by the community of the parish – and they taught reading, writing, arithmetic, dancing, singing and instrumental music ? a non Brahmin ( emphasis mine) a native of Carambolim from the parish of Church of St John de Baptist (1541) viz Fr Andre Vaz, was ordained the first Goan priest? following the conquest by the Portuguese the religious orders were  entrusted with villages in Goa viz Dominicans in Tiswadi (Ilhas) ; Jesuits -  Salcete-Mormugao and parts of Tiswadi (Ilhas) and Franciscans (Bardez)? St John Marie Vianney (1786 – 1859) Cure of Ars is the Patron of Parish Priests? his 150th death anniversary is dedicated as the --- Year of the Priests (19th June 2009 to 19th June 2010) These and many finer details on the who’s who of parish priests of the past and present who have worked in the vineyard of the Lord in the various parishes for the spread of Christianity in Goa --- since the second attempt of conquest of Goa by the Portuguese on 25th November, 1510 Feast of  St Catherina of Alexandria ( nearly 500 years ago)---has been painstakingly documented in the three series book titled “Follow Me” by a native of Saligao, Bardez, viz; Fr. Jose Nascimento Mascarehnas, (born 08.09.1940 ordained priest 24.04.1970) and now a Priest on the staff, of the Church of Holy Spirit (1564) Margao. The latest book Volume –III dedicated to St John Marie Vianney relates to Churches of Salcete-Mormugao ---( earlier Book Vol I relates to the Churches of Bardez; while the Book Vol II relates to the Churches of Tiswadi (Ilhas) ) ---- was released at the hands of a native of Neura, Fr Ventura Alfredo Lourenco, (born on 5.12.1941 ordained 20.04.1969) now the Parish Priest of Church of the Holy Spirit Margao, on Sunday, 11th April, 2010 within the precincts of the Church of Holy Spirit, Margao, Goa after the 0900 hrs concelebrated Eucharistic Mass ( by Fr Valmiki Dias Gonsalves and others ) in the presence of the laity, some priests, nuns and news media personnel. Explaining the significance of launching the book on “Low Sunday” the first Sunday after Easter and Feast of Divine Mercy, Fr Nascimento revealed to the astonishment of all those present that the first mass was indeed celebrated in this Parish at Margao on Low Sunday in 1565. Incidentally one could easily have expected Fr Nascimento to release this book on his 40th anniversary of his ordination which is on 24th April 2010 hardly 13 days later. The Vol I is priced at Rs.365/- , Vol II Rs.230 /- and the latest release Vol III Rs.345/- . However, on the auspicious day of the launch the Volume III was sold at a discounted price of Rs.250/- and a special offer for all three Volumes at Rs.650/- only. The grit and determination of this frail noble priest Fr Nascimento ( nearing 70 years of age ) in retrieving the old dusty records from archives, in the Paco Patriacal at Altinho the archives and even in places elsewhere viz in Portugal to disseminate, collate, and pen down the details in these beautifully presented books --- perhaps drawing inspiration from the Holy Spirit to accomplish this task --- deserves commendation and high appreciation . It is Must Read for all those that have priests in their families and the Catholic laity at large . It would be in the fitness of thing if the faithful world wide procures copies of these books now available at the Church of the Holy Spirit (+91 832 2714005 ) Margao Goa and later at all leading book stores in Goa for posterity. Godfrey J. I. Gonsalves, | Borda, Margao, 403 602, Goa. (INDIA) | +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)

Goa’s food grains quota increased http://www.goablog.org | Posted: 17 Apr 2010 06: APL – "Above Poverty Line" | BPL – "Below Poverty Line" For 2009-10 the monthly allocation of quota of rice for Above Poverty Line People for the State of Goa was increased in March 2009 from 896 tons to 2222 tons and wheat from 201 tons to 498 tons , Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs ,Food and Public Distribution Prof. K.V.Thomas informed Mr Shantaram Naik M.P. in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The Minister further informed Mr Naik that subsequently, adhoc additional allocation of 2500 tons of foodgrains (1000 tons rice and 1500 tons of wheat) was also made to the State as festival allocation in September 2009. Mr Naik was informed that in the year 2007-08 off take of foodgrains by Goa was 21918 of rice and 7942 of wheat; in the year 2008-09 and 2009-10 off take of rice and wheat was 27568 rice and 6390 wheat and 33571 rice and 5277 wheat, respectively. As regards items available to APL and BPL families on ration card , Minister informed the M.P , that APL families get rice and wheat while BPL families get rice and sugar. As regards kerosene card holders with LPG connections get 2 litres per head, subject to maximum of 5 litres per card per month while cards without LPG connections get 2 liters of kerosene per head per moth. As per the estimates, there are 0.48 lakh BPL families in Goa State which includes 0.145 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana families . However, as reported by the Government of Goa on 30.3.2010, number of BPL families in the State of Goa is 27842 and there are 324844 Above Poverty Line families. Minister also informed that survey of BPL families was done by Goa Government in the year 2002 but no survey was done of APL families. Minister however said that for allocation of foodgrains to State/Union territories under Targeted Public Distribution System, Department of Food and Public Distribution uses the number of Below Poverty Line families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and population estimates of Registrar General of India , as on 1st March 2000 or the number of such families actually identified and ration cards issued to them by State/UT governments, whichever is less.

Iron ore from banned mining leases in Goa Goa Blog (goablog@gmail.com) | Posted: 16 Apr 2010 07:28 AM PDT NGOs have brought to light large scale transportation of Iron ore from banned mining leases of Netravali wildlife sanctuaries during last few days. Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott (GXE), a NGO, today said that they have been petitioning every authority including Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava to ban the transportation of ore from Netravali wildlife sanctuary. “Nothing has happened. I checked even now. The trucks are plying and ore is shifted from the sanctuary,” GXE President Dilip Hegde said. Supreme Court of India through their judgement two years back had closed all the mining leases in Netravali wildlife sanctuary after local NGO Goa Foundation moved an application. Since then, the mining has come to grinding halt here. “Suddenly, one morning around 100 trucks have started moving around the place carrying ore. They have to cross two forest check post gates to reach to the dumps,” Hegde said. The NGO has estimated that during last five days ore worth Rs five to six crores have been shifted from the sanctuary. “This must be their last desperate attempt to shift the ore. This is robbery,” Seby Rodrigues, an anti-mining activist, said. The activists said that in last five days ore worth 2,000 to 3,000 MT have been shifted from the sanctuary. “Sanguem MLA Vasudeo Meng Gaonkar is clearly involved in the entire operation as it is happening just two kilometers away from his house,” Rodrigues said. GXE activist Abhijeet Prabhudesai said that the people have seen Urban development Minister Joaquim Alemao physically present at the mines site. “The locals are scheduled tribe people. They are busy in their daily chores. How will they even think of fighting against mighty politicians?,” Prabhudesai said replying to a question. The NGO has now decided to approach Goa Foundation’s Dr Claud Alvares who had filed case in the supreme court. “Goa Foundation has the first right to file contempt petition in this regard,” Rodrigues said.