GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 15 Nov 2003 MAG DOES U-TURN ON HELMET ISSUE: Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has softened its stand on the issue of helmets and decided not to oppose the government's fresh move to make the use of the headgear compulsory for all two-wheeler riders. Instead, the MAG has urged the government to provide helmets at subsidised rates to two-wheeler riders from the low income group. The MAG has thrown the gauntlet to the government to prove its oft repeated claim within a time-frame of one year that lives can be saved by enforcing the helmet rule. (GT)
GOVT NOTIFIES 14 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: Notifying 14 public holidays for 2004, the government has declared Mahashivratri, Holi and Id-e-Milad as 'special holidays'. The government's earlier proposal of declaring Good Friday and feast of St Francis Xavier as special holidays was dropped following criticism from the public as well as MLAs of the ruling coalition. The public holidays are: Republic Day, Bakri-Id, Gudi Padva, Good Friday, Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi (2 days), Gandhi Jayanti, Dusshera, Diwali, Id-ul-Fitr, feast of St Francis Xavier, Goa Liberation Day and Christmas. (H) RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL FUNCTIONS BANNED IN GOVT OFFICES: The State government has banned social religious and private functions of non-official nature in office premises, during working hours. The decision was taken since the government had received a number of complaints from the public and various organisations pertaining to holding of social, religious private functions in government office during working hours which many a times continue for a whole day disrupting office work. (GT) SARPANCH VOTES FOR HIS OWN DEFEAT! At Telaulim village panchayat, at the time of voting on a no-confidence motion tabled against sarpanch Jose Edwardo Coutinho, the signatories-Nelsa Cardozo, Leena Coutinho, Socorro Pires and Esteven Goes, voted in favour of the motion, the sarpanch too joined the four by raising his hands, creating a flutter at yesterday's meeting. He refused to pay heed to the request of a BDO official that he cannot raise his hand in support of the motion. The remaining two members, Peter Fernandes and Armando Pires, then joined the five. (H) TWO MINOR GIRLS UNDERGO MEDICAL TEST: Two girls, believed to be minors, were on Friday subjected to medical examination at the Goa Medical College following allegation by a Margao-based women's organisation that the duo were allegedly raped. The Margao police have registered a case of rape, but have not named any individual or individuals for the offence. (H) AIR DECCAN FLIGHTS FROM MONDAY: Air Deccan, India's first no-frills airline, will begin operating scheduled flights to Bangalore from 17 November. The airline will operate French-made ATR042-320 turboprop aircrafts and the one-way fare will be Rs.2,450. Panaji-based Aerolines Aviation services will serve as the agent for Air Deccan in Goa. (GT) WOMAN ARRESTED: The Bicholim police arrested a woman named Shakuntala Rajendra Mandrekar on November 13 and recovered stolen property worth Rs.30,000 from her. The theft was reported on November 11, at Pale, Bicholim, at the house of Smita Sadu Gauns. (NT) 'GOA'S SUCCESS SHOULD BE EMULATED': Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Swashpawan Singh has stated that Goa's success on being chosen as the number one stage among the Indian states should be replicated in other parts of the country. Addressing a gathering during the 9th Annual Goa Day at the Indian Arts Circle Auditorium-Funaitees in Kuwait, Singh emphasised his continued interest in the well-being of Goans and all Indians in Kuwait. The idea of celebrating a day for the Goans, originally coined by GWS committee member, Joseph FX D'Souza, has now been replicated by scores of Goan community associations worldwide. (H) I-CARD PILOT PROJECT IN TISWADI: Tiswadi has been selected for a pilot project of Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and 1.6 lakh persons will be enumerated as part of a national plan to provide credible individual identification system for all citizens. The project for preparation of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) to serve as a deterrent for illegal immigration and for more efficient e-governance commences from today. (GT) NRI CELL IN CANADA: The Goa government will set up a Non-Resident Indian cell in Canada, according to Minister for Industries, Francisco D'Souza. D' Souza said the Cell would work to attract foreign investment in the state. He, however, did not disclose when the cell will be set up. D'Souza and his colleague, Minister for Trade and Commerce, Art and Culture, Ramrao G Dessai, were in Toronto on the last leg of their official visit to attend an IT meeting in Calgary. (Eugene Correia in Herald) 'DON'T DELETE NAMES OF NRIS': The Congress party has urged the chief electoral officer not to delete the names of voters, who were working as seafarers, abroad and who had ceased to reside in a particular house and shifted to another house unless proved that they had shifted outside the constituency. He said that basically the people of the minority communities were on board the ships as seafarers and working in the Gulf and would be deprived the right to exercise their franchise if they happen to be in Goa during elections. (GT) 5-HOUR BLACKOUT IN SALCETE: It was a candle-light evening for seven adjoining villages along the coastal belt from Cavelossim to Betalbatim on 13 November. The reason was that the electricity department were trying to find a snapped jumper for five-and-a-half hours from 6.30 pm. In Cavelossim, Carmona, Orlim, Varca, Benaulim, Colva and Betalbatim shacks, bars and restaurants, shops, cyber cafes, ATMs, etc had to down their shutters. (GT) COAST GUARD BOAT: Coast Guard Fast Interceptor Craft C-140 is the last of the series of ten Interceptor Boats manufactured by M/s Anderson Marine Pvt Ltd, Goa, for the Coast Guard, which will be commissioned on November 15. (NT) TWO BORDA RESIDENTS ON FAST: Two residents of Borda resorted to hunger strike to bring to the notice of the government of the inconvenience they face due to bad road, constant digging of the road, overflowing septic tanks, uncleared garbage and the lackadaisical attitude of the local MLA and councilor to solve the problems for more than two years now. (GT) "GOAN OBSERVER" LAUNCHED: A new weekly "Goan Observer", edited by former editor of Herald, Rajan Narayan, was launched yesterday. The 24-page tabloid devoted to news analysis contains a special section in colour targeted at foreign and domestic tourists. The editor is price at Rs.10 per copy. (GT) KONKANI BOOK EXHIBITION: An exhibition-cum-sale of Konkani books for children organised by the Konkani Bhasha Mandal began yesterday at the Konkani Bhavan, Margao. The exhibition will continue till 20 November. (GT) "ISHTANN" RELEASED: The first edition of "Ishtann" in English was released at Vasco recently by Vasant Joshi. Written by Padma Mahale and translated by Sapna Sardessai from the Konkani, "Ishtann" (The Food that Pleases) is a collection of traditional Saraswat recipes of Goa as well as other recipes that are now so popular with the Hindus that they have been incorporated in their regular cooking. Tel 9822-488564/5643264 (GT) KHANAPUR'S TELGI SHAKES THE NATION: The Rs.34 crore fake stamp paper scam, which has shaken the police and politicians of Maharashtra and Karnataka state, has it's roots at Khanapur town of Belgaum taluka. Scamster Abdul Kareem Telgi alias Kareem Lala, coming from a very poor family, made his livelihood by selling jackfruit at the Khanapur railway station. Later he went to Dubai and also swindled the youngsters aspiring to go the Gulf. Telgi came in contact with the Government Printing Press at Nashik and managed to get old blocks for printing of stamp papers. (GT) GUITAR, SITAR RECITAL AT MONTE: The Monte Music Festival enters its third day today, 15 November with some great performances: Portuguese guitar recital by Orlando de Noronha, Carlos Menezes, Franz Schubert Cotta and Devang Mehta at 5 pm at the Amphitheatre; and sitar recital by T Radhakrishna from Bangalore at the courtyard at 6 pm. (GT) S P O R T S FRANSA CLINCH UNDER-12 TITLE: After their stupendous victory in the Goa Football Association organised under-15 football league, Fransa Football Club added another feather to its cap, scripting a fluent 3-0 win over Bethany Convent, Sao Jose de Areal, to emerge champions in the Elvino Dias memorial under-12 football tournament at Fatorda. (H) GOA LOSE TO SIKKIM POLICE: Goa's hopes of progressing in the all-India Jarkhand football tournament suffered a jolt when they lost to Sikkim Police 1-4 in the semi-finals. (GT) D E A T H S 14 Nov: Azossim: MANUEL FERNANDES: Husband of Lourdes, father of Geraldo Francisco Fernandes, Domingos Jose and Annie. 13 Nov: Chinchinim: LINO ALBERTO FERNANDES: husband of Especiana, father of Vera/Wilfred, Vilda/Rajesh, Blasio/Sunita. 14 Nov: Cavelossim: SIDONIO VP RODRIGUES: husband of Jessie, father of Mavira/Viriato and Malcolm. G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 25.7 degC (78.3 degF) at 7.00 am in Assagao-Goa. Max Temp: 34.7 deg C; Min Temp: 23.4 deg C; Humidity: 64% (Official figures for yesterday) Weather: Lovely morning in Goa with bright sunshine. Courtesy: H=Herald, NT=The Navhind Times, GT=Gomantak Times JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao-Goa-India. 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