*Dear Members of the Media,*
Please find attached Photos of the Launch of Knowledge Connect Project by Panaji First an initiative of CII Goa State Council. Also appended is the Press Release about the same. *Launch of the Knowledge Connect Project by Panaji First, a CII Initiative, at the Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library, Patto Panaji Goa on Sunday 21st Sept’14* *IMG 1* - Seen in the photograph (L to R): *Mr Kirit Maganlal*, Chairman CII Goa State Council and Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Vijay Hede*, Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Manohar Parrikar*, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa and *Mr Surendra Furtado*, Mayor of Panjim City *IMG 2* - Seen in the photograph (L to R): *Mr Surendra Furtado*, Mayor of Panjim City, *Mr Kirit Maganlal*, Chairman CII Goa State Council and Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Manohar Parrikar*, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, *Mr Atul Pai Kane*, Trustee, Panaji First and *Mr Vijay Hede*, Trustee, Panaji First. *IMG 3* - Seen in the photograph (L to R): *Mr Kirit Maganlal*, Chairman CII Goa State Council and Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Carlos Fernandes*, Curator, Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library, *Mr Vijay Hede*, Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Manohar Parrikar*, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa and *Mr Dean Menezes*, Trustee, Panaji First *IMG 4* - Seen in the photograph (L to R): *Mr Vijay Hede*, Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Carlos Fernandes*, Curator, Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library, *Mr Manohar Parrikar*, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa *Mr Kirit Maganlal*, Chairman CII Goa State Council and Trustee, Panaji First and *Mr Dean Menezes*, Trustee, Panaji First *IMG 5* - Seen in the photograph (L to R): , *Mr Manohar Parrikar*, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, *Mr Carlos Fernandes*, Curator, Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library, *Mr Vijay Hede*, Trustee, Panaji First, *Mr Kirit Maganlal*, Chairman CII Goa State Council and Trustee, Panaji First and *Mr Dean Menezes*, Trustee, Panaji First. May I request you to kindly carry the attached photos in your esteemed print media. Regards *Kirit Maganlal* ***************************************** Chairman, CII Goa State Council Goa State Office Confederation of Indian Industry Goa State Office (Western Region) 502, Unitech City Center, M. G. Road, Panaji, Goa 403 001 Tel: 0832 - 2422790 / 2422796 e-mail: cii....@cii.in <ciig...@dataone.in> ****************************************** *Press Release:* The Knowledge Connect Project an initiative of Panaji First, was launched at the hands of Honble Chief Minister of Goa Mr Manohar Parrikar in the presence of the Mayor of Panjim, Mr Carlos Fernandes, Curator, Goa State Central Library, Padma Shri, Maria Aurora Couto, Library staff, faculty & students from various institutes & schools from in and around Panaji and other eminent citizens. Later the Honble Chief Minister visited the 3 Day Book Exhibition displayed at the Art Gallery in the presence of the five trustees of Panaji First; Mr Vijay Hede, Mr Kirit Maganlal, Mr Dean Menezes, Mr Atul Pai Kane and Mr Christopher Heredia. Panaji First a Trust formed by CII Goa State Council with an aim of launching the city of Panaji and its denizens into 21st century. This project aims to use The Central Library, Panaji as a focal point for connecting with the stakeholders in Panaji. The traditionally academic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic must be augmented by curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, cooperation and communication skills. In a nutshell, the Knowledge Connect Project is not a book donation project. The book donation is only the starting phase. Mr Kirit Maganlal, Chairman CII Goa State Council and Managing Trustee Panaji First, welcomed the gathering stated that the Knowledge Connect was aimed at the denizens of the city of Panjim so as to create open spaces and make the lives of each citizen in Panjim more pleasant and liveable. Mr Vijay Hede, Trustee Panaji First further spoke about the Plan for Implementation of the project to enhance the collection of books at The Central Library, which have been purchased by benchmarking the most read books from leading libraries around the World. He stated that the books were being chosen from the bestseller in the New York Times, most read books in New York Public Library, Pulitzer prize winners and finalists for the last 10 years, the awardees and the long lists of books of Royal Society, London, Booker prize winners, awardees of Goldman Sachs/FT and books with average ratings exceeding 4 from goodreads.com, Books from Thinkers 50 and a wide selection of books on Indian history and books written by Indian writers. He stated that the project further aimed at collecting a repository of knowledge and the need to channelize the readers to make use of this knowledge made available through various books made available to the library for all sections of people, with a target of 10000 books on the shelves of the Library by the end of the current academic year. This initiative would also target a number of 50 e-books kindles made available in the reference section consisting of contemporary reference books. This will complement the hard print copies. He also stated that in the next academic year Panaji First will initiate a project for Central Library to lend 500 books to Panaji schools and colleges on long term basis. Our object is to bring the library to the readers instead of the traditional efforts of getting the readers to the library. Panaji First was also in the process of developing a yearly calendar and would initiate steps to get eminent writers of National and International repute to speak to Panaji citizens and students at The Central Library on periodic basis on various contemporary topics for a period of 12 months. Speaking on the occasion Mr Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa lauded the efforts of Panaji First for taking such an initiative as this would go a long way in addressing various social issues and connect the community in enhancing the knowledge of the citizens with a broad vision. He stated that gaining of knowledge through inculcating the habit of reading would empower the readers using the library facilities on a wide range of topics which will equip people to address social and other sector specific issues. He further mentioned that this attempt by Panaji First would also help the students to go one step ahead in gaining extensive knowledge beyond the text books which will help create a wider horizon amongst the readers and a similar step needs to be taken to further revamp the current education system in the state which would be addressed by the Govt. shortly. Further he proposed the following points appealed that 50 prominent readers and writers from the state be identified and their opinions be also taken in the selection of books under the project which would add value to the collection. He also stated the need to have books in Konkani and Marathi and the same be made available to the users giving due importance to these books and further not restricting the project to only 10000 books. The Hon’ble Chief Minister also make the books accessible to the people who do not have access to books and create more interest amoungst the people to visit the library. He stated he was happy to note that there was great interest shown for the books made available by the Panaji First. Mr Dean Menezes thereafter proposed he vote of Thanks. Further on Ms Shefali Vaidya a freelance journalist of Goan origin with a keen interest in History of Goa spoke on the Armed Struggle for Goan Liberation with a special focus on The Azad Gomantak Dal. 21st September 2014 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer This message, including any files transmitted with it, is for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any unauthorized use, review, storage, disclosure or distribution of this message and/or its contents in any form is strictly prohibited. If it appears that you are not the intended recipient or this message has been forwarded to you without appropriate authority, please immediately delete this message permanently from your records and notify the sender. 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