GOA

Chief ministerPramod Sawant said that the governments ambitious project Atmanirbhar Bharat -SwayampurnaGoa, aimed at making the state self-sufficient, would restart from July 1.

The project was suspended in May due to a sharp increase in Covid cases.

Sawant said that 191 swayampurna mitrs in village panchayats and 14 swayampurna mitrs in municipalities have started their work to make Goa swayampurna.

Sawant said that if the swayampurna mitr is active, they can do a lot of things for the people in their panchayat. He also said that grassroot-level politicians should keep politics aside and work for the people in their panchayats.

Under Swayampurna Goa, Panchayats And Municipalities were supposed to get funds under the15th Finance Commissionand under the funds allocated for the 60th celebration of Goas Liberation. The state, through the scheme, wanted to ensure 100% coverage of water and electricity connections to the people.

The government has roped in theagriculturedepartment to increase the vegetable and Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture production so that the state does not have to depend on other states.
Sawant had announced the Swayampurna Goa programme last year in October.

The Goa government reconstituted theGoa State Board for Wildlife.

The reconstituted Goa State Board of Wildlife is chaired by the chief minister,Pramod Sawant. The 31-member board includes representatives of varying departments from the state and central governments in addition to stakeholders and representatives of Environment organizations.

The board also comprises of prominent scientists from the Goa University and the NCPOR, Goa as members.

This year, theGoa State Board(GSBB) has decided that it will take suo motu cognizance of exemplary and pioneering work carried out in Biodiversity conservation in Goa and confer Awards for the works. The awards are presented every year by the board by calling nominations. But this year, the board has decided that it will take note of any outstanding contribution at its level itself.

The Biodiversity Conservation Awards recognise efforts by individuals and biodiversity management committees formed at the village level by the GSBB. The awards are conferred for work carried out in the areas of biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability across Goa.

Four products that are unique to Goa bebinca,malcorada mango, seven ridge okra and Agasaim brinjal have been published in the journal of the Geographical Indication (GI) Registry, which is the final stage in the process of obtaining a GI status for these items.

The products will officially have GI status in less than 3 months, following publication.

A GI label indicates a products specific geographical origin and the qualities that stem from that provenance.
The department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency to undertake GI registrations for products unique to Goa. These are agricultural produce, handicrafts, food items and handloom articles. The department has designated the Goa State Council for Science and Technology as the facilitator for the work.

The Goa Restriction on Transfer ofAgricultural Land Bill, 2023, introduced in the assembly, has provisions for industries, societies, andnon-agriculturistswho intend to buy agricultural land to pursue farming.

Farmerscannot sell agricultural land to non-agriculturists unless the collector concerned grants permission. The permission may be granted in special circumstances, such as when an industrial or a commercial undertaking needs land for Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture in connection with its operations.

In a bid to put Goa on the global Education map, the intends to open its arms to higher education in the state by collaborating with world class universities, said CMPramod Sawant. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of theQS India Summit 2023in Goa.

The state is in talks with various stakeholders to set up a national design institute, national Sports academy, marine technical academy, and few language institutions. “We are also focusing on having research and development in Waste Management, which will not only help the state with zero wastage, but also be a changemaker for the rest of the country,” Sawant said.

He further said that Goa wants to “bring internationalisation in its education”. He pointed out that the directorate of international cooperation and exchange looks after the internationalisation strategy at Goa University.

An introductory meeting between the state , finance department, the directorate panchayats and urban development department was held recently. The government has reconstituted the thirdState Finance Commissionunder the chairmanship of former finance secretary Daulat Hawaldar, former director of accounts, Gurudas Potekar and director of planning, statistics and evaluation, Y Durga Prasad, who has been appointed as member secretary of the reconstituted body.

The commission will study the scope for Own Source Revenue generation for local bodies, and the distribution of funds amongst the local bodies. Thecommission will also have consultations with local bodies before submitting their report to government.