GOA

A 30-meter catamaran built byVijai Marine Shipyardat Rassaim was handed over to the Maldives government to undertake marine research. Funded by the (WB), the vessel – Thimaaveshi will help the Maldivian ministry of Environment,Climate Changeand Technology to track the effects of Climate Change, impact on coral reefs and Fisheries. IIT Kharagpur helped Vijai Marine with the design and vessel construction.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant flagged off the vessel which will set sail for Maldives. This 30 meter catamaran ship has been built in Goa and this ship is a proud moment as it symbolizes Make in India and Make in Goa too. This ship has been built for the Maldives government, said Sawant.

People in Goa can now reportweatherevents on the India Meteorological Department (IMD)portalthat allows the public to reportlocalweather phenomenon.

Launched at the national-level, this platform can also be used by people in Goa, on which the public can alsosharedetails about the damage caused in their area due to heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Goa has the potential to become a hub for DEFENCE manufacturing which in turn can create significant economic opportunities for the country and for the state, said chief minister Pramod Sawant

Speaking at Manohar Parrikar Memorial Lecture on Indigenisation of Bharats Defence, Sawant called for -academia interactions to help bridge the gap between innovations and the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.

The chief minister also said that Goa has strong prospects of becoming a Logistics hub. He said that Goa already houses the Konkan maritime cluster for shipbuilding at Verna, which will generate 3,000 jobs. He said that Goas air, water, and road connectivity provides strategic advantages to Indias defence industry.

Sawant said Infrastructure, science and innovation were dear to Parrikar. He added that the Manohar Parrikar Scholarship scheme will continue to enable Goan youth to study internationally and nationally.

In a first, the Goa legislative assembly was constituted on Tuesday before the formation of the government. Pro-tem speaker Ganesh Gaonkar administered theoathto the 39 newly-electedMLAs.

Seventeen of the new MLAs took the oath in English, 15 in Konkani and seven in Marathi. The formation of the new government will take place after Holi. A senior assembly official said that until the new government is sworn in, there cannot be any government business in the assembly.
For the first time, the Goa assembly now has three couples the Ranes, Monserrates and Lobos. Also, after a long time, three Women took oath as MLAs.

In the 40-member Goa legislative assembly, BJP has 20 MLAs, Congress 11, MGP and AAP two each, and GFP and RGP one each, apart from three independents.

In yet another attempt to bring in transparency and provide online Services to entrepreneurs and industrial units, Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has decided to create a digital land bank of all industrial estates by October.

The GIDC board and gave its approval for an aerial survey of all industrial estates, which will help monitor encroachments and allow entrepreneurs to identify vacant plots.

GIDC chairman Alexio ReginaldoLourencoalso announced that the board has accepted the need for a one-time settlement scheme for defaulting industries which have not paid lease rent and other charges for several years.

In 2020, the Centres Department for Promotion of and Internal Trade launched the countrys first digital industrial land bank and Goa was among the first seven states to map industrial land as part of the national GIS-enabled land bank system.

Given the wide scope ofmaritime tourism, Goa needs a comprehensive roadmap for the state which focuses on creation, Skill development,EMPLOYMENT generationand standardisation innautical tourism, said the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa.
CII-Goa, in a report submitted to the outgoing government, said that Goa also needs sustainable Environment policies to govern nautical tourism.

The CII-Goa panel on tourism listed a set of recommendations that could help Goa diversify its tourism and harness the revenue and employment potential of nautical tourism.

CII-Goa pointed out that most pleasure-boats and yachts currently operate from floating jetties which are small and can be unsafe.

After years of neglect,Sakhali fortis finally set to get a much needed facelift. Chief ministerPramod Sawantsaid that Sakhali Fort, which has a rich historical heritage, will be the focal point of the towns splendour.

Sawant was addressing the gathering on Tuesday after laying the foundation stone for the forts renovation works.

The fort will be renovated by the department of archives and archaeology at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore. Work is expected to be completed within one and half years.

The fort is located around 60 mts from the left bank of River Valvanti.

In 2001, a state-appointed committee had suggested various steps for its conservation. In 2017, heritage groups had demanded urgent attention considering the forts precarious condition.

This historic fort will renovated by relocating the shops and kiosks in the market area. An art gallery, museum, information desk on the forts HISTORY as well as a special facility for senior citizens has been planned.

The state has amended its flagship Laadli Laxmi scheme which provided financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to young Women for their Education, business, or marriage to exclude education and business. Thus, young women will now only be able to get the for their marriage.

The state has also shortened the window during which a person can avail of the scheme. An applicant now has to apply within six months of registration, as opposed to one year earlier. Director of women and child developmentDeepali Naiksaid that earlier, the beneficiary could utilise the money for education or business.

The Laadli Laxmi scheme was launched by former chief ministerManohar Parrikarin July 2012, one of the states flagship programmes, with the intention of addressing the undesirable tendency of female foeticides, and with the aim of erasing the general perception that the birth of a girl in the family is a burden on her parents or guardian during marriage.

The eligibility criteria for the scheme includes birth and/or domicile in Goa, and in case, the applicants parents income cant exceed Rs 3 lakh.