GOA

Govt begins work to amend Goa Co-op Societies Act

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The is mulling to amend the Goa Co-operative Societies Act to strengthen cooperative organisations and to try and keep a check on fraudulent activities in cooperative bodies which are in a bad shape, said minister for cooperation Govind Gaude.

For many years Goas cooperative sector has been ignored and has been riddled with financial irregularities and erosion of depositors funds. One of the objectives behind the proposed amendment, said sources, is to bring in checks and balances to prevent malpractices and bring in transparency in a sector which is the backbone of the states rural economy.

Goa State Library Policy to be formulated

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In a bid to preserve the personal book collection of eminent writers for national posterity, theGoa governmentwill be formulating theGoa State Library Policy. The government has reconstituted a state level committee of prominent writers, educationists and library professionals to frame and finalize the guidelines for the policy.

The committee shall meet as and when required to discuss and finalize the guidelines for Goa State Library Policy. The term of the committee is extended for further period of one year with effect from January 12, 2023 to January 11, 2024 or till the committee submits its final guidelines, whichever is earlier, the notification read.

In Goa, homes can soon pay EMIs to install rooftop solar plants

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Given domestic households reluctance to install rooftop solar power systems, Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) plans to introduce a new scheme under which the government will foot the bill to install the rooftop Plants. Instead of a lump sum amount, a monthly fee will be collected from residents till the installation cost is recovered.
Currently, the Union ministry for new and (MNRE) and the State Government offer subsidies for the installation ofrooftop solar plantswith a capacity of up to 10kW. However, the steep initial cost and the delay in disbursement of the subsidies have deterred many from signing up.

At present, the MNRE gives 40% subsidy for domestic consumers who install 1kW to 3kW rooftop solar power plants with the state government providing an additional 10% subsidy.
Rooftopsolar plantswith a capacity between 4kW and 10 kW attract 20% subsidy from MNRE with Goa providing an additional 30% subsidy. The Union ministry is now shifting to a fixed subsidy which GEDA will also adopt.

Focus on policy-making, appoint professionals to run GIDC: Industry

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oncerned about political interference, Goas industrialists have said that the next must appoint professionals to head the Goa Industrial Development Corporation and other bodies that deal with permissions for the manufacturing sector.Goa State Industries Association(GSIA) said politicians and MLAs should focus on policy formulation instead of micro-managing approvals and permissions.

Pointing out that manufacturing is the only sector that can generate jobs and create sustainable revenue for locals, GSIA said that the government must create a conducive business Environment instead of simply talking about Ease of Doing Business.

Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) was asked to create an online service workflow and digitise GIDCs Services. However, four years later, several technical glitches remain. GSIA wants a professional agency to be roped in so that the work can be completed soon.

Tatas for major expansion in Goa, set to pump in Rs 300 crore

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Indian Hotels Company Limited(IHCL), the hospitality arm of theTata Group, has prepared a robust expansion roadmap for Goa, and intends to invest around Rs 300 crore in new properties in the state. The company is looking to add to its existing portfolio of 23hotels in Goaby opening up several new resorts over the next two to three years.

Among the new projects IHCL intends to set up is a super luxury dream project at the Fort Aguada and Taj Holiday Village, Sinquerim.

In 2021-22, amidst the pandemic, IHCL raked in a profit of Rs 160 crore just from Goa. The state contributed 45% to IHCLs topline in 2021-22, but going forward, this is expected to settle at around 40%.

Ministry of culture to hold science expo at Goa University

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The Unionministry of culture, in collaboration withGoa University, will conduct ascience expo Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyateat the university from February 22 to 28. The expo is being held for school, college and university students.

The event will be focussed around the themes of milestones of modern Indian science & technology, science literature, HISTORY of Indian science, science & technology in India over the next 25 years, and swadeshi (made in India) and paramparik (traditional) inventions and innovations.

Students will be able to register and enter the event for free, while the expo events will also be livestreamed.

Implement food security scheme, civil supplies told

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The GoaStateCommission forProtectionof Child Rights has directed thedepartmentof civilsuppliesto implement the PHH (Priority Household) scheme of the National Scheme effectively.

The anxiety of the commission is to see that the poor and destitute and weaker sections of the Society, especially children in vulnerable circumstances, whose conditions are aggravated by Covid-19, do not suffer from hunger and starvation. The prevention of the same is one of the prime responsibilities of the government.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recognises that all children upto 18 years of age are human beings in their own right, and are entitled to inalienable rights, inherent to human dignity including the right to healthy food and adequate Nutrition, the right to non-discrimination, and the right to consider their best interests in all matters that affect them.

Climate-smart agriculture can help meet rising food demands’ in Goa

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and Climate-change”>Climate Change are posing a threat to crops and there is an urgent need to make a shift to ‘Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture“>Climate-Smart Agriculture‘ to meet the increasing demand for food, said Balasaheb Sawant, vice chancellor of Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli while speaking as the chief guest at the two-day national level conference on agriculture and climate change.

He said that to avoid losses there is a need to propagate varieties of mango, paddy and other crops that would suit aptly to the changing climatic conditions.Indian farmers through their hard work have made it possible to get good yield of crops of temperate zone grapes and apples in the tropical areas, said Sawant at the event organised by the department of economics at Laxmibai Halbe College, Dodamarg, and the Indian council of social science and research.

GIDC eyeing atmanirbhar by taxing MSMEs: Goa Inc

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Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) has reacted strongly to Goa Industrial Development Corporations plans to enhance the lease rent and said that such a move would hurt economic recovery.

GSIA, in a strongly worded letter, demanded that instead of taxing entrepreneurs, the corporation should recover pending dues from defaulters, including Rs 7 crore from the Centre for created for Def-Expo at Quitol-Quepem.

In 2013, former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had persuaded industrialists to agree for 10% increase in lease rent every three years and had assured the industries that the increase would come into effect only after the initial 30-year lease period.

Just 6% Goa schools using IVRS for feedback on midday meals

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The Union Government‘s project approval board (PAB) for themidday meal schemehas found that in Goa, schools’ reporting of supply and quality of meals using the automated monitoring system has been ‘abysmally low’.
An integrated voice response system (IVRS) had been specially designed for the purpose, but only 6% of schools used it in 2022-23.

The automated monitoring system has been put in place for real-time monitoring ofPM Poshan. Data on the number of meals served on the particular day and reasons if meals are not served are being captured from schools with no cost to school headmasters/teachers. Out of 1,247 schools, on Average, daily data has been reported by 75 schools, ie, only 6% schools, on the automated monitoring system.

In Goa, data is collected from schools using an IVRS developed by theInfotech Corporation of Goa. Through the IVRS, a call goes to a selected representative of the school every day at a pre-decided time. A pre-recorded voice asks for different details about the midday meal served on that particular day. A selected school teacher or headmaster provides data by pressing the appropriate number. This data is later submitted by Education officials in the state on a Union government portal.

The Goa government was advised to conduct testing of the meal samples to check quality and nutritional contents, through NABL or Fssai accredited laboratories.