GOA

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.

Goa govt moots fines for unsegregated waste

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The draft Goa Model Panchayat Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Bye-Laws, 2022, has proposed spot fines and penalties between Rs200 and Rs 10,000 against residential units, commercial establishments and institutions for non-segregation of waste at source, and not maintaining clean surroundings, among others.

The has invited objections and suggestions from the public before finalising the bye-laws.

The panchayat will impose fines for not storing and delivering commercial or domestic hazardous waste as required by the bye-laws, for not storing and delivering household biomedical waste as required by the bye-laws, for not granting access to the premises for inspection, for organising a public gathering or event without an event permit, for littering on roads or streets, for not delivering construction and demolition waste in a segregated manner as specified, for not delivering garden waste and tree trimmings as specified, and for disposal of waste by burning.

1.3L sqm land at Dharbandora for CMM Logistics Park

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The Goa Promotion Board (IPB) has moved to notify 1.3 lakh sqm of private property atDharbandoraas an investment area for a Logistics park being planned by the CMM group. The industries department has moved a notification and has given stakeholders a months time to submit objections and suggestions.

In September, IPB had cleared 11 investment projects, including CMM Logistics Pvt Ltds proposal to set up a logistics park in the state.

Govt lifts ban for transportation of buffaloes into Goa

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The Goa government has decided to lift the ban on transportation of buffaloes into the state.

The government approved the file on Wednesday, and the file has been sent to the district collectors to issue orders on lifting the ban.

The relaxation will be a limited one, permitting traders to import only buffaloes from neighbouring states directly to the government abattoir in Usgao, with no stops in between.

New edu policy on trial basis from next yr: CM

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Pointing out that a 30-year-old Education syllabus can no longer be taught to children and youth, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said theNational Education Policy(NEP), 2020, would be implemented in most educational institutions from the next academic year on a trial basis.

The NEP which replaces the National Policy on Education, 1986, and aims to transform the countrys education system by 2040 could not be implemented during the current academic year due to pandemic-related restrictions, the chief minister said.

Competition grows, Goa University slips to 96 in NIRF rank

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As more and more institutes and universities enter the race each year,Goa University’s rank slid to the 96th position at the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2021, declared by the Union Education ministry on Thursday. The state’s lone and government-run university, however, continues to feature in the 100 best university list in the country.
In 2020, GU had improved its rank to 81st position, from 93rd position the previous year in 2019. The university’s best rank of 68th was achieved in 2018.

The competition has been growing stiffer as 4,030 institutes participated in NIRF 2021, which was more than double of last years number. It was heartening though for Goa that some of its government colleges continued to make it to the ranks list in their specific categories.
Goa College of Pharmacy was ranked 56th in the list for 75 best pharmacy institutes in the country. Though given the competition, it was not a surprise that Goa College of Pharmacy came down nine positions over its previous rank of 47. The institute has consistently made it to the best list in its category.