GOA

Only 20% government schools in Goa have computers: Central data

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officials have often wondered aloud about the reason for constantly declining enrolment in government-run schools in Goa. Now, theUnion Education ministrys data released for 2021-22 on Thursday may provide some answers.

The Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) data has shown stark difference in availability of computer and Internet facilities in government schools as compared to aided and private schools in Goa.

Only 54.4% schools in Goa had functionalcomputersin 2021-22. But the state Average was largely dragged down by the less-than-desirable facilities in government schools. Only 20.3% government schools had functional computers in the state, compared to 94.1% in aided schools and 95.7% in private schools.
Goas aided and private schools also did much better than most other states, as the national average for aided schools with functional computers stood at 67.5% and for private schools at 71.9%.

Government schools in Goa were, however, ahead in one aspect use of mobile phones for TEACHING purposes during the pandemic. Nearly 45% state-run schools in Goa used mobiles for teaching, as against 16% nationally.

Goa government plans to revive, create 100 water bodies in forest areas

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Seeking innovative ways to reduce man-animal conflicts, the forest department plans to create and revive around 100 newwater bodiesin forests that dot the state. The move, along with plantation of scores of fruit-bearing trees in the jungles will help prevent wild animals from straying into human habitations.

The theme for this World Environment Day is Restoring the Ecosystem, and Sawant called on all stakeholders to help preserve and protect forests, wild animals and other https://exam.pscnotes.com/natural-Resources“>Natural Resources. Ironically, Sawant has vehemently refused to engage with wildlife activists and environmentalists who waged a long campaign to stop trees from being felled in the Mollem wildlife sanctuary.

State to use portal to bring govt at doorstep

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The will use the Maha Labharthi (mega beneficiary) portal for effective implementation of itsShasan Aplya Dari(government at your doorstep) scheme, which officials said will increase the schemes scope.

Chief ministerEknath Shindesuggested that the portal should also be used so that the maximum citizens can get benefits easily.

Officials said the initiative ofShasan Aaplya Dariis running in every district and it has been planned so that citizens get different benefits under one roof at one place. Arrangements have been made, they said. Shinde expressed the belief that the scope of the scheme will increase as citizens will be able to avail the benefits of the scheme by themselves or by filling their information at an authorized centre through the beneficiary portal.

At cost of Rs 1.7 crore, Goa tourism to head to Europe to get more responsible tourists

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GoasBhaktiKulkarni has been recommended for theArjuna Awardby the selection panel headed by retired SC AM Khanwilkar.
Should, as expected, the Sports ministry accepts the recommendation of the selection committee, the chess queen will be the first Goan woman to receive the top sporting honour, and the first non-footballer from the state.
Two Goans,Padma Shri Brahmanand Shankhwalkar(1998) and Bruno Coutinho (2001), both footballers, have won theArjunaAward in the past.

Bhakti said the last five years performances were considered for the award.
Bhakti also won the team gold medal in the online chess Olympiad in August 2020 and Asian Nations Cup online in October the same year.

Govt gave yachting assn undue benefit, Goa lost Rs 4 crore: CAG

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The river departments (RND) failure to act against the illegal use of 251 sqm of land at Dona Paula has given the GoaYachtingAssociation (GYA) undue benefit while the government incurred a loss of Rs 4 crore since 2011-12, found an internal audit.

Authorities have assessed the rental value of the 251sqm of land and have concluded that the RND has done little to stem the loss to thestateexchequer either through a rental agreement or eviction.
The government may initiate recovery of rent as well as execution of the rent agreement or evacuation process, an official said.

Pearl Colvalcar, another trainee with the GYA won the silver medal in the Laser Radial Class at the Senior National Sailing Championship and the GYA is now trying to prepare sailors for the Asian Games 2022 and Paris Olympics 2024.

Goa: 16,000 sqm land allotted for Rs 20 crore handicraft village at Sanguem

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The has handed over 16,000sqm land atSanguemto the Union Government to set up a Rs 20 crore handicraft village project. Chief ministerPramod Sawanton Monday said that training centres and showrooms will be set up at the handicraft village.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the project and an equal share will be put up by the state government.

The government of Goa is committed to extending all support for the revival and Growth of the Goan weaving art.

Agri institute to conduct trials to grow potatoes, apples in Goa

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Goa-based ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute will conducttrialsto grow crops that are not usually cultivated in Goa, among which are apple, potato which are usually sourced from other states.

The production of all is very mild in Goa but attempts must be made to make best use of the area under cultivation and grow such crops. The duty of the institute is to try growing new varieties of crops so that the dependence on Karnataka, especially Belagavi can be reduced.

Goa currently sources 320 tons of vegetables especiallypotatoesand onions per day from neighboring Karnataka and Maharashtra.
ICAR-CCARI has signed an MoU with CPRI (central potato research institute) to increase vegetable and fodder production in the state to make Goa swampurana or self-reliant. Five varieties of potato have been recommended for cultivation in the state Kufri Surya, Kufri Lima, Kufri Kiran, Kufri Thar 1 and Kufri Pukhraj.

Steps, funds needed to contain cattle dying in road accidents

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Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) state general secretary Janardhan S Bhandari demanded that the government release funds for the cattle management scheme and also called for a legislation to contain the killing of bovines by vehicles along national highway 66. He was referring to the recent incident when a vehicle ran overstray cattlekilling 11 cattle on the spot and injuring three others.

Bhandari demanded that the government initiate the Goa stray cattle management scheme, 2013 through the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (DAHVS). He said that the provision of finance under this scheme is insufficient and more funds as well as manpower was required to handle stray cattle. He also said that due to lack of funds the scheme is not effectively implemented in Goa.

Amendments to Goa GST Act get state cabinet nod

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The Goa Goods and Service Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022, received the cabinets approval on Wednesday. As per the amendment, the registration of a person paying tax under Section 10 of the act is liable to be cancelled if the return for a financial year has not been furnished beyond three months from the due date.

The bill seeks to amend clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the act and will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session of Goa legislative assembly.
It seeks to insert a new sub-clause (ba) in clause (2) of explanation in order to provide clarity regarding the relevant date for filing refund claims in respect of supplies made to a Special Economic Zone developer or a Special Economic Zone unit.

With eye on carbon neutral, Goa to incentivise e-vehicles

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As part of the larger objective to make Goa carbon neutral by 2030, the intends to incentivize the adoption ofelectric vehicles, bring in electric vehicle manufacturers to Goa and restore fragile Ecosystems in the state.

Environment minister Nilesh Cabral said that the government aims to make electric two-wheelers cheaper than petrol-powered two-wheelers while the price difference between a conventional car and an electric car will be reduced from 30% to 5%.

The states subsidies are in addition to the subsidy for scrapping of vehicles and the Centres subsidy for electric vehicles. For motorcycle pilots, 50% to 54% of the cost of the vehicle will be subsidised.