OHERALDOThe Voice of Goa Since 1900

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARCh 27

A day after the MaharashtrawadiGomantak Party (MGP) pro-claimed its support for Konkaniand Marathi as the medium ofinstruction, the Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP) too announced theirstand in favour of mothertongue.

Worldwide there is a conceptthat elementary education hasto be in the mother tongue. Wecannot be an exception to it.Congress is trying to politicizethe entire issue at the cost of

the future generation, BJP GoaPresident Laxmikant Parsekartold reporters on Sunday.

he said that the party sup-ports Konkani and Marathi as amedium of instruction and willdiscourage any debate on the

floor of the house on the issueduring the ongoing session.The decision on such matterswill have to be taken by educa-tionists and experts and not bylegislators, Parsekar com-mented.

The BJP chief added that fewof the legislators dont even havea moral right to take a decisionon education considering theirown qualifications.

Parsekar said that leader ofthe opposition Manohar Parrikarhas extensively spoken on thisissue on the floor of the house.We have made our stand clear,he said.

The BJP leader also welcomedMGPs stand, which is in linewith that of the BJP. Initially,we were thinking that MGP

AFP

ISLAMABAD, MARCh 27

In a victory for cricket diplo-macy, Pakistans Prime MinisterYousuf Raza Gilani has acceptedan invitation to visit India towatch the World Cup semi-finalbetween the two arch-rivals.

Wednesdays match in Mohaliwill be the first between thetwo sides on Indian soil sincethe 2008 Mumbai attacks byPakistan-based militants, whichsent tensions soaring.

It was decided in responseto the Indian prime ministersinvitation that Prime MinisterYousuf Raza Gilani will visit Indiato witness the semi-final cricketmatch, the Pakistan presidentsspokesman said in a statementSunday.

Indian Prime Minister Man-mohan Singh on Friday invitedPakistans president and primeminister to watch the matchwhich will showcase one of theworlds most intense sportingrivalries, fuelled by nationalismand a shared history.

Analysts said Singhs invita-tion was aimed at improving theenvironment for talks betweenthe two nations.

Relations are still tense fol-lowing the Mumbai attacks thatleft 166 people dead and stalleda fragile four-year peace process

between the two nuclear-armedSouth Asian rivals.

These kinds of visits do notsuggest an instant solution tothe problems but break thestalemate, help improve the en-vironment which facilitatestalks, analyst hasan Askari toldAFP.

Pakistan is holding seven sus-pects over the attacks on Indiasfinancial capital, including thealleged mastermind of the op-eration, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi,and alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)operative Zarar Shah.

India and Washington blamedthe Mumbai siege on bannedPakistani militant group LeT.

Top officials from India andPakistan are due to hold talksin Delhi from March 28 focusingon counter-terrorism, narcoticscontrol and humanitarian issues.

The diplomats will now bemore relaxed in their dialoguebut as the issues are complex,their solution will take time,Askari said.

The two countries announcedthe resumption of peace talkslast month after a meeting be-

tween Pakistani Foreign Secre-tary Salman Bashir and his In-dian counterpart Nirupama Raoin the Bhutanese capital Thim-phu.

The international communityhas been pushing the two sidesto get back to the negotiatingtable to help ease tensions inan already volatile region.

Ties between India and Pak-istan have been plagued by bor-der and resource disputes, andaccusations of Pakistani militantactivity against India.

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IN BRIEF

MediuM of instRuCtion

Visit us at:www.oheraldo.in panjim, monday, march 28, 2011 postal reg. no. Goa 101 pricE rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16+4

Business: Convert tax gains intohigher investments: FM Pg 9

India: SRK wants to make kids

proud with upcoming film Pg 7

H

High Tide: 0534; 1941Low Tide: 0011; 1210

T I D E S T O D A Y

The first step to getting the things youwant out of life is this:Decide what you want.

Ben Stein

Sports: Ponting hopes forTendulkar-sort rebirth Pg 15

After MGP, BJP backs Konkani and Marathi

Cricket diplomacy gets a push, Pak PM says yes

Indo-Pakistanhome secys to

meet today PTI

NEW DELhI, MARCh 27

Setting a positive tone for homeSecretary-level meeting here,Pakistan Interior SecretaryChaudhary Qamar Zaman todaysaid such efforts would enhancepeaceful relations between thetwo neighbours and that his sidewould look for an easier andfaster visa regime.

Zaman, who is leading a six-member delegation for the two-day talks with home SecretaryG K Pillai from tomorrow, saidhis meeting was aimed at pro-moting and strengthening peacebetween the two neighbours.

Such efforts between thetwo sides would enhance peace-ful relations and promote peo-ple-to-people contact, Zamantold reporters at the Attari-Wagah border before flying toDelhi.

The entire country has ap-preciated this gesture of theprime minister of India he saidreferring to the invitation ex-tended by Prime Minister Man-mohan Singh to th e Pak istanresident and prime minister towatch the Indo-Pak World Cupsemi-final in Mohali.

PTI

NEW DELhI, MARCh 27

The prime minister-appointedShunglu Committee has foundthat over Rs 250 crore of tax-payers money has been pock-eted by various contractorsexecuting the CommonwealthGames projects.

The high-level committee hasestimated Rs 900 crore as costof delay by certain governmentdepartments in implementinginfrastructure related projectsand Rs 300 crore loss to DelhiDevelopment Authority (DDA)in construction of the Common-wealth Games Village near Ak-shardham Temple here.

The committee in its two re-ports construction of village

and development of city infra-structure has pointed outseveral irregularities like delays,collusive bidding and hasty de-cision on the part of certain cen-tral and Delhi governmentofficials which led to cost esca-lation and loss worth crores ofrupees to the government ex-chequer.

The committee has found

procedural violations by DelhiLt Governor Tejinder Khanna,Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit andother top government officialsfor alleged inadequacies and in-dications of their poor oversightin executing projects related tothe mega sporting event.

In its second report, the com-mittee said the village site suf-fered from many shortcomingsand necessitated extra spendingof over Rs 630 crore in con-structing a Barapullah Nallahflyover. Besides, the project de-veloper Emaar MGF also madegain of Rs 134 crore to Rs 220crore and questioned the roleof the consultant, Pricewater-house Coopers (PwC), the reportsaid.

The committee , based onthe records made available toit, finds that the Union Cabinetwas not provided with all infor-mation regarding the pros andcons of location of the Gamesvillage...

The consultant chosen byDDA (PwC) to advise them onexecution of the Games villageproject in the public-privatepartnership (PPP) mode failedto perform their assigned tasksatisfactorily, the committeesaid in the report basing its find-ings on interviews of 16 peo-ple.

It also questioned the bail outpackage given to the builderand recomm e n d ed act ion

CWG contractors pocketedRs 250 crore: Probe panel

89-year-oldpredicts world

will end onMay 21, 2011

AGENCIES

LONDON, MARCh 27

A preacher from Oakland, Cal-ifornia, has warned that theend of the world is nigh 21st May 2011, to be pre-cise.

At about 6 pm, haroldCamping reckons two percent of the worlds popula-tion will be immediately rap-tured to heaven; the rest ofus will be sent straight to theOther Place.

Everyday, Camping, an 89-year-old former civil engineer,spreads his Doomsday pre-dictions via the Family RadioNetwork, a religious broad-casting organisation fundedentirely by donations fromlisteners.

Its getting real close. Itsreally getting pretty awe-some, when you think aboutit, the Independent quotedCamping as saying.

Were not talking about aball game, or a marriage, orgraduating from college.Were talking about the endof the world, a matter ofbeing eternally dead, or beingeternally alive, and its allcoming to a head right now,he added.

After 70 years of studyingthe Bible, he claims to havedeveloped a system that usesmathematics to interpret

GAME FOR A GAME: Prime Minister Manmohan Singhssporting gesture of inviting Pakistani counterpart YousufRaza Gilani for the finals has got a positive response.(Above): Tendulkar at a session in Mohali on Sunday.

Black money: I-T dept signs MoUs The government has set theball rolling for estimatingblack money by signing agree-ments with three leadingthink-tanks NCAER, NIFM andNIPFP to conduct study on un-accounted income generatedinside and outside the coun-try. They have been given 18months to complete the studyand also suggest administra-tive and legal measures to pre-vent generation of blackmoney, according to sources.The first study on unac-counted money was con-ducted by NIPFP way back in1985. (PTI)

GOAOHERALDO

Pg 2GOA, MONDAY, 28 MARCH, 2011

BABLUIS PEREIRA, POMBURPA

The above photograph shows students and commuters standingon the road in scorching summer heat, all in wait for a bus totransport them to their destination. Since the inception ofmodern road transport and ferry movement, basic amenitieshave been sadly lacking at Pomburpa. There is no bus/ferryshelter or even a public toilet at the ferry point. Commutershave to sit on the Ganesh idol immersion platform for the ferryand on the road or at the shop front footpath, for a bus.Obviously, the government does not care for its people.

This neglect reminds me of the CM Digambar Kamats messageon the golden jubilee year of liberation. He said that Goa is onthe fast track growth in development and has made tremendousprogress during the last 49 years, taking immediate priorityhas provided food, shelter and clothing for the people in everynook and corner. The visionary/commitment of his governmentis to take the development to the doorsteps of aam admi. Ifthat is the case, then why is there not even a thatch shelter atPomburpa for the commuters comfort?

CIVIC FORUMEmpty promises

ADELMO FERNANDES, VASCO

The stretch of the road near the IOC Terminus in Vasco hasbeen dug up presumably for some sewerage work. As a resultof this, the road users have to face a lot of inconvenience onthis busy stretch of the F L Gomes road, especially near thevegetable market. It must be said that this is the second timethat the road has been dug up for the same work in less thana year. The authorities concerned should see that the work isdone properly at the first instance so that the road need notbe dug up again and again, thus causing inconvenience to thegeneral public.

They sleep on Rly Stn benchesR RAMAMURTHY, MARGAO

Almost all Railway stations provide seating arrangements withconcrete benches/chairs in platforms for the convenience ofthe passengers to sit comfortably. In Margao railway station,most of the benches/chairs are fully occupied by passengersby keeping their luggages on the benches/chairs, not onlysitting, but also sleeping. Many passengers find it very incon-venient to sit and if requested, to keep the luggage on thefloor and give space to sit, then they get irritated.

The Railway authorities should take proper steps to avoidsuch inconveniences to other passengers, not only by providingmore benches/chairs, but also to announce on the mike tokeep their luggages on the floor to accommodate other pas-sengers to sit. No doubt, the passengers should also extendtheir full co-operation.

ANNIE COUTURE, CANADIAN

It's a shame, that picture was taken at the main entrance ofCalangute beach next to government hotel. It's like that everyday and the worst part of it is that they burn it!

Curb over-speeding in busesNYPHA FERNANDES, QUEPEM

I commute daily by public transport from Quepem to Panajitaking either private service buses or KTC buses. But most ofthe times it has been noticed that the private buses are overcrowded to capacity. There is no authority to check the same.Also, during the wee hours of the morning, the buses indulgein over-speeding.

The RTO authorities should be very cautious about the abovementioned issues. Also, they need to realise there are pregnantwomen who travel as also the old and infirm, who may not beable to cope up with the over crowding and over speeding in-dulged by bus drivers.

I am sure this is the concern of many other regular bus com-muters. I wish some reliable NGO take up these issues.

Clean Goa, Green Goa

Ensure proper work done

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARCH 27

With 266 sale deeds registered onnearly Rs 1500 crore worth land aroundthe proposed Mopa airport in Pernem,the anti-Mopa airport protestors havesmelt a rat. Sure enough, the residentsclaim that their land is being grabbedunder the garb of airport project.

Mopa Vimantall Piditt Xetrkari Samiti(MVPXS) on Sunday said that traditionalinhabitants are driven out so that theirland can be converted.

We are sure that building an airportis not their intention at all. The affectedresidents of Mopa and surrounding vil-

lages would be pushed into poverty asthe Goa government is trying to grabour ancestral land. But we will notallow this to happen, Samiti secretarySandeep Kambli told reporters.

The villagers said that families wouldbe displaced and starve after beingpaid a meager amount for their price-less land. We will not be able to buypiece of land anywhere else. The landprices are soaring in the state fasterthan anything else. The governmentdoes not care for its people and envi-ronment, he said.

The Samiti has warned the govern-ment to launch a massive andolan

for protecting their land, water, re-sources and agriculture, which arethreatened by the airport project. Theyclaim that the green field airport is ofno use for the State and locals, in par-ticular.

Kambli quoted that more than15,000 locals in Pernem are directlyand indirectly dependent on agricul-tural produce - vast cashew plantationand other fruit bearing trees like co-conuts, mango, chickoo and jackfruit.

The land in question are slopesaround a small plateau which are thicklyforested and having all the fruit bearingtrees, unaccountable in crores will be

cut to make way for the airport and ITparks, ice city, etc. he stated.

The villagers also pointed out thatdestruction of plantation and fellingof trees would force the animals andbirds to flee from their habitat. Mopavillage is located in the Western Ghats,which has been declared as bio diversityhotspot.

Kambli claimed that government hasappointed a Mopa consultant withoutconducting any Environment ImpactAssessment. Another supporter, Fr Bis-mark Fernandes, also chorused thatconstruction of airport will affect entirePernem taluka, as the land is situated

on the plateau and all the water springswill dry up once the vegetation here isdestroyed.

The villagers have questioned as tohow the government could give envi-ronmental clearance for the project insuch ecologically sensitive spots.

International guidelines for Airportssuggest that distance between twoprojects should not be less then 150kms but Dabolim airport is approxi-mately 40 kms from Mopa. Also, newairport is being planned at Chipi inSindhudurg (Maharashtra) which is ap-proximately 80 kms away from Mopa,he said.

Anti-Mopa protestors smell a rat in land acquisition

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, MARCH 27

Thousands of people from Ma-pusa and surrounding villagesthronged the streets to witnessthe annual Shigmo parade atMapusa on Sunday.

The parade, which was or-ganised by Mapusa ShigmotsavSamiti, started from AlankarTheatre at 6 pm and convergednear Bodgeshwar Temple.

Mapusa Shimgotsav SamitiPresident Ashok Bhartu flaggedoff the parade near Rastroli Tem-ple in the presence of RameshPanker.

About 58 floats, 11 Romtamel,20 folk dance troupes and 20fancy dress participants partic-

ipated in the parade, which cov-ered a distance of 2 kms.Tableaux depicting mythologicaland religious scenes from epicsMahabharat and Ramayana en-thralled the locals as well astourists.

Attired in traditional cos-tumes, various folk groupdancers gave vibrant per-formances of various dances.The Shigmo procession re-ceived overwhelming re-sponse with the streets filledwith spectators on either sideof the parade route, due towhich the floats faced diffi-culties in wading through thestreets.

Deputy Superintendent of

Police Sammy Tavares, MapusaPolice Inspector Rajesh Kumar,Porvorim Police Sub InspectorDevendra Gad and othersmaintained security arrange-ments.

Buses coming from Panjimwere halted near the Bodgesh-war Temple, due to which thepassengers had to walk downconsiderable distance to theKTC bus stand.

Though the organizer had re-quested the Romtamel partici-pants to report at starting pointnear Alankar Theater by 5 pm,only three Romtamel reportedon time. Hence, there was con-siderable delay in the proces-sion.

Shigmo floats depicting scenes from epics enthral Mapusa

Float that participated in the Shigmo parade at Mapusa. Photos by Anil Shankhwalker

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARCH 27

Endeavouring to promote Goanhandicrafts across the world,various government-funded andnon-profit organisations havecome together to bind handi-crafts with the booming tourismindustry.

Tourism is an important in-dustry and it goes hand in handwith Goas handicrafts. TheStates one-third population isdirectly or indirectly dependenton the tourism industry. Wehave planned and executed sev-eral joint efforts to promoteboth industries all over theworld, Tourism Director Swap-nil Naik said.

Naik was speaking at the in-augural of a two day seminaron Building Brand Goa Craftsand Micro-enterprises on Sun-day.

The South Asia Foundation(SAF), a non-profit making body,along with Goa Handicraft Ruraland Small Scale Industries De-ve lopment Corpora t ion(GHRRSIDC) is simultaneouslyworking out several initiativesto provide market for Goanhandicraft items.

Naik further said that Goatourism industry ensures thatlocal handicrafts are promotedin different countries when theState participates in road shows.There is a tremendous re-sponse for Goan handicraftsabroad. Weve been getting bulkorders, Naik added.

South Asia Foundation hasdecided to join hands withDelhi-based National Instituteof Fashion Designing for the skillupgradation.

The foundation is setting upa crafts village in Goa, GoaCrafts Village that would have200-250 local artisans of dif-ferent crafts and would be pro-vided with residents-cum-worksheds for displaying theircrafts.

GHRRSIDC Chairman Sameer

Salgaocar said that on the sim-ilar lines, Shipgram is beingplanned near Panjim to presentthe crafts under one roof.

With around 12 handicraftemporiums 11 in Goa and onein Delhi GHRRSIDC plans toset up two more emporiums inAgra (next to Taj Mahal) andJaipur, shortly.

Goa Industry, Trade and Com-merce Director Sanjit Rodriguessaid that a Handicraft SourcingHub is being planned at Fatorda.

Local artisans will benefit ifthe handicrafts are spread allacross the globe. We are plan-ning to make these artefactsmarketable by adopting newtechniques and government willprovide its full support with lotof schemes announced in therecent State budget, he said.

GHRSSIDC Managing DirectorNikhil Desai said that the cor-poration has been imparting ex-tensive training to around 2000artisans by inviting experts, mas-termen and designers.

There is always a challengeto preserve the generationalcraft. There was a time whenwe did not have funds to holdexhibitions but now we holdtwo craft bazaars and other ex-hibitions in a year. Several arti-sans had to abandon theirconvention vocations becauseof non profitability. But thingshave changed for good now,he said.

The project under the SouthAsia Foundation would explorepossibilities on creating morejob opportunities, organize ar-tisans into self help groups; up-g rade sk i l l s , des igndevelopment, marketing tie-up,managerial skill developmentand other aspects.

The two day seminar, whichwould conclude on Monday,would also prepare a data baseon the socio-economic condi-tions of the crafts-persons sothat possible intervention canbe envisaged in phase manner.

Govt to promotehandicrafts attourism expos

Two killed in accidents

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, MARCH 27

Two youths died in two separateaccidents in Mormugao talukaon Saturday night and Sundayevening.

Deepak D M Chandrashekhar(29) of Dabolim died in a selfaccident on Saturday night, afterhe fell off from his motorcyclewhile proceeding towards hisresidence.

Vasco Police informed thatthe deceased was proceedingon his Enfield bullet motorcyclethrough an internal road of Assoi-Chicalim that hardly had anystreet light.

Police said Deepak banged hishead on the gutter concrete,after he fell off from the motor-cycle and died instantly.

In the second accident, an 18-year-old scooterist from Aravale-Cortalim died, after a speedingtanker knocked him down alongthe Cortalim-Lotoulim route nearKurpawado-Cortalim on Sundayat about 5 pm.

According to Verna Police,Rolan Monteiro, who was pro-ceeding on his Dio scooter (GA-06-C-6408), came under the frontwheels of the tanker (MH-06-BG-8297). The deceased was pro-ceeding towards his residencefrom Ponda.

Verna Police said that the de-ceased died instantly after hecame under the wheels of tanker.The driver tanker fled from thesite. Verna Police have registereda case of accident and is investi-gating the case.

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

Uproar marked the gram sabhameeting of Chinchinim Panchayaton Sunday with agitated memberstaking strong objection to the de-cision of the sarpanch to shift thevenue of the meeting at the eleventhhour and for not correctly recordingminutes of the previous meeting.

The gram sabha members forcedadjournment of the meeting, de-manding that the adjourned meet-ing be held on April 10.

That the meeting was headingfor trouble was evident from theword go when agitated gram sabhamembers and even panch membersquestioned Sarpanch Olwyn Antaofor shifting the meeting venue fromthe Church hall to the Panchayatghar.

Caught on the wrong foot, the

sarpanch decided to hold the meet-ing outside the panchayat ghar sincethe premises could not accommo-date the large number of membersinside.

However, the meeting wasplunged into uproar with membersaccusing the sarpanch for holdingthe meeting on the road and de-manded his resignation if he cannothandle the panchayat affairs.

The sarpanch defended his deci-sion to shift the meeting venue sincethe gram sabha members had earlierresolved not to permit the gramsabha in the absence of a full-fledgedsecretary. Antao further maintainedthat he thought it fit to hold themeeting at the panchayat ghar sincethe agenda was to approve theBudget for the financial year.

Gram sabha member, Benny D-Costa, however, drew attention of

the sarpanch that the point dis-cussed on the Tinto and marketcomplex at the previous meetingfind no mention in the minutes. Thesecretary, who was present at themeeting, also feigned ignorance onthe deliberations since another sec-retary was present for the previousmeeting.

Panch Constancio Fernandes latertold newsmen that the sarpanch isnot taking members into confidencebefore taking decisions. Thesarpanch called a body meeting onSaturday by intimating the memberson phone. Even I did not know thatthe meeting venue has beenshifted, he said.

Sarpanch Antao said he woulddiscuss with the Panchayat membersat the body meeting before takinga decision on the date for the ad-journed gram sabha meeting.

Chinchinim locals agitate against change in gram sabha venue

The Chinchinim gram sabha being conducted outside the Panchayat ghar after the change in the venue at theeleventh hour by the sarpanch. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

Ramdevs follower plans cart-march against corruption

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARCH 27

A staunch supporter of Rishiguru SwamiRamdev has decided to pull a cart fromGoa to Delhi propagating a message ofanti-corruption.

Vijay Jadhav, a youth from Sangli (Ma-harashtra) began his journey from Goato Nagpur on Sunday. The yatra, whichwill continue for two years touchingalmost all the states will finally culmi-nate at Haridwar, where headquarterfor Yoga Gurus Patanjali Yog Trust islocated.

The famine has force farmers to selloff their cows and bulls, but the gov-ernment is still insensitive. Falling toget respite, results in farmers commit-ting suicide. I am trying to highlightthe grave problem of corruptionthrough this yatra, Jadhav told re-porters who came pulling the cart atAzad Maidan.

The youth, who in past had pulledca r t f rom Sang l i to Mumba i smantralaya, said that since the govern-ment money is not reaching to theneedy, humans are forced to pull thecarts.

Bharat Swabhiman Trust, backed bySwami Ramdev is on a nationwidemovement against black money, cor-ruption and illegal mining. Ramdev, inhis public address at Campal groundon Friday highlighted the grave issueswith civic social activists including sometop-notch people, businessmen andother locals joining the chorus for acorrupt free government.

BST member Satish Sonak said thatthe yatra is a sincere effort to createawareness at the grassroot level toweed out corruption, which is not pos-sible through newspapers or newschannels.

Some people might call it as astunt.This is not a political yatra, Sonak,also a lawyer-cum-activist, said.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARCH 27

In a shocking admission, HomeMinister Ravi Naik claimed thatmost of the police officials sus-pended are reinstated eventually.

Responding to an unstarredquestion on the floor of theHouse by Congress legislatorDayanand Narvekar last week,Naik said that 56 out of a total77 suspended police personnelhave been reinstated in the Goapolice. Whereas, only one hasbeen terminated from his servicesand none are demoted as yet.

The minister said that as manyas 1187 men-in-khaki have notbeen transferred for the last fiveyears besides 62 others areposted at the same place for thelast one decade. This is in con-tradiction of the Goa Police serv-i ce ru les , which makes i tmandatory that the transfershave to be executed within threeyears of posting.

Responding to yet anotherquestion, Naik claimed that 3,399policemen reported sick andwent on sick leave since 2008.Interestingly, the government

has spent a whooping Rs 2.07crore on medical facilities to po-licemen suffering from highblood pressure, diabetes, flu,cold, fever among others from2008 to 2010.

The issue of police committingsuicide is not new in Goa, as onepolice personnel committed sui-cide for reasons unknown while23 others have left the jobs forvarious reasons.

Goa witnessed some of thetouted cases showing Goa policein a negative light, including onehawaldar caught doing obscene

act in the police patrolling van,which was video-shot by his owncolleague; Police sub-InspectorNerlon Albuquerues suspensionin the infamous death of Britishteenager Scarlet Keeling, hisbrother police inspector NelsonAlbuquerques suspension fordereliction of duty at Patradevicheck-post and other similarcases. Nerlon and Nelson werereinstated later.

There are several others whoare shown the door for variousreasons but ironically there is al-ways a back door entry.

Most of the suspended cops reinstated: Ravi

Chimbel bus owners toresume service today

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

MERCES, MARCH 27

Chimbel bus operators have decided to re-sume the bus services from Monday, afterthey got assurance from DySP Deu Banaulikarand Old Goa PI Francis Corte that they wouldensure that the persons involved in threat-ening bus drivers, namely Sudeep Tamankarand Sudesh Kalangutkar, are brought tobook.

Speaking to Herald, bus owner PrashantBorkar said that the assurance was given bythe police to the bus operators when theycalled on local MLA Victoria Fernandes toair their grievances to her.

It may be recalled that the Chimbel busoperators were forced to keep their busesoff the road, from Saturday afternoon, afterSudeep Tamankar and his supporters threat-ened the bus drivers with dire consequencesif they continued to drive the buses.

On Sunday too, the bus operators kepttheir buses off the road fearing that the busdrivers would again be attacked.

Later, they took up the issue with localMLA Victoria Fernandes where the DySP Ba-naulikar and PI Francis Corte were also pres-ent.

After assurance from both Banaulikar andCorte that they would ensure that the inci-dent is not repeated and that they wouldbring the perpetrators to book, and also onthe insistence of the MLA that they shouldnot make the Chimbel commuters suffer,the bus operators decided to resume servicesfrom Monday.

Meanwhile, the commuters from Chimbelheaved a sigh of relief as the KTC bus serviceswere put into service on Sunday to cater totheir travel requirements.

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

Rampant digging of city roads by var-ious agencies has attracted the atten-tion of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat.

At a meeting held in the districtCollectorate, South on Sunday eveningto review of the Shigmo festivities inthe commercial capital, the chief min-

ister expressed his concern over theindiscriminate digging of the cityroads.

He told the authorities to crack awhip against agencies undertakingdigging work without permission.

Sources in the know said the DistrictCollector, G P Naik had last week issueddirections to the authorities to arrest

anyone digging works without the nodof the concerned authorities.

Menawhile, the Digambar Kamat-led Margao Shigmotsav Samiti has ap-po in ted founder member o fShigmotsav Samiti Damodar P Naik asthe Co-chairman of the Margao Shig-motsav Samiti for the year 2011-12.

At the last annual general meet-

ing, Chief Minister Digambar Kamatwas re-elected as the president ofthe Samiti and was giving the au-thority to appoint the Committeemembers.

The Margao Shigmotsav 2011 willbe inaugurated on March 30 at Costagrounds, Aquem and the float paradein the city will be held on April 3.

Crack a whip against road digging in Margao: CM

GOAOHERALD

OPg3

GOA, MONDAY, 28 MARCH, 2011

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

Gram sabha members of Raiapanchayat turned up in largenumbers to attend the ad-journed meeting on Sunday onlyto find the meeting venue andthe Panchayat ghar closed.

Agitated gram sabha membersunder the banner of Goa StateScheduled Tribes Action Com-mittee took out a rally to thePanchayat ghar from the marketarea. The gram sabha membersrejected the apology tenderedby the Sarpanch Savio Gomeson the controversy over thenon-ST Convention and vowedto continue the agitation till theSarpanch steps down from of-fice.

A large number of peopleturned up for todays gram sabhaas per the decision taken at theadjourned meeting on March 13following uproar over the non-ST Convention row in the vil-lage.

When the gram sabha mem-bers came to Panchayat ghar,

Raia villagers hold protest march to oust sarpanch

Raia villagers assemble outside the Panchayat ghar on Sunday for gram sabha. Photo by Savio Dias

they found it closed and laterhad a meeting in the marketarea, where they criticised theSarpanch for staying away fromthe meeting.

Panch members J udasQuadros, while addressing thegathering, said the Sarpanchshould have attended the meet-ing to approve the budget esti-mates. He complimented the

members for turning up for themeeting to save the village.

Panch Esmeralda Gomes alsothanked the gram members forshowing their solidarity with thevillagers. Armed with placardsand banners and raising slogansagainst the sarpanch, the gramsabha marched to the Panchayatghar from the market area anddemanded the resignation of the

sarpanch. Rejecting the apologytendered by the Sarpanch andother members of the Raia Vil-lagers Association, the memberssaid the ongoing protest willcontinue till the Sarpanch stepsdown from office.

While addressing the gramsabha members at the Panchayatghar, Xavier Fernandes said theSarpanch ought to have opened

the panchayat o f f i ce andsounded critical of the BDO forfailing to directing the sarpanchto hold todays gram sabha.

The members also criticizedthe sarpanch for lodging a FIRagainst two gram sabha membersnearly 13 days after the uproarat the gram sabha meeting.

Meanwhile, Sarpanch SavioGomes said that todays meetingwas not called by him and what-ever decision taken by the op-position group to hold theadjourned meeting today was il-legal. There was no question ofme attending the adjournedmeeting. At the last meeting, Iwas forcibly told to leave the daismidway through the meeting.The Panch member who chairedthe proceedings later adjournedthe meeting to this Sunday, whichis illegal, Gomes said.

He said he would discuss withthe Director of Panchayats on thequestion of approving the Pan-chayat budget for the coming fi-nancial year.

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

Guirdolim villagers on Sundaydemanded a railway over bridgeat the railway crossing to easeacute traffic congestion andthreatened to stage a rail rokostir if their long pending demandis not met by the Union RailwayMinistry.

The villagers further de-manded a re-survey of the 20-point program in v iew ofencroachments and rampant vi-olation of the rules by the oc-cupants.

At the gram sabha meetingheld on Sunday, the membersresolved to submit a memoran-dum to Union Railway MinisterMamta Banerjee in support ofits demand for a railway overbridge at the railway cross. Itwas further decided to hand acopy of the memorandum toRajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naikto pursue the demand at thecentre.

The meeting has directed thePanchayat body to write a letterto the Salcete Mamlatdar to con-duct a re-survey of the 20-pointprogram in the village. Memberspointed out that illegal exten-sions of the units have beenrampant in the housing colony,adding that theres not even

space to construct a soakpit nearthe residential houses.

The issue of landlords notpaying the one month rent forletting our the premises alsofigured at the meeting, withmembers called for collectionof one month rent from the land-lords. When the members saidthe respective ward membersshould conduct a survey of therented premises, Sarpanch JoseAntao said even members of theward development committeeshould join in the survey work.

The meeting also asked thesarpanch to write to the con-cerned authorities to expediteland acquisition proceedings forthe construction of the roadfrom railway gate to Pocklemol,pending since the last threeyears.

Agitated members drew at-tention of the sarpanch to thefailure by the authorities tocrack a whip aga ins t thekerosene dealers for not dis-playing the kerosene quota andtheir timings of operation.

Members asked the sarpanchto write another letter to theMamlatdar to initiate necessaryaction against the erring deal-ers.

The gram sabha approved thebudget estimates presented by

Guirdolim gram sabha membersdemand railway over-bridge

the sarpanch at the meeting.The sarpanch placed before themeeting various developmentalprojects, including interlockingfootpath from Church to MonteHill at a cost of Rs 32 lakh ,be-sides hotmixing of roads at acost of Rs three crore under theguidance of local MLA JoaquimAlemao.

A village development com-mittee under the chairmanshipof the sarpanch was also con-stituted by the gram sabha.

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

Gram sabha members of Chan-dor Panchayat on Sunday forcedthe Panchayat to constitute theVigilance and supervisory Com-mittees after the Panchayatmaintained that it has no knowl-edge of the works carried outby the PWD or any other agencyin the village.

Angry gram sabha members

refuted the claim of the Pan-chayat that it is now aware ofthe works undertaken by thePWD or other agency, withmembers citing instances ofPanch members accompanyingthe engineers at the projectsites. After a heated discussionon the issue, the gram sabhamembers asserted that the Pan-chayat should stop such worksunless the body was intimated

by the agencies.The Gram sabha further re-

solved that the sub-committeesconstituted by the Panchayatshould meet twice a year, aftermembers pointed out that theStanding Committee constitutedby the body has not met till date.

Newly-elected SarpanchStephen Dias assured the gramsabha to improve the function-ing of the Panchayat body when

questions were raised over thedeclining revenue receipts forthe last three years.

The Gram Sabha further di-rected the panchayat to investpart of the over Rs. 14 lakhs insavings account in Fixed Depositto boost the Panchayat revenue,and further called for the revi-sion of rent on the post officeand telecom department.

Members castigated the RDA

Chandor Panchayat forced to constitute vigilance panelfor not coming out with guide-lines on the payments to be paidto people working in their ownfields under the National RuralEmployment Guarantee Scheme.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

OLD GOA, MARCH 27

Residents of Gaundalim havedecided to stage a Rasta Rokoat Gaundalim-Cumbarjua onMonday morning in protestagainst sand trucks plying alongthe Old Goa-Gaundalim road.

In a letter to Old Goa PI Fran-cis Corte on Sunday morning,residents of Gaundalim have in-formed the Old Goa Police sta-tion about the movement ofsand trucks in Gaundalim, whichare posing danger to human life.

Therefore, we are staging aRasta Roko on Monday morn-ing and are asking the Old Goapolice officials to maintain lawand order, stated the residentsin the letter.

Speaking to Herald, CosmeDa Silva of Gaundalim said: We,the locals from Gaundalim vil-lage have informed the Old GoaPolice that we are staging aRasta Roko in Gaundalim onMonday morning.

The reason for organizingthe half-day Rasta Roko is tostop illegal sand trucks from ply-ing through our village. Thetrucks do not have any licensefrom the concerned authorities.There are 250-300 sand trucksplying in a day from our village,which causes danger to the lives

of our locals, stated Da Silva.The illegal sand extractors

have also created danger to theenvironment by cutting a num-ber of mangroves on the banksof Mandovi River for carryingout the illegal sand business,he said.

A sand extractor from Cum-barjua said: We ask for a solu-tion on the issue, but dont tellus to put a total stop on themovement of sand trucks alongthe Old Goa-Gaundalim road.

We have taken huge loansfrom various banks and havebought canoes to start this sandbusiness and if there is totalstop on sand, then we wouldbe left with nothing, said thesand extractor.

We are ready to accept anamicable solution which the lo-cals come forth with, he added.

It may be noted that on Sat-urday night, over 150 residentsof Gaundalim and sand extrac-tors from Cumbarjua met localMLA Pandurang Madkaikar andheld discussion over the confu-sion between Gaundalim localsand the sand extractors.

At the meeting, the localsasked the MLA to put a com-plete ban on movement of sandtrucks along the Gaundalim-OldGoa road and also over dumping

Gaundalim residents plan to block trucks of sand along the Gaundalimside.

The locals also informed Mad-kaikar that movement of sandtrucks along the Gaundalim roadwas causing danger for the lo-cals, especially the children.

However, the sand extractorswere in no mood to listen tothe demands put forth by thelocals and in turn asked the local

MLA to find an amicable solutionso that sand extractors were notput to a loss.

Meanwhile, Madkaikar said:I am trying to find an amicablesolution which will neither hurtthe sentiments of the Gaundalimlocals nor the sand extractors.Both the groups have to sit anddecide what could be the bestoutcome of the issue.

Police in search

of Raia murder

accusedMARGAO: A team of Maina

Curtorim police has left Goa insearch of the absconding ac-cused in the headless body mur-der case.

PI Sidhant Shirodkar informedthat the police have left the Goaborders in search of accusedVinod Kumar Yadav, who hasplayed an incriminating role inthe heinous murder.

He said the police have so fararrested nine person in connec-tion with the murder, addingthat the police are in the processof giving final touches to thechargesheet against the ac-cused.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

MARCEL, MARCH 27

A 49-year-old native of Bijapur-Karnataka was stabbed to deathby his friend over some moneymatter at Shantinagar-Ponda onSaturday night.

According to Ponda Police,Vahid Ahamad Ali was allegedlystabbed to death by his friendMohan Biswas (32) of Katak-Orissa. The incident occurredat about 11.30 pm at Shantina-gar, where both were residingin rented premises.

Police informed that both hadreturned after having drinks totheir rented premise.

It is learnt that while theywere having drinks, Vahid hadreportedly asked Mohan to lendhim a sum of Rs 2,000.

Police further informed thatafter returning, Vahid again wentto Mohans room, but it is stillnot known what happenedthere. However, when the victimwas returning to his room, theaccused came out with a knifeand stabbed Vahid.

Police said the victim tried torun, but fell on the ground. Asecurity guard at an under-con-struction building noticing somenoise came out and foundMohan lying in a pool of blood.The security guard immediatelycontacted 108 Ambulance, butVahid was declared dead.

Police said the accused wasresiding a few meters away fromthe victims rented room.

The accused, a plumber, onSunday morning left for workat Verna, from where he wasbrought to Ponda Police station.

During investigation, policelearnt that the victim had lastspoken to the accused over

Karnataka native stabbedto death by friend

phone and when interrogated,Mohan confessed to the crime.

Pg4 GOAGOA, MONDAY, 28 MARCH, 2011

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What is Organic Chemistry?

Organic chemistry is a branch ofchemistry that involves the study oforganic carbon compounds. It en-compasses the structures, composi-tion, and synthesis ofcarbon-containing compounds. Inunderstanding organic chemistry, itis important to note that all organicmolecules consist not only of car-bon, but also contain hydrogen.While it is true that organic com-pounds can contain other elements,the bond between carbon and hy-drogen is whatmakes a compoundorganic.

Change in Definition

Originally, organic chemistry wasdefined as the study of compoundscreated by living organisms. How-ever, its definition has been en-larged to include artificiallysynthesized substances as well. Be-fore 1828, all organic compoundswere obtained from living organ-isms. Scientists didnt believe it waspossible to synthesize organic com-pounds from inorganic compounds.Many attempted to do so and failed.However, in 1828, urea was synthe-sized from inorganic substances,paving the way for a new definitionof organic chemistry.

Carbon Compounds

There are more than six millionknown organic compounds. In ad-dition to being plentiful, organiccompounds are also unique. This

is because car-bon atoms havethe ability toform strongbonds withmany differentelements. Car-bon atoms arealso able to bondcovalently toother carbon

atoms, while simultaneously form-ing strong bonds with other non-metal atoms. When carbon atomsbond together, they can form chainsconsisting of thousands of atoms.They can also form rings, spheres,and tubes.

Importance

Many individuals consider or-ganic chemistry to be very compli-cated and unrelated to daily life.Though the study of organic chem-istry may be complex, it is very im-portant to everyday life. In fact,organic compounds are a part ofeverything, from the foods we eatto the products we use. They areimportant in the creation of cloth-ing, plastics, fibers, medications,insecticides, petroleum-derivedchemicals, and a long list of prod-ucts used to support life and tomake it more convenient.

The study of organic chemistry isimportant, not only to those whoare interested in science-related ca-reers, but to every individual alivetoday and to those who will be bornin the future. Organic chemistry iskey in developing new products andimproving those on which weve be-come dependent. Each year, organicchemists make discoveries that arehelpful in improving medicines,aiding agricultural growth, under-standing the human body, and per-forming countless tasks importantto the average person.

Comments or queries? Bouquets or brickbats? Talk to us!Email Junior Herald at junior@herald-goa.com or join our Facebook fan page http://www.face-

book.com/Herald.Jr. Our readers are invited to rave, rant, chat or even contribute. No message will go unanswered!

Contact Us:

Chemistry

Carbon (IV)fluoride

Octanemolecule

Organic Chemistry

Big discount fest at Margao

PANJIM (HND): Big Discount shopping festival after coveringPanjim & Mapusa has come to Margao for the benefit of thesouth customer. There are different types of product like im-ported jewellery, Lotus world furniture, wooden sofa sets,Kenya handicraft, electronics, melamine crockery sets, Singersewing machine, Prestige cooker, Onxy stones from Pakistan,Werner aluminium ladder, home & office furniture, gardenfurniture, ladies fashion garments, imported watches, homeappliances, toys, shower curtains, door mats, antique wallclocks, iron furniture, massage belts, herbal products, etc.There is new Magic Mop which got good response of around263 bookings till Saturday. The exhibition will be open tillMarch 30, from 10.30 am to 9 pm.

Golden jubilee observed

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat being felicitated by P PBrahmeshanand Swamiji at Tapobhumi Gurupith, Kundaim-Ponda. Photo by Amresh Parab

MARCEL (HC): P P Padmanabh Shishya Sampradaya recentlycelebrated golden jubilee year of Goas Liberation and ShreeBrahmeshanand Swamis birthday at Tapobhumi Gurupith,Kundaim-Ponda.

On the occasion, Saints, Buddha Dharma Guru Ven BanagalaUpatissa Nayaka Thero, President of Mahabodhi Society SriLanka and Sangha Nayaka - Japan and Hindu Dharmaguru AcharyaSwami Dharmendraji Maharaj India, Shree Ram SamarthaPanchkhanda Peethadhiswar from Jaipur-Rajasthan were hon-oured by P P Brahmeshanand Swamiji, states a press note.

The press note further stated that as a mark of respect toall the freedom fighters to their valuable sacrifice and payhomage to martyrs of the freedom struggle of Goa, two rep-resentatives of Goa Freedom Fighters Association NagueshKarmali and Chandrakant Kenkre were honoured.

SSC students given send-offCOLLEM (HC): The SSC students of Abhinav Vidyamandir

High School Mollem were given warm send-off.The farewell party for the SSC students was given under

the presidentship of school Headmaster Sharadchandra Khan-deparkar.

P K Naik Sumeda Salelkar, Mangala Kelkar, Suvarna Kakodkar,Ranjeeta Maselkar, Yeshwant Bandodkar, R N Matkar alsospoke on the occasion.

Earlier, teacher P K Patil welcomed the students and gavean introductory speech, headmaster Khandeparkar proposedthe vote of thanks.

Anganwadi inaugurated

Anganwadi at Pissurlem-Sattari. Photo by Samir UmaryeBICHOLIM (HC): The Mineral Foundation of Goa (MFG) re-

cently inaugurated an anganwadi at Pissurlem-Sattari.The anganwadi, which would initially benefit over 20 stu-

dents from Gaonkarwada and the entire village, was inaugu-rated by Pissurlem Sarpanch Sagun Wadkar, while panchAtmaram Parab, MFG CEO S Sridhar and others were presenton the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Wadkar thanked MFG for buildingthe anganwadi in the village and said that it would benefitchildren and would give them elementary education.

We thank the MFG which has done a wonderful work inthe community development and we are looking further forsome more projects in the area, said Wadkar.

MFG CEO S Sridhar gave details about the project and alsoasked the panchayat to forward any other community devel-opment project from the village so that it could bring aboutdevelopment in the area and help the people.

Peoples High School, Panjim, which emerged winners at theinter-school quiz competition organized by the Centre ofWomen Studies, Goa University, on the occasion of WomensDay. Standing (left to right): Shekhar Amonkar (teacher), Shub-ham Tiwari, Pradnya Rane, Akash Kulkarni (students of std X),Maria Martins (headmistress), Sanjay Mandrekar (physical edu-cation teacher).

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, MARCH 27

Coming down heavily on Ma-pusa Municipal Council (MMC),Shiv Sena has demanded an ex-planation from the council forcollecting garbage tax from se-lected shopkeepers and vendorsin the municipal market.

Speaking to Herald, Shiv SenaAd Hoc committee memberPhilip DSouza stated that allshopkeepers are paying garbagetax annually and vendors arepaying Sopo on a daily basis.

Shiv Sena has now discov-ered that municipal labourersare collecting garbage tax of Rs5 per day from selected shop-keepers and vendors. This feeis being collected on a dailybasis by issuing a small receiptwhich reads Mhapsa MunicipalCouncil garbage fee Rs 5,said DSouza.

But this receipt does notbear MMCs official stamp orany signature. When Shiv Senaquestioned the MMC staff mem-ber, who was issuing the re-ceipts, under whose instructionshe was doing so, he said thatMMC maintenance engineer di-rected them to collect the feeand the collection was handedover to the engineer on a dailybasis, informed DSouza.

Similarly, a shop owner from

the market who sells vegetablestold Shiv Sena that the fee iscollected from him on a daily

basis and his neighbouringshops who conduct the samebusiness are spared from the

fee.Shiv Sena called on MMC

Chief Officer Hanumant Toraskaron Friday morning and submit-ted a memorandum.

The Shiv Sena demanded acopy of the resolution passedby MMC regarding collection ofgarbage tax of Rs 5 per day fromselected shop owners and ven-dors, list of selected shopkeep-ers and vendors from whomthey are collecting garbage taxon daily basis.

We have also demanded doc-umentary proof of how muchfee is collected in the financialyear 2010-11 and proof of de-posit of the fee in MMC bankaccount, said DSouza.

DSouza further said Chief Of-ficer Toraskar immediately calledmunicipal engineer Vishnu Naikand sought explanation fromhim in the matter.

Naik stated that there is aprovision for collecting garbagefees from vendors, but not fromshops and establishments.

Regarding collection ofgarbage tax from selected shop-keepers, I will investigate intothe matter, he told the chiefofficer.

Naik also assured that hewould furnish the informationsought by Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena seeks explanation from Mapusa council over garbage tax

Photographs of the receipts issued to selected shopkeepers andvendors towards garbage fees. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

SANGUEM, MARCH 27

Agriculturists residing in thevicinity of Vaddem-Sanguemhave bitterly complained of thedamage caused to agriculturalplantation by wild animals inthe recent past.

In a representation to theChief Conservator of Forests re-cently, the villagers have calledfor immediate steps from theforest department and the gov-ernment authorities for prevent-ing losses suffered by thefarmers due to entry of wild an-imals in the agricultural farmsand plantations.

The representation states thatsince the last over six months,there has been extreme agricul-tural damages caused to sugar-

cane, paddy field and other sea-sonal crops by the wild animalsas that of Bisons, wild pigs, mon-keys, etc.

The representation furtherstated that on account of strin-gent rules and various acts inforce, the farmers are unable toresort to any preventive actionagainst wild animals for fear ofaction by the forest department.

The villagers have also high-lighted of the losses suffered bythem on account of crop dam-age by wild animals.

The villagers have called forimmediate and necessary actionfrom the forest department atthe earliest, failing which theyhave threatened to lead an agi-tation before the authoritiesconcerned.

Sanguem farmers complain of damage to plantation

Illegal land filling case registered

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

The Colva police ha s registereda case against a resident of Ser-aulim in connection with landfilling in the village. The casewas registered following a com-plaint lodged by an official ofthe Town and Country Planningdepartment.

A case under section 17-A ofthe Town and Country PlanningAct stands registered againstthe person since the land fillingactivity was undertaken withoutpermission from the Chief TownPlanner.

HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, MARCH 27

The Civil Defence organisa-tion has appealed to ablebodied citizens to join theCivil Defence and to servethe nation.

The Civil Defence Organi-sation (CDO) trains its volun-teers to give first aid to theinjured and to rescue thosetrapped during emergenciesand natural calamities.

Citizens, especially schooland college students and Ex-NCC cadets may join theCDO. The training has beenwaived off in case of profes-sionals like doctors, engi-

neers, lawyers and others onfull time duties and who arewilling to join

CDO is similar to Defencebut primarily manned by thecivilians and utilized notonly during wartime but alsoduring peace time, especiallyfor combating civil emergen-cies.

The main objective of thecivil defence is to save life,minimize damage to prop-erty and maintain continuityof production and keep thepublic morale high. The Gov-ernment of India have de-clared both the districts ofGoa as multi-hazardous dis-

tricts for the purpose of civildefence.

The age limit for joininghas been brought down from18 years to 15 years.

Those interested to joiningCDO may contact the HomeGuards and Civil Defence Of-fice at the Police Headquar-ters, Panjim for informationand enrolment. They can alsocontact the Sub-DivisionalPolice Officer/Divisional Com-mandant of Home Guards inboth Districts and HomeGuard In-charge of concernedpolice stations.

Ex-NCC cadets interestedin joining may also enroll.

Youth urged to join civil defence

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CALANGUTE, MARCH 27

PWD Minister Churchill Alemaocalled upon the youth and vil-lagers of Parra to back CalanguteMLA Agnelo Fernandes for thedevelopments in their village.

Alemao and Calangute MLAAgnelo Fernandes along withParra Sarpanch Benedict D-Souza , fo rmer Cando l imsarpanch Ramkrishna Kerkar andothers attended the Youth Con-gress meeting at Parra on Sun-day.

Alemao also called upon thegathering to remain a distancefrom BJP and brought themedium of instruction issue tothe fore ostensibly to meet thepolitical ends of the Congressparty.

The only party that can as-sure you of the English mediumof instruction is the CongressParty, stated Alemao.

As for developmental works,Alemao called upon the villagersto get all their works done be-fore the elections through MLAAgnelo Fernandes.

In his address, Calangute MLAFernandes had a dig at the lead-

ers who were saying that Agnelohave the backing of only youthleaders while he campaignedfor his first elections.

I know what the youth forceof today is. They can build a po-litical future of any person andI have full faith in them. I hopethey will back the Congress Partyat the next elections, he stated.

Fernandes also had a dig atthe political leaders and othersfor objecting to the grants forEnglish medium of instructionschools. He also called upon theyouth to avail various govern-ment schemes available, espe-cially the scheme meant foreducated youth.

I will try to get all the worksdone before the ensuing elec-tions and whatever remains canbe done after the elections, headded.

Parra Sarpanch Benedict D-Souza and Ramkrishna Kerkaralso spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Parra Panch ClaudePacheco welcomed the PWDminister, Calangute MLA andother dignitaries for the meet-ing. Chandu Harmalkar pro-posed the vote of thanks.

Parra locals urged to back MLA on

development

HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, MARCH 27

Shree Devi Education Trustbased in Mangalore within easyaccess of surface and air trans-port, ever since its inceptionhas established a number of col-leges imparting quality educa-tion in a various fields.

Shree Devi Institute of Tech-nology achieved 100 percent re-sults in final year Bachelor ofEngineering (BE) examinationwith 91 per cent distinction and9 per cent first class. The MCAand MBA courses have also at-tained 100 percent results with60 per cent students passingwith distinction. Infosys has se-lected 37 engineering studentsthrough campus placement forthe year 2011. More than 90%of the eligible candidates have

already been placed in reputedcompanies. Many students fromGoa are pursuing their Engineer-ing from this college.

Devi College of Physiotherapy,established in 1993, was one ofthe first colleges to start theMasters Degree in Physiotherapy.The college bagged first rank inthe MPT examination in 2010.College runs its own free phys-iotherapy clinic where more than50 patients are treated everyday and uses the clinical facilitiesat Govt Wenlock Hospital whichis 705-bedded hospital.

Shree Devi College of Phar-macy is housed in an independ-ent building in 3.30 acre landwith well equipped laboratoriesfor training the students. Thecollege offers MPharm in Phar-maceutics, Pharmacology andQuality Assurance.

Shree Devi College of Nursingoffers BSc Nursing and MScNursing courses in OBG Nursing,Medical Surgical Nursing, Psy-chiatric Nursing, Pediatric Nurs-ing and Community Health

Nursing. The college offers train-ing in its parent hospital Vinayahospital & Research Centre andis also attached to GovtWenlockHospital, Govt Lady Goshen OBGHospital, Yenopoya Medical Col-lege Hospital.

Shree Devi College of HotelManagement has an in-housetraining and placement cell. Itis manned by experienced peo-ple who are in constant corre-spondence with industr yprofessionals. The college hasbagged the first rank in the Man-galore University examination8 times including the year 2010.

Shree Devi College of InteriorDesign has bagged the first rankin the Mangalore University ex-amination over last five yearswhich is a reflection of compe-tence of its faculty and efficacy

of its teaching methods. Shree Devi College of Fashion

Design has attained 100% resultsin the Mangalore University ex-amination and won the SouthIndia collegiate fashion showcompetition.

More than 3500 students arecurrently studying at Shree DeviColleges and the teaching fac-ulty strength is around 200.

Shree Devi EducationTrust emphasises on

quality education

Ornamentsstolen

MARGAO (HR): The Colva po-lice registered a case of housebreaking theft against unknownculprits for decamping gold or-naments valued around Rs70,000. Police informed that thetheft occurred in the house ofone Filomena Fernandes be-tween February 3 and 21 whenthe culprits affected entry intothe house by cutting open thewindow grills. Two bangles, agold chain, besides a pair of ear-rings were stolen.

Pg 5GOA GOA, MONDAY, 28 MARCH, 2011

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opinionatedMedium of Instruction - IV

English medium:Parents choice

By ANTHONy DSiLvA

This is with respect to the ongoing opinion which has ap-peared in local dailies about the medium of instruction cur-rently followed in schools.

One fails to understand as to where and why the problemhas arisen, which has formed the core of a debate. It lookslike it does not want to allow parents of students to decidethe language in which they want their children to study,which obviously, they feel confident that their children willdo well in, vis--vis their career and practical life, in andaround the world.

As for the RTE act, it clearly states the child must preferablylearn in their mother tongue. Being a matter of preference,it does not mean that they have to compulsorily learn intheir mother tongue and least not in the state language,which is in dispute due to its dialect.

We are all proud of our state language Konkani and willcommit ourselves for generations to come to protect itfrom any harm. It will remain a language which we willcherish forever. It also should be a subject in our curriculumthroughout.

So what is the hustle all about, when parents have specif-ically given in writing that they wish that their childrenlearn in English? This is an option given by the EducationAct, which states that children should learn preferably intheir mother tongue unless otherwise asked for specificallyby parents in writing, which most people vouched for, whichincluded those present at the Azad Maidan for the meet-ing.

Another point to be confined to the dustbin by somepeoples opposition with respect to English medium orgrants to English medium, is that parents are asking for anenforcement of English medium. This is absolute rubbish.

We only demand to give grants which are meant for thechildrens education to schools which want to run usingEnglish as a medium of instruction. We havent made anymention of closing down any of the presently operationalKonkani or Marathi medium schools by force, unless thePTAs take this in writing from a majority of the parents ofthese schools. We will be very happy to see people continuingto run the schools in Konkani or Marathi medium withequal grants. This reminds me of a saying that if you lovea bird, set it free, if it returns to you, its yours, otherwiseit never was.

Dont force any school to operate in a particular mediumjust because the schools are provided grants. Its like wegive alms to the needy to prevent a disease and force themto eat what they dont like, and then realise that the needylanded in hospitals instead of being healthy. The grantsthat we are asking, is our money, which is for better admin-istration and routed through the departments. The grantswe seek are not alms.

Secondly, one does not need to put a bone of a goat inones neck to prove that one eats mutton.

So, just by solely educating children in Konkani in all thesubjects, this will not guarantee ones love for Konkani. Onthe contrary, our children will come close to hating thesame. They would, instead, love to have Konkani as onesubject for life, in which they can major and continue toprove how beautiful the language of the state is.

As for the rock-like determination of Archbishop RaulGonsalves, what he stood by was suitable for those yearsand for the generations and times in 1990. He never evermentioned that this policy should not change for ever. Ifthe Constitution can be amended time and again, why notthe policy on the medium of instruction, and that too, whenthe majority wants it?

We need to change with time, or otherwise we will getstagnant and a day will come, when we will be extinct alongwith Konkani, whichever comes first.

Look at what was written in the OPinionatED article (Her-ald, 25 March) by Fr Mousinho Ataide about an excellent,free, a pre primary and primary school in Margao with lotsof facilities, that is run by Konkani Bhasha Mandal in Margao.It has mentioned that this school has no takers and hasbeen plagued with dwindling numbers. It appears that allthe so-called lovers of Konkani out to destroy what is littleleft of Konkani. Or is there another twist to the tale?

Then the statistics that Fr Mousinho Ataide mentionedof NCERT national talent search 2009? He has been takingthe examples of less than 10 per cent. What about the 90per cent who dont even make it to the first 10?

For example, I learnt in English medium with Konkani asthe only subject in 12th standard Science and yet, I havemade a mark, and can stand by in this world. So let us notlook at those who have succeeded, but concentrate onthose unsuccessful ones, because they comprise of massiveproportions who could not make it during the last 20 yearsor so. I urge Fr Ataide to go to the villages and see thedownhill effect caused by the usage of Konkani in the De-vnagari script.

As per the divide factor, who divides whom? We are onlyasking what is due to us and not saying to refuse what isdue to you.

The moment one says not to give what is due means thatyou divide. Whereas in the positive aspect there is onlyone concept, give it to Konkani, Marathi, English and all re-gional languages. After all, finally, it is a single India thateveryone wants to see growing up.

As for the mushrooming of English schools, it is the resultof the incorrect thrust of the Konkani medium. One is wellaware that every forcible action has an equal and oppositereaction. This has been manifested in the form of depletingnumber of Konkani medium schools and student numbersover the past 20 years or so.

If we are all serious about making the whole of Goa andits young aspiring youngsters to learn through the Konkanimedium, then the best option is close down all the Englishmedium schools. Let the rich, the poor, the influential andthe children of MLAs sit on the same benches where themedium of instruction is in Konkani.

By thrusting the medium of instruction down the throatsof the young juveniles, a majority of children are deprivedof their right to the choice of free education. Another pointthat deserves a mention is that some people who have op-posed English as a medium of instruction have given exam-ples of a clever few who have come out in flying coloursand have ensured comfortable lives for themselves. Butthey have failed to mention of those duffers who could noteven make it to the 10th standard, leave alone attaininggraduation and successfully completing professional courses.

The best definition of poison, I know, is any thing that isin excess. One thing is very crystal clear; we want what welove, but only to the extent of our level of want. It shouldnot reach a stage that it becomes a poison. We love Konkani,we want Konkani, but just as a single subject, for learningpurposes. Of course, that does not diminish our love forour language and culture.

Konkani in Devnagiri is our state language, and is usedin various dialects and scripts by different people. There isno Act that dictates that we should learn in our state lan-guage. Fr Ataides statistics of one plus one just dont addup.

from Mr. GONZACO REBELLOVice-Chairperson Of Margao Municipal Council

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

MAYEM, MARCH 27

Congress activists from Bicholimconstituency have resolved notto accept the candidature ofnon-Congressmen, therebysidelining the candidature ofloyal Congress candidate in theforthcoming assembly election.

The resolution was taken ata special meeting of the Con-gress party, which was held atBMC Hall, Bicholim, on Saturdayevening.

The activists also took to taskGPCC President Subhash Shirod-kar for neglecting the Bicholimconstituency for the last sevenyears even as the State is ruledby the Congress party for thelast four years.

The activists also came downheavily on Chief Minister Digam-bar Kamat and other ministersin the Congress cabinet for turn-ing a nelsons eye towards de-velopment of Bicholim.

Top Congress leaders fromGoa are keen to provide jobs tothe candidates suggested by BJPMLA Rajesh Patnekar, but areneglecting the candidates whichare referred by the loyal Con-gressmen including myself, al-leged Bicholim Block PresidentNaresh Sawal.

Bicholim Womens wing Pres-ident Vidhya Parab cautionedthe government about seriousconsequences likely to be facedif MLA Patnekar is allotted ticketof the Congress party, sideliningCongress leader Naresh Sawal.

In his speech, Vishram Mora-

jkar accused the Congress gov-ernment of not providing em-ployment to the unemployedCongress youth from Bicholimconstituency, who now cannotsecure employment as they havecrossed 40 years.

Councilors Riyaz Beig andKaruna Govekar also accusedthe Congress leaders for neglect-ing the Bicholim Constituency.

BMC Deputy ChairpersonShashikant Halarnkar expressedconcern over negligent attitudeof the Congress leaders in sup-porting the grass-root Congressactivists. Dr Pramod Salgaonkaralso addressed the gathering.

Addressing the activists, GPCCPresident Subhash Shirodkarstated that the Congress partyhas taken support of seven MLAsfrom other parties due to whichparty is not in a position to sup-port Congressmen totally.

Even after united efforts ofthe party leaders, it becomesdifficult to control the situationdue to certain problems whicharises all of a sudden, Shirodkartold the activists.

Under such circumstances, hecalled upon the activists to sup-port the party wholeheartedly,forgetting the differences.

The meeting was attended byCentral Youth Congress Com-mittee Observer Anish Khan,GPCC president Subhash Shi-rodkar, Sumit Khanna, Congressleader from Bicholim BlockNaresh Sawal, BMC ChairpersonAnisha Vernekar, Deputy Chair-person Shashikant Halarnkar,Vishram Morajkar, VighneshGaonkar, Councilors Riyaz Beigand Karuna Govekar, WomensWing President Vidhya Paraband Dr Pramod Salgaonkar, be-sides other Congress delegates.

Bicholim Cong to opposecandidature of non-Congressmen

Bicholim Congress Mahila President Vidhya Parab addresses theCongress workers at Bicholim. Photo by Vishant Vaze

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

The South Goa Tourist CoachesOwners Association has com-plained to the Director of Trans-por t , bes ides theSuperintendent of Police, Southagainst ore carrying trucks park-ing their vehicles in the middleof the NH-4A and wrongfully re-straining other road users.

The Association has also com-plained against overloadedsugar cane carrying trucks be-yond the permissible limits, en-dangering the lives of other roadusers. The Association has fur-ther complained that the sugarcane trucks enter the state with-out paying the Goa tax, causingrevenue loss to Goa to the tuneof crores of rupees.

In his complaint, AssociationPresident Francis DSilva pointed

Plaint against ore trucks for obstructing traffic

out that ore transporting trucksliterally hijack the NH 4A high-way by parking the vehicles rightin the middle of the road. Thesetrucks not only violate the MotorVehicle Act, but also commitcontempt of high court order,he added.

Saying that the Transport de-partment has turned a blind eyeto this illegal activity, he saidthe officials are indulging indereliction of their duties.

Yesterday, I was threatenedby the ore carrying truck driversto eliminate me by causing ahead on collision when I ques-tioned them of parking thetrucks on the road, he said,while seeking action from theauthorities.

Sewage water overflows

from chamber at Fatorda

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MARCH 27

Sewage waters overflowed froma sewage chamber at Fatordasince last night after it gotchoked by soil following workon an underground cable layingin the locality.

Sewerage officials rushednear the PWD office after resi-dents complained of an over-f lowing sewage chamber,emanating foul odour. Investi-gations by the sewage officialsled by Ganesh Velip revealedthat the chamber was totallychoked by soil during under-ground cabling work.

Velip informed that soil en-tered into the chamber whenthe underground cabling workwas in progress around 10 daysago, stopping the f low ofsewage waters in the under-ground line.

He said the PWD has clearedthe chamber of the soil and willcomplete the work later tonightor early Saturday morning. Afterwe received complaint from thelocals, we called the cable layingcontractor since no permissionwas taken from the PWD beforeundertaking the cable layingwork, he said.

Fortunately, he said the un-derground sewage chamber didnot suffer any major damage,and exuded confidence of restor-ing the underground sewage lineby Saturday morning.

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, MARCH 27

A large number of revellersthronged the port town to wit-ness the Shigmo float paradeon Friday evening.

A colourful cultural extrava-ganza was on display, which re-verberated to the beats of theDhol during the annual MurgaoNagrik Shigmostav float parade.

Over 60 participants depictingrich cultural heritage and mythol-ogy of Hindu religion took partin the float parade. Nearly 40were mythological floats, whileover half a dozen Romtamelldance groups, 15 folk dance andcouple of fancy dress participants.

Earlier, the float parade com-menced with the blessing ofLord Damodar, as ShigmostavSamit i Chairman ShekharKhadapkar along with MMCChairperson Suchita Shirodkar,Manesh Arolkar and NitinChopdekar offered Shrifal atLord Damodar Temple.

Cultural groups from Maha-rashtra, Orissa, Rajashtan andKerala sponsored by the Art andCulture Department presentedfolk dances of their respectivestates, followed by Goan tradi-tional Fugadi dance.

Interestingly, a large numberof women from Headland Sadapresented Romtamell dancewith huge parallel line dancingon dhols, shamel, aptakil, chatri,akash Kadil, gudi, etc.

South Goa MP Francisco

Sardinha was the chief guest atthe function, while MormugaoMLA Milind Naik, industrialistand philanthropist Narayan Ra-jaram Bandekar, MMC Chairper-son Suchita Shirodakar along withmost of the councillors from theruling group were present at the

prize distribution ceremony.SP South Allen DSa along

wi th Vasco DySP MaheshGaonkar, PI Jivba Dalvi, RajanNigle and Vasco Traff ic PIDharmesh Angle were also pres-ent during the float parade tomaintain the law and order.

Revellers throng Vasco Shigmo

A professional dance group from Maharashtra performs at the Shigmo float parade at Vasco. Photo by M Prabhav

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, MARCH 27

Claiming they were ignored atthe Vasco Carnival parade,most ruling Vasco councillorsretaliated by getting MurgaoNagrik Shigmostav Samiti(MNSS) to sideline RevenueMinister Jose Philip DSouza atthe Shigmo float parade on Fri-day and music fiesta Hutashniat Tilak Maidan on Saturday.

The tussle had stemmedfrom the carnival parade,when none of the ruling coun-cillors including MMC Chair-person Suchita Shirodkar, hadfeatured at the carnival fes-tivities in the port town.

The ruling panel, includingShirodkar, had accused D-Souza -- the guardian ministerof Mormugao Taluka -- of de-liberately sidelining them fromthe carnival festivities, sincehe had headed the Vasco Car-nival Committee (VCC).

However, VCC member wasquick to rubbish the claimsand had stated that they had

invited all councillors, includ-ing Shirodkar.

Incidentally, MNSS Chair-man Shekhar Khadapkar alongwith Treasurer Manesh Arolkarand MMC Chairperson SuchitaShriodkar claimed that it wasdecis ion of the MNSS - -headed by most of rulingcouncilors -- to invite only onechief guest.

The entire committee haddecided that South Goa MPFrancisco Sardinha should bethe chief guest and hence, D-Souza did not figure in thelist of guests, said Khadap-kar.

However, VCC TreasurerRalf Trinidade alleged that theruling councillors had violat-ing the protocol by not invit-ing DSouza, who is the VascoMLA and guardian minister ofMormugao taluka.

Despite repeated efforts,Revenue Minister Jose PhilipDSouza could not be con-tacted for comments in thematter.

Revenue Minister not invited

Church-ASI row to be resolved

amicablyHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARCH 27

Ongoing dispute betweenChurch authorities and the Ar-chaeology Survey of India (ASI)in connection with the develop-ment activities carried out by thelatter, at Bishops House in OldGoa, will be resolved amicably.

The Additional District Mag-istrate has written to both war-ring parties to have a jointmeeting and settle the disputeamicably, Babush Monserrate,Minister for Archives and Ar-chaeology told the House evenas he clarified that his depart-ment has not received any com-plaint from church authorities.

He was replying a questiontabled by Curtorim MLA AleixoLourenco during QuestionHour on Friday.

The dispute has arisen becauseASI has reported to have carriedout its activities without inform-ing the Diocesan Authorities.

Monserrate also told theHouse that the government ismonitoring the situation and itwill take steps to settle the issueamicably.

The Curtorim MLA insistedthat the government should laygreater emphasis to this issuewhereas Opposition LeaderManohar Parrikar pointed outthat ASI has been arrogantly ad-dressing the issue and therefore,the government should step into work out a solution.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

BELGAUM, MARCH 27

In another cricket betting racketinvolving Belgaum, Kolhapurand Goa, the Belgaum policehave arrested five bookies andrecovered Rs. 2.9 lakh.

The police have also seized aTV set, Sumo vehicles and fourmobile handsets from the ac-cused.

Acting on a tip off, Khanapurpolice team raided a house nearJamboti Cross at Khanapurwhere the racket was being op-erated. The betting was on forthe Pakistan West Indies matchthat was palyed on Tuesday. The

police have arrested WajidShamshuddin Kittur, SarfrajYusuf Saudagar both fromKhanapur, Yaseen Rafeeq Patve-gar, Shamsuddin Hussein Shaikhboth from Londa and AshokSutar from Belgaum.

Whereas the mastermind ofthe racket who is believed tobe fro Kolhapur is at large ac-cording to police. This is thesecond cricket booking racketbusted by the Belgaum policesince the beginning of the ICCCricket World Cup. The policebelieve that crores of rupees areinvolved in this racket, whichmight have links with Goa. A

case is registered at Khanapurpolice station.

The extent of the racketcould be ascertained by the factas earlier, this month, Belgaumpolice had arrested four per-sons engaged in cricket betting.SP Patil had stated that the linksof the notorious network is farand wide reaching Hubli andother places in north Karnataka,south Maharashtra and Goa.Police has access to all the con-tact numbers called from thecell phones of the accused andis investigating the matter thatis believed to have deeperroots.

Belgaum police bust betting racket, arrest 5 bookies

Rename Goa to GoemAdelmo Fernandes, Vasco

There is a lot of debate going on as regardsthe medium of instruction to be adoptedat the primary level. If the pro-regional-language lobby feels that it is necessary toteach the children in the mother-tongueto safeguard Goan identity, why do we havethe name of the state as Goa which doesnot have its origin in the Konkani language?Why not change the name of Goa to Goemin keeping with the trend adopted by otherstates?

Parents know to decideAlex Pinto, Margao

I was quite amused to see the two anti-Catholic community priests, Fr Mousinhode Athaide and Fr Jaime Couto accusingthe parents, ABE and other like mindedbodies for taking up the cause of Englishas a medium of instruction for our childrenfrom primary level.

To say that this move for English mediumis causing a communal divide, is total non-sense and only shows the height of theirfrustration. The majority of students in the

ABE schools; are not the Catholics but thenon-Catholics. Therefore this demand isnot of the Catholic parents only but muchmore of the non-Catholic parents.

We know what to decide best for ourchildren. We dont need ghetto-mindedcelibates to decide our childrens future.

Medium of instructionRaison Almeida, Chairman, Green GoaFoundation, Margao

The Green Goa Foundation (GGF) has beenwatching with keen interest the issue ofmedium of instruction unfurl in Goa.

It is a matter of reality that all Goansspeak Konkani and only Konkani at home.If mother tongue is to be the medium ofinstruction, then all teaching at the primarylevel must be in Konkani only. Why has theGovernment released grants for other lan-guages when no such grants are being re-leased for Konkani in other states?

The GGF demands that the governmentimmediately scraps its discriminate policyon release of grants which only benefitsthe private English medium schools whocharge exorbitant fees for admissions totheir institutions. The GGF shall start a

drive to educate the parents on their rightsin case the government fails to change itsdubious policy.

Clergy on the wrong sideAllwyn George, Carmona

Fr Jaime and Fr Mousinho seem to be fishingin troubled waters for cheap publicity, buton the wrong side. The parents who at-tended the FORCE rally at Panjim demand-ing English as a medium of instruction didnot belong to any particular religion northey availed of any free transport. Beingpriests, they should limit their services intheir respective churches and try to selltheir ideology to their flock and stop in-terfering in matters solely to be decidedby the parents. The concerned priestsshould support the struggle for English asthe medium on instruction in schools,rather than attempt to defame it on a com-munal basis.

No communal colour pleaseMary Philomena Fernandes, Porvorim

This has reference to the article Konkanishould be the Primary School Medium byFr Mousinho de Ataide (Herald, 25 March).

I request Fr Ataide and the Catholic au-thorities not to add a communal colour tothis issue in a state where people of differ-ent communities live in perfect harmony.Let me point out that it was the upperclass Catholic community who patronisedPortuguese language during the Portugueseera and thereafter, and gave step-motherlytreatment to Konkani. As a result, it is sadto note that it is only the Goan Catholicswho feel shy to speak in Konkani.

Incorrect thinkingPaul Carvalho, Curchorem

This is in reference to the news itemMedium of instruction demand creating

communal divide (Herald, 25 March).Fr Jaime Couto and Fr Mousinho de

Ataide have written a letter to the Arch-bishop of Goa stating that the demand forEnglish medium of instruction is creatinga rift between the Hindu and Catholic com-munities. Are they trying to rake up com-munal feelings through newspapers? Asper my experience, one can instigate peoplethrough such type of writings.

I do not think that demanding Englishas a medium of instruction will create anyrift. I am not against their writing to anyauthority, but one must think twice beforesending such information for publication.

Politicians & tiatristsFreddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

Well said Willie Severes (Tiatrists and Politi-cians, Herald, 24 March). I too admire ourTiatrist fraternity. They have protected andprojected our mother tongue Konkani.Writing tiatrs and singing songs againstcorrupt politicians is good, but not goodenough.

I pray to the Tiatrist fraternity to boycottall functions where politicians are invitedas chief guests, even if it means a bit of apinch in the pocket at first. That wouldprove beyond any doubt what they meanwhat they say.

Casual approachRajendra Kakodkar, Curchorem

Goa Economic Survey was announced on16 March and the State Budget was tabledon 17 March 2011. But even after five dayshad lapsed, none of these documents wereavailable on the internet. All such docu-ments of other states be it in Gujarat orBihar, are available within minutes of theirpresentation.

Unethical interventionSamir Khan, Mapusa

The United Nations approval to conduct adirect military intervention in Libya byUnited States and other major imperialistpowers under the pretence of bringingdemocracy and to protect civilian lives, isdecidedly unethical.

The justifications given by UN and US

for the Libyan intervention are full ofgrotesque contradictions. US, which pro-fesses to be outraged over the killing ofLibyan civilians and bent on saving lives, isitself responsible for the killing of hundredsof thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan and,on the very eve of the UN vote, carried outthe cold-blooded murder of some 40 civil-ians in a drone attack in Pakistan. Libyaseems to be another Iraq in the making.

Chopper tourism/garbageRalph Fernandes, Margao

This refers to the letter Helicopter Tourismby Claudius Fernandes (Herald, 22 Mar).

The concept of helicopter tourism seemsto be a good idea for starting this transportfor tourists moving from one beach to an-other destination. Maybe, the tourists willappreciate this concept, considering ournarrow roads and heavy traffic. What isneeded is the construction of helipads onall beaches. The government has to plan itright now in this budget. It could also beused to transport garbage to a far distantand safe destination. Since everyone hasbeen protesting illegal dumping of garbageat various locations approved by govern-ment, this is a solution worth implement-ing.

Absorb reality mantraA F Desai and Marcus Desa, Porvorim

The article on innovation mantra of DrMashelkar and Dr Abdul Kalam by Dr JoeDSouza (Herald, 2 March) was very appro-priate and realistic.

Churchill Alemao and others used theirinnovative impulse to subvert the anti-de-fection law enacted by late PM Rajiv Gandhifor the first time. Nearly all the politiciansin Goa have amassed wealth disproportionateto their known sources of income and havestashed their black money in foreign banks.Corruption is omnipresent in all sections ofGoan society. Scams in mining, tourism andreal estate sector has degraded average Goanslives.

The faithful have been exploited. Perversityhas now percolated religious institutions.Goans must stop dreaming of innovationslike Dr Mashelkar and become realists tohelp redeem Goa from its imminent doom.

In the last few days, the local newspapers havepublished several articles and letters againstcontinuing with the mother tongue as the

medium of instruction in Stds I to IV, as well asagainst extending it to Std V as recently proposed.The Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) of anumber of schools, in a sense of frustration re-sulting from their experience with this formulaover a period of 20 years, have strongly optedfor change and are petitioning the governmentto reconsider the ruling imposed on schools some20 years ago, apparently on the strength of a UN-ESCO statement that a child learns more easily iftaught in her mother tongue.

Imposing the mother tongue as the mediumof instruction and supporting it with financialgrants may have been a progressive step at thattime. Today, in the fast changing and globalisingworld, finding and keeping employment is a mat-ter of high competition. Since the government,the parents, and our young people are lookingto ICT (Information and Communication Tech-nology) as a major area of employment, and sincemastery over language to the point of being ableto express oneself creatively is essential to com-pete and succeed in the ICT business, I find ithard to understand why the government wantsto continue with a policy that puts our studentsto disadvantage in global competition.

That our present language policy results invery real difficulties for students and teacherscan only be known from the frustration experi-enced by teachers in secondary schools, and fromthe difficulties faced by the students themselves.Why is it that not more than one third of the stu-dents who enter Std I are actually able to completesecondary education? Granted that a fair pro-portion of them, willingly or unwillingly, take uptechnical courses and the government is loathto class them as dropouts, yet the fact remainsthat over two-thirds of our population have notcompleted their secondary education. Wheredoes this place Goa on the worlds knowledgeeconomy map?

This question may not be that urgent as longas the tourist industry, even with its undesirableconcomitant prob