The Goan Christmas beckons Goa

Its the all too familiar sight in Goa at this time of the year. The streets packed to capacity. Traffic snarls all over the city. The town painted red with with the memorabilia of Christmas. Santa Claus waving from the glimmer of paint from glass fronted shops, Christmas carols renting the air and absolutely no place to park your two wheeler, while your four wheeler has no ambitions to make to the city for a long time to come.

From music shops to food outlets, to cloth shops to gift shops and groceries to designers, from stationers to hair stylists and beauticians  to cold storages and sweet marts, there is a buzz of big time business in Goa for all merchants at this time of the year. With barely 2 days for the Christmas cheer to ring in, there is therefore the last minute scramble to fill up the missing ingredients to ensure that this years Christmas is not compromised for anything.

The prices of eggs normally soar in Goa at this time with a commanding premium. Eggs are major ingredients in many of the Christmas sweets and the Goan Bebinca which is a class favourite among Goans calls for a lot of the egg. Broken eggs or damaged shell eggs do not remain on the shelf and are quickly whipped off by Bebinca makers. These eggs are cheaper compared to normal eggs.

The prices of all essential commodities also become steep as demand rises for various food items. Cashew nuts which is also another major ingredient for many Goan Christmas sweets such as cakes and marzipan, is also in great demand. Demand for Christmas decor always satisfies the passion of most Goans and you will find the streets filled with Christmas decor of all types most of which is imported from China and has a lot of takers here. The Goan  Christmas "star" has innovated over the years and the various styles are on display. However nothing can obviously beat the home-made bamboo star which many Goans fondly fabricate till date and the same brings nostalgia to the Goan Christmas.

Goans are also passionate about their clothing and the women always prefer to ring in Christmas while flaunting the crispness of a new dress. Tailors and designers have their hands full all over Goa and you can forget about ordering for a new dress a good 15 days before Christmas and are likely to be turned down. The town is also packed with a host of mens suit shops and from ready-mades to made to order, there is one for everyone.

The cribs at home are being given their finishing touches and the Christmas tree is moving out from the gloom of its storage in the attic to the comfort of the living room with buntings all over. Kids are now expecting good ole Santa to provide them with the gifts that they have been awaiting the whole year .

The curtains are being ironed, and there is a coat of paint given to the peeling walls. The Christmas dance is on the mind and the midnight mass would be the best way to ring in the Christmas cheer for all Goans.

Goa is therefore getting ready for the Christmas flavour, heralding the birth of Christ our saviour and King.

Goa casinos facing rough political weather

The bad dream of the casinos in Goa does not appear to leave them very soon. On Monday 27th July 2009, the tourism Minister Mr Micky Pacheco informed the legislative assembly that he would seal all illegal activities on five of the six off shore casinos whose No Objection certificates have since expired. The Minister was responding to repeated demands and queries made by the opposition leader Manohar Parrikar who was asking as to why the government was not putting a stop to casino operations in the state when the NOC's issued by the captain of ports had already expired.

Joining the chorus against the casino operations in Goa were congress MLAs Victoria Fernandes and Mauvin Godinho who demanded a ban on casinos and sought to know how casinos are operating in Goa despite the absence of a casino policy in the state.

In a reply to Parrikar about the details of when the licences of the casinos had expired, the tourism minister gave an account of the NOC expiry dates as below

Name of Casino                             Date of expiry of NOC

Pride of Goa          -------------   April 3 2009
The Leela             -------------   January 30 2009
Casino Royale        -------------   February 18 2009
San Domino           -------------   May 19 2009
Caravela               -------------   April 18 2009

Mr Pacheco added that the NOC of Arabian Sea King is slated to expire on October 30 2009. In the meanwhile the casino operators expressed their shock over the decision of the tourism minister to the Goa legislative assembly  and blamed the government for delaying the issuance of licences on the ground that the matter was sub judice.

Casino operators indicated that the current stance of the government could adversely affect over 2000 employees working in the casinos and suggested a paycut eventuality on a gradual basis to offset the closure period.

Goa High court extends stay on school fee hikes

The aggrieved parents who have approached the high court to intervene in their grievances relating to arbitrary school fee hikes by private unaided schools under the banner of All Goa Unaided schools Parents Association,(AGUSPA) were relieved when the high court of Bombay at Goa extended the interim stay on approval of fee hikes by government recognised private unaided schools in Goa till August 4.

The matter came up following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by AGUSPA. The advocate general Mr Subodh kantak informed the bench that the government had already constituted a committee to look into the accounts of government recognised unaided private schools in the state of Goa.

AGUSPA maintained that the fee hikes were completely arbitrary and that all their efforts to elicit cooperation from the government and the directorate of education to curb the "commercialisation of education" had failed and therefore the only option available to them was to move the high court.

While AGUSPA was against any fee hikes, the association was of the view that a committee of experts should be formed to work on the financial matters pertaining to the unaided schools and prepare a report on whether salaries as per the Sixth pay commission recommendations could be paid to teachers within the current existing fee structure.

AGUSPA held the Directorate of education responsible for the arbitrary fee hikes and maintained that the failure of DoE to meticulously enforce the Goa School education Act 1984 through section 19, sub section (3) and (4) which deals with the fees and other charges to be collected by schools , has led to the present situation where education in Goa has become commercialised.

Seeking to correct the system through the PIL, AGUSPA stated that the ongoing battle is aimed at streamlining erring managements and trustees of unaided schools and the DoE which has denied justice for long to parents who have been unduly exploited due to inaction.

AGUSPA has also sought that the DoE should constitute an authority to inspect and audit the account statements of recognised private unaided schools in Goa which they pointed out is mandatory under Section 10, sub-section 7 and under the rules framed in the Goa education Act 1984.

Margao to see an overdue new bus stand soon

The city of Margao has a vintage bus stand which has seen the ravages of time but which is mysteriously ignored as almost being inconsequential to its citizens' welfare. The present KTC bus stand at Margao resembles a shambolic picture of the state of affairs that the commercial city is facing from the state government.However as per the latest buzz, things are expected to change with the Goa state Infrastructure development corporation (GSIDC) working on a ambitious proposal to construct a brand new bus stand with a multistoried complex at the same site by using the over 60,000 sq metres of vacant land available in the area.

The bus stand at Margao is expected to cost a staggering Rs 300 crore for which a public-private partnership is being worked out by the government. while serving as a model bus stand, for intercity and inter state buses, the area is likely to be transformed into a commercial hub and therefore contribute as a revenue model for the state of Goa which will help the government earn money.

The Kadamba transport corporation has forwarded a proposal to the government of Goa which had earlier approved the concept and now has forwarded the file to the GSIDC for its approval. The new bus stand will be adjoining an entire hub of commercial activity with the new South Goa collectorate building complex being its immediate neighbour on one side and the SGPDA market as another hotspot of commercial activity on the other side.

Depending on the success of this business model, the government is likely to replicate the hubs at the Panaji bus stand and subsequently at Porvorim, where the corporation has already got land in its possession.

The entire proposal is however in its stage of infancy and the GSIDC will be now looking into its details before presenting it to the GSIDC board for approval. Simultaneously, discussions are likely to involve the finance and the transport department to check upon the overall implications that the project is likely to present.

The GSIDC will however have to enter into a memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the KTC, which is the owner of the land in Margao, and would need its approval before advertising the expression of interest for the project.The project is likely to take a few years before being a reality on the ground.

Now "Goencars" on hospitality list of Goa tourism

The "Goencar" or as some write the Indian way as  "Goenkar", or for some people who like to refer to the people of Goa as "Goanese", there seems to be a lot of attention pouring towards this typical Goan in the times of off-season for the tourism industry in Goa where the tourists have steadily dissappeared and currently the eye seems to have shifted to focus on local "Goencars" to come and indulge in some fun and playtime with a few perks here and there to urge them out from the comforts of their Goan homes into the fattened ambience of starred hotels in Goa.

So it is common these days to receive emails and sms over mobile tempting the Goan with a "much necessary" weekend recharge, a sumptuous buffet or a brunch( they call it breakfast and lunch put together), a swimming pool dip, some dancing and partying added with some games for the kids if you have them and a well-dressed-down tariff to suit the imaginations and make your decision ooze out a little faster.

In a way it has been a kind of stretching out to the local Goan community by the hotel fraternity in Goa who seem to be trying to cover their costs in the off-season with some bait for the locals to bite. It is also a good public relation(read PR) exercise for the hotel industry in Goa  as a means of reaching out to Goans by offering discounted packages as above and thereby instilling a sense of goodwill in the Goencars.

The cost per person at the above detailed 'weekend rechargers" is anything between 1,300 - 1800 per person inclusive of food and sometimes unlimited drinks. A weekend recharge normally also includes a room, high tea, dinner, breakfast, Goan lunch and drinks which may be unlimited in certain hotels in Goa.

The perception that the hotel industry is toying with is the fact that Goans hardly need to venture out of Goa since Goa itself is a beautiful place which many Goans have not enjoyed to the hilt. Also monsoons are considered as the best time to venture outside with family and friends besides being a cheaper option in the off-season. A getaway such as this often leads to a recharge of the mind and body and tends to keep you freshly charged for your next routine at the end of the weekend.

The short gasp of the holiday can also be a big boost for the children in Goa who have been typeset with holidays squeezed in only during the vacation period and then have to pour on their books in Goa before the next vacation troops in. Such a short weekend burst tends to soothe children as a pleasant surprise and gives them a short and much needed break from their studies and helps to keep them in a healthy state of mind to recharge their energies.

There are some hotels in Goa which come up with unique catchy captions to promote their weekend bouquets and added with a low cost, such offers become hard to resist. A hotel in north Goa offers a thrill in oriental cuisine at a bargain price of Rs 375/- per person and one has a choice to pick from a  variety in oriental food. The swimming pool is thrown in this package as an incentive and the response is reportedly astounding with families, friends and even the corporate clients pitching in to enjoy the short lived joy.

Another factor that urges people to go in for these short bursts of a holiday is the ease on the pocket which is an affordable deal in the off season. Also the kind of professional service, great food and lovely ambience along with some royal treatment makes these recharge packages very popular in Goa.

It is therefore evident that Goans are now changing in their attitude towards a holiday in Goa itself and many are opening their arms to some good offers from the hotel industry. Besides, Goans also realise that despite being in Goa since birth, most Goans have only ventured to the Goan beaches while most of Goa has not been seen or experienced. The hinterland of Goa is therefore a great attraction for Goans to explore and the tourism for Goans should therefore be directed in that area so that Goans know their Goa better  and enjoy it at the same time.

By Goacom

Tourists head for Goa in the rains

The global economic meltdown notwithstanding, tourists have responded favourably to the bold initiatives of Goa's tourism industry which attracted them with attractive packages with sizeable discounts to woo tourists in the off season with bargain rates, which the tourists seem to have lapped up. This was evident from the fact that many hotels in Goa have reported a occupancy ranging from 50 to 70 percent in their hotel rooms.

The various schemes on offer seem to have clicked for the hotel industry, with some hotels even going to the extent of throwing in an extra free day's stay for their clients who book a room in the three day package. Other incentives include a free half-day sight-seeing tour along with a boat ride and free transport to and from the airport for the guests.

The properties of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation have however recorded a lower occupancy at around 50 % occupancy. The GTDC has been offering a discount of over 15% for individual tourists while in the case of groups of 20 or more, the discount on offer is around 20 percent. Students are offered a few other perks.

The President of the Travel and tourism association of Goa Mr Ralph D'Souza was of the opinion that most hotels had a very good occupancy in the monsoons in Goa while there was a minor dip in the arrival of domestic tourists  in May due to the elections in many parts of the country.

Also a lot of corporate houses in the country hold their annual conferences in the beach drenched state of Goa during the monsoons and bring in their management and executives to Goa thereby boosting the room occupancy. Also the local promotions by the hotel industry also keep the room occupancy high especially on the weekends.

For hotel bookings and bookings in luxurious apartments in Goa with all amenities, click here.

Goa EDC plans more growth hubs in Goa's hinterland

The Economic development Corporation (EDC) of Goa has resolved to build three more growth hubs in the state of Goa and has therefore proposed to acquire over 5 lakh square metres of land in three different talukas of Goa which are predominantly the hinterland of the state, namely the talukas of Pernem, Ponda and Quepem, to enable these areas to commercially develop through the growth hubs.

The grand idea is supported by the success that the EDC achieved through the commercial development of around 1.7 lakh sq metres of land at Patto Plaza in Panjim city.

The move is expected to infuse commercial development in these three talukas of Goa to create growth hubs and is expected to fetch investments to the tune of Rs 2000 crore besides creating employment opportunities for Goan youth.

The projection in the draft regional plan 2021 already envisages these talukas as growth hubs and the EDC has confirmed that this acquisition will be in line with the projection in the draft regional plan to have growth hubs or regional centres and the EDC will act as a catalyst towards that growth.

The EDC managing director W V R Murthy said that they would like to create infrastructure in these three places to attract the investments and are planning to target health, education, entertainment and tourism sectors.

EDC has projected a total cost of over Rs 200 crore for the acquisition and development of land in the three talukas.

Goa is now WiMAX positive

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on Monday 29th June 2009, launched the much awaited Wireless broadband service called Wimax in Goa. The WiMAX or "Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access" is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless transmission of data.The service is currently available in Mandrem, Colvale, Siolim., Anjuna, Thivim, Mapusa, Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Pilerne, Porvorim, Panaji, Dona Paula, Cortalim, Kundaim, Vasco, Verna , Cuncolim, Chinchinim, Navelim, Mandopa, Margao, Mobor, Varca, Majorda and Colva, Benaulim is being covered under the Colva tower.

  BSNL has currently installed twenty five base transreceiver stations on mobile towers across the state of Goa predominantly in coastal and urban areas to serve the purpose and BSNL aims to take the benefits of broadband to customers across the state of Goa.

WiMAX can be accessed through a simple plug and play indoor device called the Customer Premise Equipment or CPE which allows upgrades to future upgrades as well.

How to get the WiMAX connection in Goa

Go to a  BSNL customer service centre and ask for a customer application form. A passport size photograph and proof of identity and proof of address is required.

A BSNL-SOMA network technician will visit your premises and check for feasibility of BSNL coverage and network strength in your respective area.

After the verification process is over, a payment of Rs 5000 is to be made towards the CPE ( Customer Premise Equipment) a simple plug-and-play indoor device which is about the size of a landline handset.

Next, a one month security deposit is to be deposited with BSNL which is as per the amount dependent on the pan chosen by you plus an amount of Rs 827 towards installation charges and service tax. Annual payments instead of monthly  are allowed a rebate equal to two months waiver.

The whole procedure is slated to take a maximum of 48 hours according to SOMA networks.

Plans currently available with BSNL

Home users have a choice of plans between 256 kbps and 512 kbps. The tariff for 256 kbps is Rs 1000 and for 512 kbps is Rs 1800 per month.

Business users have four options. Rs 4,400 for 256 kbps, Rs 8,000 for 512 kbps, Rs 12,000 for 1024 kbps and Rs 20,000 for 2048 kbps.

Home users have to purchase the CPE while business users can avail of a free CPE subject to conditions which include a 3 year guaranteed subscription. The cost of the CPE for all types of users has been fixed at Rs 5000.

Ferry boat ride wont be free in Goa anymore

For those who loved the thrill of hopping on to a Goan ferry boat and enthuse themselves to back and forth  rides across rivers all over Goa may now have to pay a little fee to allow themselves these little flowing pleasures in Goa. Soon enough, the government of Goa has decided that vehicles such as two wheelers and four wheelers will be charged a higher fee besides normal passengers also being charged a nominal fee ranging from 50 paise to one rupee per person.

Till now passengers on ferry boats in Goa were allowed free travel but the latest announcement made by river navigation minister Mr Sudhin Dhavlikar to impose the fees will be effective from July 2009. From July, fees for all vehicles such as two wheelers, cars, pick-ups and trucks will be raised as the new measures are expected to help increase the revenue by about Rs 1.5 crore per annum.

However the residents of islands such as Chorao and Divar would be given a waiver of ferry charges after producing an identification card, such as a panchayat certificate stating the ward and village panchayat or an electoral photo identity card which would be accepted to allow passengers a free ride.

The measure to charge fees for people playing on ferries is also expected to ease the load on the Panjim - Chorao ferry which is currently used freely by people from Mayem, Bicholim and Sanquelim thereby burdening the people from Chorao who had to stand in long queues to avail of the ferry service and often ended up late to their destinations.

Five new industrial units smile on Goa

With the Goan industrial environment looking bleak and the spectre of world recession dangling over the state, added to the alarm of the unemployment figures rising steadily, it was welcome news to hear that five new plants are coming up in the state giving some hope to the unemployed Goans as well as to the revenue streams of Goa. The five units are expected to employ around 330 people in the state.

The five industries are expected to be set up in different locations of Goa by entrepreneurs at an investment of Rs 138 crore employing over 330 people. A high powered co-ordination committee chaired by the Chief Minister Mr Digambar Kamat gave the approval for setting up these companies. The committee also gave the green signal to 14 other large industries for expansion, graduation and regularisation at a proposed capital investment of over 725 crore and an employment potential of over 1680 people in Goa.

Among the five approved industries there are two new projects ( M/S OMSO Orient Printing Machine Pvt Ltd and M/s Creative Moulds (INDIA) Pvt Ltd which are expected to be coming up at Harvalem in Bicholim. The two new companies are expected to manufacture printing machines, injection moulds and spares for the same. These companies have a capacity of employing around 23 people

The third industry is to be set up by M/s Teracom Ltd, which would manufacture insulated wire, cable/CDMA/GSM/VRLA batteries at Kundaim Industrial estate and would employ around 55 people.

The fourth industry at Codli village in Sanguem taluka is a beneficiation plant that has an employment potential of around 26 employees and is to be set up by Sesa Goa Ltd.

However the major industry among the five is that of GKB High tech lenses Pvt Ltd in Tivim Industrial estate which has a capacity to employ 223 persons thereby helping Goa's employment needs.

Despite the recession faced in the industry all over the world, this influx of industries into Goa is a welcome sign and would help the state to tide over the unemployment problems currently faced in Goa.

Abide by Indian laws when in Goa - Shantaram to foreigners

In reaction to the news reports about some British citizens who have purchased land and have now approached the British Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown, complaining that the sale deeds of their properties are not being registered by sub-registrars in Goa, Rajya Sabha MP Mr Shantaram Naik  advised the affected British Nationals to comply with Indian laws and also appreciate the problems of the state of Goa and its people, caused by the large-scale execution of purchase deeds by foreign nationals.

Pointing out that Goa has only an area of 3702 square kilometres he said that Goans have a natural tendency to be protective about their scarce land resources.

Mr. Shantaram Naik while stressing that Goa is not against any specific foreign nationality, also revealed that there are many foreign nationals who do not fulfill the requirement of 182 days stay in India and without holding a business visa attempt to misrepresent and misguide the authorities to enter into land dealings which is illegal and said that such attempts have to be firmly dealt with and put to an end.

5 Goa offshore Casino Licences expire. Daggers roll out

The Goa state legislative assembly's ad hoc committee on home affairs chaired by the leader of the opposition Mr Manohar Parrikar has asked the government to immediately halt the operations of five out of six offshore casinos in the state as their licences to anchor within port premises had expired recently, as per the information provided to the committee by the captain of Ports, Capt A P Mascarenhas.

Since the licences had already expired, Mr Parrikar stated that it is a direct irregularity to allow such off-shore casinos to operate in Mandovi waters and said that he had made this known to the captain of ports.

The five casinos are Caravela, Casino Royale, Pride Of Goa, Rio and maharaja. The only casino to still have a licence to operate in the Mandovi waters is MV Arabian King.

Recession arrives in Goa

Recession, the dreaded word which has left the business community all over the world in the cold for close to two years now, has begun to show its might in the industrial sector of tourism-happy Goa, with over 5000 people losing their jobs to the global meltdown which has adversely affected the state. The industries hard hit in Goa include mining, export, fishing, cashew trade and tourism.

While over 5000 workers have lost their jobs from various industries, many other workers are believed to have lost their jobs in the non-farming and other such sectors which mostly included people on a temporary contractual basis and seasonally employed individuals.

Goan industrialists have therefore put off many of their ambitious projects due to the recession which have hit employees who may have ben laid off due to lack of work.However some industries have taken the recessionary effect in their stride and have not yet laid off any workers despite feeling the pinch of the recession. Zuari Industries Limited is one such giant industry in Goa which has been outstanding towards its employees in such turbulent times.

However with the recessionary mood prevailing in industries, the relations between the industries management and the workers have been under strain and many tensions exist in the work environment.

Goa's excise revenue has also witnessed a dip with many pharmaceutical companies shifting their manufacturing units to other parts of the country where they can enjoy tax holidays and industrial benefits thereby recording a sharp fall in the collection of the excise department as compared to the previous years.

How gullible can a Goan be?

It isn't for nothing that besides being a favourite testing ground for connoisseurs of the latest brand of liquor in the whole country, Goa seems to be finding itself to be a lucrative destination for thieves, rogues, cheats and bandits. All these characters prowling in Goa and from outside it are however neat white collared men and women who have discovered that Goans can be taken for a ride faster than their brethren in the rest of the country.

So if the 10 rupee gang which distracts you with notes stashed at your mercy at the front of your feet and keeps you busy collecting them while they gobble your belongings- does not find you, you will be found by numerous others in the guise of good samaritans who are busy devising their next strategy to relieve Goans of their possessions. Banks, ATM stations, stores, bus-stops and all other public places seem to have turned into haunts for these tribes of street smart thieves who have the ability or the hypnotic thrill to occupy the Goan senses before you try to locate the nearest police station.

Then there is the pack of wolves who enter unabashedly into shops and while some of their family keep the owners occupied with their brutal enquiries about the products, the rest of the family is engaged in a decent job of packing the products into their shirts, pants and brassieres. This suave art is painfully not limited to the Jewelry stores in Goa but has found able adaptation in computer shops, retail stores and even cloth shops which have not been spared.

You also have those who help themselves to the long haul of the Goan largesse. That too in a very open and acceptable manner. Classified advertisements in Goan newspapers have become a great source to find gullible Goans who pour their money , stock and time into mindless promises of no-hoper monks who promise to build a fortune for you in the least possible time and with the smallest of efforts but with the involvement of thousands of rupees. When their numbers of Goan followers starts growing, they simply collect the booty and leave town - lock, stock and barrel. What is left is Goans writhing, angrily in pain with police stations filling their pages with countless applications seeking redressal. However nobody gets caught. Worse, no lessons are learnt. The next advertisement can still get them hooked again for another bite at a hoax. "Salient Online' was one such scam faced by Goans among the thousands most of which went unreported.

The latest one to hit town is a delightful sms which Goans are gleefully receiving, almost luring them into celebrations. The sms gives you some bountiful news that your mobile number was randomly selected for a draw, which you won and are now sitting on a pile of currency notes amounting to millions of dollars or pounds. At the end of the sms is an email address which you are expected to contact urgently.

Of course in the excitement the receiver does not bother to think how the sender got his mobile number into a draw. Neither does he bother to think that any such contests ( if any in this world) need to be entered with a contest fee. Simply receiving a bounty of millions seems to cloud normal thinking of the receiver - who unfortunately is the victim. What follows next is milking of the receiver by the sender of the SMS.

The sender when contacted over email lures the receiver with peppy language asking for bank details to transfer the millions. At some point the sender mentions the need of an attorney in UK or US to help in transferring the money. the fees of the attorney run into lakhs of rupees. However our Goan chum who received the sms, finds these lakhs of rupees a paltry amount compared to the millions at stake. So what does he do? He rushes to his bank breaks his fixed deposits, loans some amount from his friends and even sells some jewellery  to transfer the required amount to his "new found saviour" (read Demon) who receives the money through online transfer and promises to transfer the millions "soon". Needless to say the millions never see the light of day and our Goan friend frantically calls some phoney telephone numbers provided to him by the rogue sender and is at a complete loss as to what hit him. End result is a poor Goan sitting at a police station narrating his tale of woes.

When will Goans stop being so gullible?

The above sms trick is also being relayed to victims regularly over email all over the world. The game-plan is , bogey letters pouring in from various parts of the world most of them from Africa, narrating their opportunity to divide some cash with you if you play to be their dead husband,cousin,wife, or father. Eventually you get milked of your own money.However now the same trick is being executed through the mobile.

Isnt it time that Goans shunned all such vain attempts laced in greed and keep their hard earned money in their pockets rather than running after a alluring shadow? After all dont we know a bird in hand is worth two in a bush?

By Goacom

Goa Parents to approach high court against hike in unaided school fees

Parents of Unaided schools under the banner of "All Goa Unaided Schools Parents Association" met in Margao on Saturday to chalk out a future course of action against the arbitrary hike in school fees of unaided schools in the state of Goa.The meeting was held at the BM hall in Margao at 5.30 pm on Saturday, the 13th of May 2009 as a follower to their earlier meeting held in late March 2009 where the whole issue was brought to the fore and the resolve to fight the unjust hike was expressed unanimously by all the parents.

After having approached the directorate of education to redress their grievances and finding that the process is being dragged by the concerned authorities, the parents of these schools have now decided to approach the high court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the regular hike in fees by managements of recognized private unaided schools.

The parents have expressed their disappointment at the lack of action from the Education department on the complaints lodged by them against the school managements for hiking fees besides other related issues.The association felt that all their talks with the government and the Directorate of education have failed to evince the desired results and now after a long wait, they have no choice but to approach the court to fight for justice to stop the loot under the guise of quality education and vowed to continue the fight against the arbitrary fee hikes in unaided schools in Goa.

It was also pointed out that parents in Mumbai and Del hi are fighting similar battles and called upon the parents in Goa to join the battle in the interest of justice and future of their children. The association members said that the department of education was forced to seek details of the fee structures of the schools only after receiving complaints from the parents in this matter and stressed that the failure of the directorate to meaningfully enforce the Goa School education Act 1984 which through section 19, sub section (3) and (4) deals with the fees and other charges to be collected by schools has led to the commercialisation of education in the state.

The association now would like to express the unrest among parents through the PIL aiming to streamline the erring managements and  trustees of private unaided schools and the directorate of education for denying justice and exploiting the parents.

The parents have also stressed that they are not against the teachers getting better salaries or being granted the pay scales under the  sixth pay commission recommendations. They are however confident that the salaries as above can be paid through the existing fee structures levied currently by the management of such schools.

The association also highlighted their back stage struggles during which they sought various documents including audited account statements of these schools through the "right to information(RTI)" act which exposed the blatant diversion of funds to different heads of accounting which was a gross violation. The association therefore plans to seek redressal of all these issues through the Public Interest litigation which is proposed to be filed shortly.

Dempo sells traditional mining biz to Sesa Goa for a whopping 1,750 crore

In an all cash deal, the Dempo Group from Goa sold its most traditionally identified possession and its oldest and most prized asset, its  Goan mining business to a renowned mining company  Sesa Goa for Rs 1,750 crore. The above deal which was clinched and signed on Thursday, was informed to the media at a press conference  by the Dempo Chairman Mr Srinivas Dempo late on Thursday evening. The chairman further informed that the decision to exit the mining business was collectively taken by the Dempo family.

Mr Dempo however informed that the Group was not exiting from the age old mining activities and would continue the same in Sindhudurg and Maharashtra and added that the group was exploring mining resources which could be over 100 million tonnes in other parts of the world to meet the long term demands of its various customers.

Some time ago, the Dempo group had demerged the mining business and investment portfolio from the holding company V.S.Dempo and Co (VSD) to facilitate the way for a new investor which was the earlier plan. However with such an attractive offer from Sesa Goa made to them, they decided to take the exit route.

Sesa Goa is the subsidiary of the Anil Agarwal group  Vedanta Resources which had earlier acquired Sesa Goa by springing a surprise high bid for Mitsui's 51 % stake in the company for $981 million beating the likes of Arcelor Mittal and Aditya Birla group.The acquisition of Sesa Goa had therefore marked the entry of Vedanta into the flourishing iron ore business.

The deal signed by Dempo with Sesa Goa includes all Goan based mining assets, mining leases, mining rights and  includes the supporting logistical infrastructure such as barges, jetties, trans-shippers,and the facilities at the Mormugao port.

Dempo's chairman also informed at the press conference that  although they are exiting the iron ore business in Goa, their mining activities would continue in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Also its other activities such as calcined petroleum coke, pig iron, shipbuilding, food, travel and media would continue unhindered and the money received from this deal would be used to boost the business activities in the state of Goa.

Iron ore is a major raw material in producing steel which is a key ingredient used to manufacture automobiles and white goods. India's ore deposits are considered to be among the largest in the world and it is believed that this Dempo acquisition will consolidate Vedanta's position considerably in this segment.

Goa govt to introduce File Movement Index

In a bid to weed out red tapism and bring about an efficiency in the Goa state's  administrations' disposal of files, the government is planning to introduce a file movement index wherein the date of receipt of the file and its subsequent disposal would be entered. The move is aimed at curtailing delays in disposing of files and the process would be followed in the state administration including directorates and field offices where the files are expected to be cleared within a week's time.

It may be recalled that the present Chief Secretary Mr Hauzel Haukhum had indicated his resolve to dispose of files from his office within a specified period and has now said that the government would ensure that files were disposed of in seven days(which included Saturdays and Sundays) from the date of their receipt by the officials in every office while also seeking arrear statements from all the concerned departments and the reasons thereof for the delay.

The Chief Secretary decided the above proposal after a meeting of the secretaries to the government held on Wednesday June 4 2009, where it was decided to appoint a senior government official as a nodal officer in every department to oversee movement of files and their speedy clearances. A manual of official procedure along with assistance diary is also proposed to be made available to the government staff dealing with files.

Mr Haukhum has impressed upon the secretaries about the need for speedy clearance of the files terming it as a collective effort and urged the cooperation of officials in this direction. Stating that the directives for speedy disposal of the files would be issued soon, the Chief Secretary said that every employee would be accountable for his/her action and suitable action would be taken against the persons responsible for the delay.

Listing the accounting procedure, the Chief secretary said that the nodal officer in each department would be entrusted to report to the head of the department about the delay caused in the clearing of the files.The first instance of a delay would be a verbal reprimand of the employee by the head of the department. A second instance of delay , a written explanation would be sought while a third such instance of delay would be met with departmental action against the errant employee.

On the flip side there is also a proposal to reward the government officials who perform well by giving them letters of appreciation and certificates of commendation. These officials would be honoured on national and state days besides the possibility of them being rewarded with cash incentives.

Goa's "Purumentachem Fest" at Margao today

One of the major Church feasts in Goa associated with the stocking of provisions for the monsoon season is the feast of the Holy Spirit at the Holy Spirit Church Margao, which is also fondly known all over the state as the "Purumentachem Fest" of Goa.

While there may be many such feasts close to the monsoon season, it is believed that this feast at Margao essentially derived the reputation of being the original  "Purumentachem fest" owing to its closest proximity with the monsoon season in Goa.

"Purumentachem Fest" a konkani term, could easily be translated into "Feast of Provisions " is a time for people to stock provisions for the monsoons. Although the feast has nothing to do with provisions, the timing of the feast induces a large gravitational pull over the crowds who flock to the fair at this feast to net a good bargain against all kinds of vendors displaying their goods, wares, stocks and harvests. Therefore many items and provisions that do not find their way at other feast fairs in Goa can be spotted at this fair. This peculiarity of certain items being sold only at this May month feast at Margao enticed people visiting the fairs to buy stocks in larger quantities by keeping in mind the upcoming Monsoons. That factor is probably the reason why this feast has derived the strongest bond with the term " Purumentachem Fest"

Salted Fish at the fair in Margao is considered to be the best bargain and people from far and wide within Goa and outside make a special trip to Margao for the feast to help themselves to stock up various varieties of salted fish. Kite fish ( solvve) is a distinct favourite among salt fish shoppers at this market as they are considered the most ideal for a good fish pickle (parra) and would help to pull off with the best meal on a rainy day. Dried prawns are almost a must and can help in making some delicious curry. Also the Bombay ducks in salted form known as the "Sukhe Bombil" have always been considered as a quick appetizer if roasted against the fire. Therefore this feast helps to keep the dying traditions of making nostalgic pickles such as "parra", 'balchao" and "molho" distinctly alive in Goa.

Besides the salted fish there is also a sale of traditional harvests of distinct Goan onions and other vegetables which can be stocked for the season. There is the usual fair of the wooden furniture where the traditional carpenters from South Goa display their wares be it beds,sofa sets, tables, benches, stools, showcases , cupboards etc etc. The furniture is known to give the sellers a ready easy market to display and sell their goods while also sourcing new customers for their future supplies.

The Grinding stones such as the flat grinding stone as well as the traditional "Rogddo" are also in full flow at the feast and while one may think that the electric mixers have taken over the Goan homes, the enthusiasm of these grinding stone traders to market their goods, belies that theory. There seems to be still a distinct lobby in Goa which is wedded to the apparent difference in taste, rendered with the use of the grinding stones and "rogddos' in their day to day requirements for cooking various curries, masalas and sweets in Goa.

Earthen pots are still ruling the roost in rural as well as urban Goa and the testimony to the fact is the regular return of these breed of traders who faithfully ensure that they occupy a portion of the market square at this Margao feast to show off their traditional wares  which need no introductions.The "Kunnem",the "burkulo" the "gurgulet" and the gardening vases get automatic buyers at this festival owing to their traditional attachment and the utility that  these earthen wares still command from the "niz goenkar" (true goan) more out of emotional attachment and traditional love than the practical compulsion to use them.

Then there are the other wares such as copper and aluminium vessels, garden tools such as pick axes, choppers, hammers etc. There is also a distinct readymade clothesline on display although most of the clothes at such fairs are of poor quality there is always the enthusiasm of the fair which unquestionably propels the visitors to  make frantic buys. Bedsheets and tablecloths besides other cushion materials are also on display and command sizeable crowds in the evenings.

Finally, one cannot miss the "kaddio-boddio", "laddoos"  "revddios" and the random open stalls of "festache chonne" ( Grams of the feast) which can be easily spotted all over the fair with the avid "festakar"  ( feast shopper) ensuring that he/she has atleast one pottli of the "kaddio-boddio" and one or two "poll" of the "festache chonne".  Without these sweets finding their way into Goan homes, people often consider their visit to the fair as an incomplete one and therefore the traders of these eatables are traditionally known to make brisk business by urging the people to buy some sweets in memory of the feast of the Holy Spirit.

Man(date)mohan's power, rockets stock markets to long circuits!

The role of politics in India came full circle to remind investors in the country that the narrow understanding of economics is just not enough if one ignores the role of politics in the construction of financial fortunes.

And the proof of the above came in full measure on Monday 18th may 2009 with a skyrocketing force never witnessed in the history of the markets anywhere in the world as stocks, bonds and the Indian rupee went into orbit on the back of the pleasantly dramatic mandate for Manmohan Singh and the Indian national Congress. 

It was therefore the first ever instance that the Bombay Stock exchange which was founded in the year 1875, had to halt trading for the day when the 30-scrip sensex roared by 2111 points or a mind boggling 17.3% inside the space of a minute, making investors richer by over 3.6 lakh crore. In both percentage and absolute terms, the gallop was a record smashing performance, blunting the earlier single day rise record of 1140 points on January 25 2008. The picture was no different on the National Stock exchange with the rise being marginally sharper on the Nifty at 17.7%.

The sensex which fell from over 21,000 points since January 2008 to below 8000 points in October 2008 had regained around 26% from the beginning of 2009 till the eve of elections and has now extended its gains overnight to 48% taking it from last to first among the BRIC nations( Brazil, Russis, India and China) and pole vaulting it into the best performing index in the world, barring Peru.

The whole euphoria seems to be due to the fact that the Congress government received a powerful mandate, leaving the Left decimated and incapable of coercing the ruling combination to succumb to  Leftist agendas. With the government no longer dependent on coercive allies, a stable government is expected to push reforms with PSU disinvestments, liberalisation in FDI policies, private entry pension funds and possible labour reforms as well.

What happened to the stock markets on "Golden Monday' was therefore anticipated though not to the measure that it finally weighed. The upper circuit filter was hit in seconds after the market opened at 9.55 am climbing vertically by 17980 points on the sensex from Fridays close.Trading was therefore halted within seconds holding the sensex at 13,963 points between 9.56 am till 11.55 am. Thereafter , the moment trading resumed, the index jumped by another 652 points which left traders and investors with a pleasant daze.

Brokerage houses in Goa as in the rest of India had suddenly a splurge of telephone callers who were dumbstruck to believe the indulgence of the stock markets in a single day. Most of the brokerage houses in Goa as in the rest of the country however had almost nil business today since the markets hardly allowed anyone to enter the ring with the circuits hitting faster than the blinking of an eyelid.

Goa's beer stocks drying up before dry days

Goa's stocks of beer all over the state is expected to dry up by around Friday, 18th April 2009, a good 5 days before the Lok Sabha election date in Goa which is on 23rd April. The shortfall is expected as a result of the strict enforcement of regulations by the election authorities on the sale of liquor leading to a protest which culminated into a shut-down by wholesale distributors and dealers of liquor all over the state of Goa.

Limited stocks of Beer is all that is left over in all the pubs and bars in Goa which would suffice another 4-5 days and with the season of Lent coming to an end last Sunday, the demand is expected to go up with no stocks left to serve the customers.

However the stocks of hard liquor is expected to withstand the onslaught of the shutdown and it is only Beer which is predicted to be suddenly turning into a rare commodity in Goa. Tourism is likely to be affected the worst with this shutdown as tourists normally love beer in this sun drenched beach destination of Goa.

The Beach shacks have also been caught unawares on the shutdown and although the foreign tourist is on the decline in April, the stocks left in the shacks will be run out soon.

Wine stores in the cities of Goa have been completely shut down leading to disappointment among Indian tourists who flock in buses and vehicles to buy stocks but had to face the brunt of the shutdown in Goa.

Revenue losses to the government of Goa is expected to be a big pinch due to the shutdown and already the government is believed to have lost around 7-8 lakhs in revenues alone till date, due to the shutdown.

Meanwhile the association members maintained that it is difficult to maintain daily sales registers of stocks and therefore they had no other option but to shutdown their wholesale shops to avoid the ire of the excise authorities and the election commission. The wholesalers were not willing to take the risk of cancelling of their permits and licences due to the contraventions which may be pointed out by excise authorities during inspections.