Goan Natalie comes up with bacterial battery power

With the world looking forward to more greener energy sources, young Goan student Natalie D'silva, a student of Dhempe College of Arts and Science Miramar has spent months in research to come up with a discovery of a means of power generation which promises to help clean up cities.

Working under the guidance of Ms Arina Frank, Lecturer department of Biotechnology and sponsored by the Dempo charities trust, the invention assumes significance in view of the fact that bacteria neither produces any toxic material nor pollutes the environment.

The electricity we normally get is by the burning of fossil fuels. However with the earth's reservoir of fossils depleting continuously, and with rise of pollution being another threat, there is an imperative need for clean energy sources to be found. Currently the world is doing extensive research for an alternative means of generating electricity and Natalie's research is therefore a welcome step in this direction.

The basic principle under which Natalie's research revolves is analogous to that of conventional fuel cells which is an electrochemical energy conversion device that produces from an external supply of fuel.

The research is based on harvesting electricity with the help of microbes which are generally bacteria, which feed on biomass for their respiration. This is referred to as Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) also known as bacterial battery.

The MFC converts chemical energy to electrical energy by the catalytic reaction of microorganisms. A typical microbial fuel cell consists of anode and cathode compartments separated by a cation-specific membrane. In the cathode compartment, substrate is oxidised by microorganisms generating electrons and protons.

Electrons are transferred to the cathode compartment through an external circuit and the protons are transferred to the cathode compartment through the membrane. Electrons and protons are consumed in the cathode compartment combining with oxygen to form water.

Natalie and Ms Arina Frank explored  a marine sponge from the Betul waters and were able to screen about 40 different bacteria from it. Among these bacteria they identified one that could generate a voltage of about 0.47 volts which was higher than reported in scientific papers so far.

Although the project is in its initial stages it seeks to source a cheaper and portable rechargeable source of energy that could be used to power gadgets such as calculators or mobile phones.

As MFCs can use any organic material sources, they can well be installed in water treatment plants to produce electricity from waste and in addition consume the waste material. MFCs also are very clean, efficient and the emissions are below regulations.

The electricity generated by these cells can be stored in rechargeable batteries or capacitors and be utilised whenever needed and is therefore a very potent energy source. MFCs can also be used for  a power source of pacemakers in the body.It would utilise glucose from the blood or other substrates in the body and generate electricity to supply to these devices.

Goa Lok sabha polls puts liquor trade on the dock

The Lok sabha polls in Goa have found their traditional nemesis in the liquor trade, with the tightened regulations on records keeping as per the directives of the election commission.

As per directives, the excise department has asked all liquor wholesalers and distributors to furnish their daily sales registers which has angered them and in response they have downed their shutters in a protest all over Goa.

The indefinite shutdown which began on Thursday, 9th April 2009, is expected to last till the end of the elections. The Goa Liquor traders association  maintained that the excise officials' demand for daily sales registers was unreasonable at a short notice. The association held a hurriedly convened meeting  and decided to shut their outlets indefinitely. They said that they cannot comply with the directives of the Election commission and in order to avoid confrontation with the EC and the excise department the shutdown was necessitated.

Stating that tourism in Goa would be affected with the shutdown the spokesman for the association said that it is not possible to compile so much of data on a daily basis as the trade was not computerised and alleged that excise officials were overzealous during poll campaigning which tantamounts to harassment. The association was willing to co-operate but however wanted more time to comply.

With the Goan wedding season starting from next week added to the state of Goa entering the busy tourist season and with cheap and abundant liquor being one of the unique factors contributing to high sales in Goa, this shutdown is bound to hit the industry very hard if not addressed immediately.

Good Friday observed today in Goa

Its a day of fast and abstinence for lakhs of catholics in Goa and the rest of the country today as the world observes Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross and his death at Calvary.

While Good Friday marks the death of Christ, it is not a day for mourning as many may be believed to think. On the contrary it is a day of triumph in tragedy. It is a day to be born again by letting our old selves die and begin a new birth. It is a rising in dying to ourselves and our bad behaviors.

The period of Lent which began on ash Wednesday lasting for 40 days of penance and abstinence ends with the day of Easter when Jesus Christ rises again on the third day. Good Friday is therefore basically a reflection on the sufferings and death  of Jesus Christ.

On the occasion of Good Friday, the prayer service is held only in the parish churches and begins late in the afternoon and is constituted of three parts. Namely the Liturgy of the word _ where the word of God is spoken. The Veneration of the cross and The Holy communion.

In the first part, there are the two readings from the Old testament followed by the Gospel reading of St John often sung in the churches with different priests or lay people singing out the different narrations of the Bible reading. In the second part of the service, the crucifix which is kept covered with a blue cloth is unveiled in parts with intermittent prayers after each unveiling part of the crucifix. Finally in the last part of the service is the Holy communion which is distributed among the faithful.

In Goa the service finally ends with the purple curtain which covers the view behind the altar being drawn apart to enable a full view of a life-size statue of Jesus Christ nailed to the cross. Some parishioners dressed in traditional Jewish costumes climb the ladders to the top of the cross and lower the statue of Christ after unfastening it and then place it in a casket . This is a Portuguese custom followed in Goa. The congregation then moves in an orderly procession with the members of the confraternity taking up the casket on their shoulders.

In the Se Cathedral at Old Goa there is the traditional 'xempddeanchem pursanv" today, which is a unique ceremony , a procession of tails called as 'capas magnas" in Portuguese. This practice  is believed to have started after the cathedral chapter was established on February 4 1557. for the occasion, there is a solemnity maintained and instead of cheerful bells the procession starts to the rattling of wooden clappers which were used in ancient times.

Goa NGO's coming together could alter equations

A charter of demands is awaiting to greet Goa's Lok sabha candidates, thanks to a grandiose coalition of some nine NGO's in Goa who have come together under one banner although some of their ideologies may be contrastingly different , to ensure that the Goan electorate is not taken for granted.

Although the move may be a genuine apolitical venture, the resolve of these NGOs is bound to give some candidates aspiring to get elected, some sleepless nights. The NGOs coming together under the banner of " Nirashi Goencarancho avaz" ( voice of disappointed Goans) have decided not to support any of the national parties while expressing their disgust over their continued failure to resolve the issues specific to the state of Goa.

The nine NGOs who have come under the common banner are

• Utt Goenkara
• Goenchea Ramponkarancho ekvott
• Niz Ramponkarancho ekvott
• United Goans welfare front
• Majorda social welfare forum
• Villagers of Colva , Sernabatim, Vanelim and Gandaulim
• Federation of association of tour taxi owners and drivers
• Goa's movement against SEZ
• Film makers

The new banner organisation has felt that the national parties do not serve Goa's cause and have betrayed the electorate of Goa. These parties need to run to their high command for each and every issue with respect to the state and cannot be relied upon. The association has decided to present a memorandum of their demands to all the candidates and have resolved to support the candidate who will accept their demands.

Some of the major demands of the association are as follows

1. Enforcing a ban on mega projects in the entire state of Goa
2. Scrapping of the amendment to the Goa Panchayati raj act
3. Enforcement of rules of heritage and its implementation
4. Devolution of powers to local self governing bodies as envisaged in the 73rd and 74th amendment to the constitution of India.
5. regularisation of houses located within 500 metres of the HTL in CRZ areas.
6. According special status to Goa
7. Tourism industry employees to be employed under the minimum wage regulations
8. Withdrawal of the 16 and 16A amendments to the TCP act
9. denotification of the 3 SEZs
10. No new mining leases to be issued and lapsed mining leases to be cancelled.

Will this new association be able to influence the electorate and change political equations in Goa?  Surely, the candidates must be already feeling the heat.

The Portuguese passport process - Goan agonies

After submitting the passport application with the necessary documentation, notarised and attested complete, to the Portuguese consulate in Goa, a period of "no movement whatsoever" steps in. This is the most excruciating waiting period for Goans which never seems to end.

Added to that is the bewilderment of witnessing candidates who applied much after you, flashing the victory sign with their "Assento de Nascimento" already in hand and you are left twiddling your  thumbs in absolute angst at being left out for no reason whatsoever. And there seems to be no answers given for somebody who applied much after you to be suddenly overtaking you.

The above will strike a common chord among many Goans who have been patiently waiting to see the Portuguese authorities break ice over their process but to no avail. However fearing the imaginary ire of the Portuguese authorities, no one is willing to ask them about the means adopted to dispose off the applications. All that you have is a CRC process number and every time you gleefully punch it in the "application status" link on the Portuguese consulate website in Goa, you will see a non updated blank. No answers either. No timeframe to follow up. Just nothing to look forward to.

However in Portugal, the case is starkly different. After submitting the process application the process is given due credence and a date is fixed for you to collect your birth registration. So you go to the conservatoria in Portugal or its subsidiaries on the appointed date and collect your birth registration certificate ( Assento de nascimento). There is no waiting in the air. In the meanwhile, in Goa the suspense exists without explanation.

The reason for the disparity in the approach seems to be due to the fact that in Portugal, you can take recourse to legal action in case your process is being unduly held up and as such all applicants in Portugal get their process executed as per normal time taken. However in Goa where will you run to seek legal action ? For such recourse, you need to be in Portugal.

The answer to that it seems is to find a suitable person in Portugal to follow up your case with the Portuguese authorities with a power of attorney in his/her hand to argue your case. This is exactly what the agents in Goa promise to do. But with hundreds and thousands of applications at their disposal, their representatives in Portugal are pursuing your case like a needle in a haystack. Will they find it? And if they find it do they have the meticulous desire to diligently pursue your case with thousands of cases on their shoulder?

Practically, the answer is No. If not, the thousands of Goans whose processes are being held up by these agents for years would have not been still pulling their hair in despair. Most of the agents of Portuguese passports in Goa are like the barbers in Tirupati who shave half the head of their clients and keep them waiting aside for the next client to sit in. So every half shaved client is waiting to be shaved fully from the same barber only. In the bargain the barber ensures that he gets maximum clients and keeps them at his mercy because he charges the fee upfront. I know of many Goans who are half shaved with no sign of the final shave because the barber(agent) is busy with new clients. And these Goans have already spent to much to look out for another barber(agent). What a recipe for gullible Goans!

The only effective way is therefore to source a person yourself in Portugal who is going to give you undivided attention to pursue your case fast to claim your Portuguese nationality. While there are many genuine people in Portugal who pursue individual cases, they seem to have upped their fees recently and quote anywhere between 800 Euros to 1400 Euros to register your birth and marriage ( Assento de nascimento and Assento de casamento). As per today's currency exchange that's a loss of Rs 53,000 to Rs 92,000 for a process that should have taken its due course. In short a waste of money which could have fetched you and your spouse a return ticket holiday to Australia or the United states with bountiful shopping included.

The question therefore is whether Goans are willing to spend so much money on silly touts all over the place who are out to milk Goans just because the Portuguese authorities are crawling on our process. For those Goans who feel that the money is a small pittance compared to the promise of the Portuguese passport, I guess it is investment worth the while if the agent processes the application within a year with the Assento , the Bilhete de Identidade(BI) and the Portuguese passport, all ready. Else, it is money down the drain for the wrong reason.

However for Goans who feel they should have a better way out of this.. the answer is there is a way. In my future posts on this subject I shall detail out a strategy to adopt, which hopefully should assist Goans to process their applications faster.

In the meanwhile to read  all the posts on the Portuguese passport process made on this blog, CLICK HERE

Goa Elections : UGDP loses its "two leaves"

In what appears to be a major blow to the United Goans democratic party (UGDP), the election commission has withdrawn the UGDP's "two leaves" symbol in view of the party's  failure to comply with certain provisions of the Election Commission rules. The party has now chosen the "scissors" as the UGDP symbol for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

It may be recalled that the election commission had de-recognised the UGDP in an order passed on January 30th 2008 thereby making it a registered unrecognised state party.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the returning officer in Goa Mr Mihir Vardhan said that after being unrecognised by the EC, the UGDP became a registered unrecognised state party. However, the party was allowed the use of the symbol for six years provided it complied with section 10(A) of Election symbol ( Recognition and Allotment) order 1968 of the commission. Under the stated rules, the party was expected to apply to the Election commission for use of the symbol within three days of the Lok Sabha election notification. However the party failed to apply to the EC thereby losing the symbol for the Lok Sabha elections 2009.

However the UGDP retains the right to contest on the "two leaves " symbol in the next six years provided it adheres to the norms prescribed by the laws of the Election commission.

According to Mr Vardhan, if the UGDP had followed the procedure then the EC would have allowed the"two leaves " symbol for this general elections. The poll panel therefore allotted a free symbol of scissors for the party because the "two leaves" symbol is not among the free symbols.

In the meanwhile, the UGDP while admitting the emotional attachment of Goans to the "two leaves" symbol, maintained that the new symbol of scissors chosen by the party is the right one and is in line with their resolve to cut the government down to size.

The two leaves symbol has been a traditional symbol for many Goans who are attached to the symbol due to the special bond that it  created among Goans by the erstwhile "United Goans Party" (UGP) which was led by the charismatic Dr Jack de Sequeira, the hero of Goa's opinion poll. The "two leaves" referred fondly in konkani as the symbol of " don panna" therefore strikes a very emotional chord among senior citizens as well as common Goans who have witnessed the early post-liberation times of Goa and identify well with the symbol.

The UGDP chose this symbol for their party in the late 90's and thereby cashed on the sentiment attached to both the "part name" of "United Goans" as well as the "two leaves" or "don panna" symbol.

Interestingly, the two leaves symbol also strikes a chord in far away Jharkhand where the attachment to the "two leaves",  referred by people in Jharkhand as " joda patta" ( a pair of leaves) lured some contestants to seek the two leaves symbol to contest the Jharkhand assembly elections a few years ago. Upon learning that the symbol belongs to a party from Goa did not deter these aspirants from Jharkhand and they obtained permission from Goa's UGDP to contest on the UGDP ticket in Jharkhand assembly elections in a bid to ensure that the "two leaves" symbol is somehow used to fight the elections. Eventually, three candidates were elected on the symbol and it goes  on record that the United Goans democratic party (UGDP) from Goa, had three candidates in the Jharkhand assembly. Presently the UGDP has two MLA's in the Jharkhand assembly, namely JOBA MAJHI from Manoharpur constituency and BANDHU TIRKEY from Mandar constituency in Jharkhand.

Goa mangoes still out of reach of Aam Aadmi

The prices of mangoes in Goa in 2009 seem to be following a different path compared to the figures of inflation in the country currently hovering at less than half a percent and threatening to go negative en route to deflation.

While Goans are as bewildered as anybody else in the country on the misleading inflation figures, when prices of essential commodities are not showing any signs of reducing, Goan mangoes are however priced higher due to a bad crop of the delicacy. Not only are mango eaters finding it a misery but the industry dependent on the mango products is currently shattered at the sad news of a low yield of mangoes this season. 

The yield being low, the cost of mangoes has gone up tremendously making manufacturers of mango products such as mango jams, juices and pickles sit up in despair. Added to that is the fact that cost of production has increased two fold adding to the worries of these enterprises.

There are other niggling problems which also affect the industry. For instance mango pluckers have suddenly become a rare commodity and that has only added to the downtimes due to depleted stocks.

The mango products are therefore expected to be more dearer to Goans in the coming season and estimates predict the prices to increase at least by around 20 - 30 % in the near future.

However with the intense competition, raising prices can also be counterproductive to local Goan industry and the manufacturers are seeking government help to reduce the value added tax ( VAT) on mango products to at least six percent from the current 12 % which the industry feels is too high and erodes the profits of small scale industries currently operating in Goa.

The manufacturers also want the government of Goa to intervene through the Goa chamber of commerce and industry (GCCI) with some marketing and export oriented schemes to encourage Goan manufacturers.

Goa Lok sabha elections 2009 : EC directives

All states and Union territories in the country have been given   appropriate guidelines by the Election commission of India (ECI) for the Lok Sabha elections after considering all relevant factors and the legal and factual positions.

The electors who have been issued the Electors photo Identity cards(EPICs) need to produce their cards to establish their identity before casting their votes in the elections to the Lok Sabha 2009.

If the electors fail to produce their EPIC cards they will have to produce alternative photo identity documents to establish their identity.The alternative documents approved by the ECI are

1. Passport
2. Driving Licence
3. Income tax identity card ( PAN card)
4. Service Identity cards with photographs
5. Passbooks issued by PSU banks/post office with photograph
6. Property documents
7. SC/ST/OBC certificates issued by competent authority with photograph
8. Pension documents
9. Freedom fighter identity card with photograph
10. Arms licences
11. Certificate of physical handicap with photograph
12. Job cards issued under NREGA with photograph
13. Health insurance scheme smart cards with photograph

All the above mentioned documents if available to the head of the family may be used for identifying the other members of the family provided all members come together and are identified by the head of the family.

The Election commission has also decided to clamp down on the misuse of SMS messages through mobile phones during the election process. In this regard the commission has issued directions to the police authorities to initiate proper enquiry and trace back the original sender of such SMS and take appropriate action under the relevant provisions of the Indian penal code.

Obeying the laws at the beach on a trip to Goa

The growing stubbornness of tourists who venture into the waters on Goan beaches often under the influence of alcohol and by ignoring all caution and safety precautions, needs to be checked before the situation goes out of hand and the government of Goa gets a bad name.

Tourists from the country come to Goa for a holiday and many of them lose their lives due to drowning. More often than not, the reason for such drowning incidents are the stubborn attitudes of the tourists themselves who fail to pay heed to instructions clearly laid out for them at all the beaches in Goa and continuously cautioned by lifeguards.

Some Indian tourists who have never seen the beaches before are suddenly thrust onto an arena which is too alluring and tempting to be left alone. In their overzealousness such tourists discard all safety norms and venture out into the seas  as if they were some modern day phantoms.

Moreover once they get onto the Goan beach, alcohol seems to be their wanton necessity freely flowing into them like a much needed aphrodisiac . Finally, when they end up drowning, the fair name of Goa is sullied and its beaches are considered unsafe for swimming.

This belligerence of Indian tourists needs to be arrested with a firm hand. The government of Goa should enforce strict laws for tourists to comply with, and any contraventions should be punished with  hefty fines. Don't we get punished for contravening road safety? So why is beach safety not treated similarly? Tourists are expected to swim between the red and yellow flag posts and leave the areas under the red flag posts. But Indian tourists often flout these instructions and only foreigners and Goans are seen diligently following them.

Drowning on Goan beaches has somehow become a regular phenomenon, more often due to tourists carelessness than otherwise. The government of Goa is spending crores of rupees on beach lifeguards, but Indian tourists are taking the safety precautions for granted which should  be shown minimum tolerance.

The strict enforcement of rules may displease some tourists for a while but in the long run Goa will be rendered a much more safer place to have fun and enjoy. After all, no one wants to die when on a fun trip leaving families and friends shocked beyond consolation.

The Goa government will surely reap the benefits of stricter norms in the long run. After all Goa is a place for sun sea sand and fun and that is what people all over the world have to remember it for.

Xittuk Goencar

Goa beach lifeguards abused by Indian tourists

Its a shame that Indian tourists do not pay heed to the advise offered free to them by custodians of safety who have been authorised for this service on Goan beaches by the government of Goa. Such a bad attitude is the major reason for casualties occurring on Goan beaches on a regular basis where news of drowning on Goan beaches has become very common.

Last Saturday, a rowdy pack of tourists hailing from Coimbatore, amongst three families were swimming during the high tide and were advised by the lifeguards against swimming in the creek running along Baga beach only to be responded with a rude assault.

The lifeguards who noticed strong currents put up the red flag demarcating the area as a no swimming area and requested the tourists to shift themselves to the safe swimming zone only to be abused and assaulted by the rowdy tourists who allegedly refused to pay heed to the request and the male members of the families instead sought to flex their muscles against the lifeguards.

The  intervention of the Calangute Police was finally sought when the tourists were eventually taken to the police station to be sternly warned over their unruly behaviour.

Such an attitude of tourists has become a regular feature in recent times thereby demoralising the lifeguards who are entrusted to do a life saving job. This has therefore prompted the government appointed beach management company to appoint bodyguards to watch the backs of the lifeguards to protect them from being hurt by unruly tourists.

The first batch of such bouncers are expected to be witnessed on the Baga-Calangute stretch where most of the tourist violations take place and the bouncers are expected to rein in any misbehaviour by rowdy elements among tourists.

For a safe holiday experience, tourists in Goa need to be more responsible and show respect for the law of the land.

Goan Cuisine : Crab Xec Xec

Seafood is a delicacy in Goa which is most desired by Goans. So naturally there are several preparations of seafood and the Goan cuisine is full of lip smacking delicious dishes which Goans prepare throughout the year.

However for the "crab xec xec", the rock crabs which are found in Goa on the banks of the rivers or on the riversides are the best compared to the sea crabs which tend to be softer than the rock crabs.However the recipe as under is suitable to both sea and rock crabs which have a thick shell and are tough to crack.

The following is a sample recipe to prepare the rock crab xec xec.

Keep the following ingredients ready:
8 - 10 medium sized rock crabs ( or sea crabs)
8 tbsp grated coconut
6 kashmiri red chillies
2 tbsp coriander seeds
10 peppercorns
4 cloves
2 tbsp cooking oil
2 onions finely chopped
½ tsp ginger garlic paste
¼ tsp turmeric powder
¼ tsp tamarind juice
2 green chillies (chopped)

Goan method of preparing crab xec xec:
Clean the crabs well. If they are rock crabs do ensure that all the dirt is cleaned. An old toothbrush is a good tool to clean crabs.

Next pour the coconut in the pan and roast it lightly and keep it in a separate container.

Now roast the chillies and the spices in the pan separately

Now pour the entire roasted ingredients in a mixer to grind them or better use a stone grinder to grind them to a fine paste with a little water.

Heat the oil, brown the onion in the container , stir the ginger-garlic paste and turmeric powder. Fry for a few seconds, add the crabs, mix well and sprinkle tamarind juice. Add around half a cup of water, cover the pan and after around 10 minutes stir in the roasted spice paste, salt and green chillies. Cook the preparation until it is relatively thick.

And now, bullfighting arena for Goa, says Sardinha

Hardly has the dust settled on the bill which was introduced in the Goa assembly by his political rival Mr Aleixo Reginald Lourenco , a couple of weeks ago, Mr Sardinha the congress candidate for the  coveted South Goa parliamentary seat has begun his election campaign by tickling the customary passion attached to Bull fights among many Goans down south.

Mr Sardinha has now suggested that should he be re-elected back to the Parliament from South Goa, he would endeavour to apportion funds from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme for setting up a bull fighting arena in Goa.

Expressing his happiness at the bill introduced  in the assembly to legalise bullfights in Goa, Mr Sardinha said that he would bring funds to build the bullfighting arena but also informed that the state government would have to identify and acquire suitable land for the purpose.

Mr Sardinha had introduced a bill in the Parliament to legalise bullfights. However the bill will lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, to which Mr Sardinha retorted that he would re-introduce it in the first session of the new Parliament, if he is elected.

Goan Beaches - Bogmalo Beach

The Bogmalo Beach is a beautiful strip of sandy terrain waiting to be enjoyed. A mix of a serene atmosphere coupled with the bustle of the eateries , the Bogmalo beach is a place where one can happily get lost with oneself.

About Bogmalo
A former fishing village of Goa, Bogmalo still has traces of the fishing community’s strong presence as one heads towards the beach from the mainland. Today, tourism has caught on contagiously onto this area with modern shacks, eateries, and hi tech shops selling Indian handicrafts etc. 

For tourists there are many outlets and shopping centres near Bogmalo Beach, which sell little artefacts, trinklets, mementoes, clothes and handicraft items. However Bogmalo still breathes a freshness of life in its entire outlook.

Although one of the better known places in this part of Goa, Bogmalo is not crowded like the many other beaches in Goa and that is also the probable reason for its cleanliness.

The water is also quite safe for swimming and after a good swim, it is a good idea to head for the bank and order for some delicious Goan cuisine with the various eating places waiting to serve you. Goan Feni is also a good brew to go along with Goan food. However it should be taken only as an appetizer as it can be quite intoxicating in larger doses.

Bogmalo is a beach with a wide expanse and is therefore a broad evenly flat and open beach & may be considered among the least visited beaches.Its unique look may be attributed to the bunch of small beach shack restaurants lined up one against the other before you get into the loose sand of the beach and are nestling peacefully under the shade of coconut palms. Initially a quiet fishing village,

Bogmalo caught the tourists bug when its good word spread and tourists began exploring it. Bogmalo beach is less crowded as also being one of the cleanest beaches.The air of this place is pure , pleasant & tranquil,that is appropriate to calm down the senses.

Where is Bogmalo?
Bogmalo is located around 8km,away from the city of Vasco da Gama and is around 4 km away from the airport making it very easily accessible to any traveler coming to Goa by air. There is a frequent bus service from the city of Vasco as also all taxis, rickshaws and motorcycle pilots are readily available

Why Goa Bogmalo beach is so special?
While the Bogmalo beach in Goa is self styled in its beauty, it has been made famous by the presence of the Oberoi hotel which has been one of its foremost host in post liberation Goa and is probably one of the few hotels along with the Taj , Cidade and the Majorda beach resort to make a Goan shore its wanton holiday destination.

The Oberoi hotel has been built close to the sea and it is a lovely sight to see the waves lashing the parapets of the open-air restaurant, and the the drone of the restless Arabian Sea tends to lull  sleep into any die hard insomniac. This is one attraction every tourist who knows about Bogmalo wouldn’t like to miss

Across , there are a few mystic little islands, shipwrecks in the silt and, around the hotel, plenty of pleasant eateries-each one of them claiming to be "Osibisa's favorite". The group “Osibisa” had traveled to this place and was hosted by the Oberois over 15 years ago and every one around the area is ensuring they make the best use of the unforgettable visit of the musical group thereby lending a nostalgic touch to their business

ACCOMMODATION IN BOGMALO
There are very few luxurious options such as the Oberoi overlooking the beach. There are also a number of other mid range guesthouses in Bogmalo which are much more comfortable for short stay purposes and which can give a rather homely feel.

THE FISHING THUMB
This beach is known to be a paradise for fishing enthusiasts as one can indulge in this favourite pastime of many Goans .

BASIC ATTRACTIONS
In recent times diving is the most basic attraction at the Bogmalo Beach . There is a small diving school where one can learn scuba diving in Bogmalo from a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) approved School. Its office is housed in the Joets guesthouse which is located at the far end of the beach.

The Naval Aviation Museum is another tourist attraction here. Constituted in the year 1998, this museum is the first of its kind in Asia.

On display are aircrafts, sensors, safety equipments weaponry that were used by the Indian Navy. The museum also boasts of a weapons and armaments gallery which showcases a number of different types of torpedoes, bombs, cannons and sensors that have been used by the aircrafts.

Beach Activities
Sunbathing is another popular activity on Bogmalo beach. Apart from these usual beach activities, Bogmalo beach offers an opportunity to enjoy  water sports such as wind surfing, water skiing and diving. Boating facilities are also available here. The Sunset view in the evening is simply amazing from the beach.

In memory of the father of Goan Tiatr

If one goes to the auditorium of the Ravindra Bhavan complex in Margao, there is a large picture of a man named Joao Agostinho Fernandes , the doyen of Konkani tiatr for Goans. The Chief Minister of Goa Mr Digambar kamat has been instrumental in ensuring that by  fullfilling the promise made to the tiatr fraternity in Goa by honouring the late Joao Agostinho Fernandes, he had successfully won the confidence of many tiatr lovers in the state of Goa.

The naming of the auditorium after the founder of Goan Konkani tiatr, was a long standing demand made by the Dalgado Konknni academi (DKA) way back in 2005 among a charter of fourteen demands.

The reverence for Mr Joao Agostinho Fernandes stems from the fact that his contribution to the development of tiatr has been cherished in the hearts and minds of Goans worldwide.

Goan tiatr as many would not be aware, was actually born in the city of Mumbai around 116 years back in the year 1892 ad a young man called Lucazinho Ribeiro hailing from Sokolwaddo Assagao in  Bardez Goa,  could be traced as the earliest innovator of the modern day tiatr. Lucazinho along with Joao Agostinho Fernandes hailing from the city of Margao and others, staged the first tiatr performance on the occasion of Easter on April 17 1892. This first tiatr was titled " Italian Bhurgo" which was based on an Italian Opera called " Italian Boy". Due to his die hard and sincere efforts to produce tiatrs of better standards, Joao Agostinho Fernandes is identified as the Father of tiatr in Goa.

JA Fernandes was a true artiste of high talent and believed in doing things through hard work and perfection. While most dramas of those days were imitations of English and French theatre, JA Fernandes was unhappy with them because they did not reflect the Goan way of life.

His desire for the Goan touch to the tiatr, brought out his creativity and he decided to write original scripts which include Cavelchi Sundori (Cavel is a place in South Mumbai near Dhobitalao and Sundori means beautiful), revolta de Satari ( based on the Revolt of Sattari in Goa), Bhattkara ( Goan landlo

In 1943, on the occasion of completing fifty years of Goan tiatr, Joao Agostinho fernandes demonstrated his selfless humility when he, despite being the tallest tiatr personality himself, paid rich tributes to Lucazinho ribeiro in an article in a Konkani Weekly called "Goa Mail".

It is indeed a pride for all Goans to see this great Goan inscribe his name in the main auditorium of tiatrs hotbed of Salcete in Margao at the Ravindra Bhavan.

Medical tourism in Goa may get a healthy boost

This news is bound to bring cheer to every heart in the tourism circles of Goa and the rest of India. The government of India is in the process of re-inventing its approach to the huge potential offered by medical  tourism  and the Indian tourism Ministry has therefore been in  discussions with major hospitals to offer incentives through attractive deals as a part of the visit India 2009 campaign.

The ministry is trying to involve major hospitals in the country to try and get the best deals so as to make the packages of visiting India very attractive for foreign tourists. In this regard discussions have already been had with  hospitals such as Wockhardt, Sevenhills,  Moolchand, Apollo, Manipal,  Lakeshore,and Sir Gangaram hospitals.

Medical tourists are showing a keen interest in India, given the cheaper costs of healthcare in the country. Around 1.6 lakh tourists traveled to India to avail medical attention in the year 2002 alone, raking in earnings of 300 million dollars to the country. Since that year, there has been a steady increase of over 25% every year of such travelers coming to the country and a reliable report suggests that earnings through medical tourism in India could go up to 2 billion dollars by the year 2012.

It is not for nothing that the foreign tourist is attracted to India vis-a-vis healthcare.The difference in costs is quite staggering for the decision of the foreign tourist to travel to India for medical attention. A heart bypass surgery would cost a tourist only 6000 dollars in India while the same surgery could cost him over 24,000 US dollars in the United States or around 20,000 US dollars in the United Kingdom. Other Asian countries like Singapore offer such surgeries at a cost of around 11,000 US dollars  while Thailand is relatively lower at around 8,000 US dollars.

Besides the lower costs of surgery, Indian hospitals offer world class facilities  with the latest medical technologies, well qualified Indian doctors and nurses with high level of efficiency.

The tourism ministry will therefore introduce all such benefits of choosing India as a destination for medical tourism in an attempt to boost the current scenario of tourism in the country. Also incentives are being worked out with major airlines, hotels and tour operators to offer free travel for a traveling spouse or an extra days free stay at he hotel.

The Goa government should therefore also make independent efforts and move vigorously on its own in the same direction to ensure that it does not get lost out on the medical tourism pie and make all round efforts to woo tourists to this wonderful holiday destination full of greenery, sun kissed beaches and a historically rich cultural tradition which the world tourist has always patronised. Medical tourism is the future and Goa should ensure that it is not left behind.

Goa sees jump in aspirants for MP job : Lok sabha elections 2009

Lok Sabha elections 2009  seem to be throwing up more challenges to the sitting Members of Parliament in Goa this time around compared to recent election years.

Goa's populace is now witnessing 24 candidates in the fray for the Panaji and Mormugao Parliamentary seats. However the exact number of candidates would be known only by the 8th of April 2009, the day fixed for the withdrawal of nominations.

In the year 1999, the number of contestants in North and south Goa was eight candidates each, while seven were in the fray in 2004 in North Goa and nine candidates stood for the coveted seat in South Goa.

The number of candidates in North Goa has traditionally been on the lower side. However the polls in 1984 saw 12 candidates in the North while polls in 1989 and 1991 saw 13 and 15 candidates respectively. In the polls on six occasions till 2004 less than nine candidates had contested the elections in the Panaji parliamentary constituency.

South Goa however has seen marginally higher number of candidates traditionally entering the ring. While the year 1996 saw a whopping 21 candidates contesting the elections here, there have been 12 candidates in the years 1989 and 18 in 1991. On six occasions though their number has been less than nine candidates.

The highest number of candidates both from Panaji and Mormugao constituency has been 33 candidates in the year 1991 with a record 15 candidates contesting in north Goa while  18 candidates fought the elections in the south of Goa. The tally included nine independents each in both the constituencies. However only two of the independents in South Goa could cross the four figure mark

The record for the most number of candidates in either constituency was therefore in the year 1996 when 21 candidates stood for elections in South Goa including  16 independents.

Goa tourism patronised by new Russian tourists

While recession all over the world has spared no one, tourism in Goa has been in for a strange surprise.With the heavy fall in tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom biting into Goa's tourism capacities, the Russians however continued to patronise sun kissed Goa to the same extent as last year thereby negating any drop from their side.

With tourists from Russia maintaining the same influx figure in March this year as they did last year, the news has kept the tourism industry absolutely abuzz. In comparison, Goa's major market of tourists the United Kingdom, has seen many a tourist from there giving their favourite holiday destination a reluctant miss.

Recession hitting the United Kingdom is pinpointed to be the major factor which prompted a change in plans for most of such tourists who had originally planned to visit Goa this time around. The figure of over 91,000 achieved upto March 2008 was holding only around 65,000 till March 17 2009 which has been considered a drastic fall.

Russia is estimated to be affected least by the recession although the Russian rouble crashing in December 2008 did cause a drop of tourists to Goa in early 2009. Also the central bank in Russia devaluating the currency did have some effects. However while there was a drop in tourists to Goa from Moscow, the flow from the rest of Russia made up for the deficit.

While Goa had been witnessing tourists from Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, this season however had new visitors arriving from new regions of Russia such as Ufa and Samara.

Goa observes Palm Sunday!

The holy season of Lent is about to come to an end and it is the last week in the 40 day period of penance. The period ends with the day of Easter which is preceded by religious rituals such as Palm Sunday followed by Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Palm Sunday is a symbolic remembrance of the day when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem just before Passover, the Jews waved the palm branches to welcome him. Goa observed Palm Sunday today when the priest representing Jesus is followed into the Church by people with palm fronds. Earlier people are given  the palm fronds when they come to the Church and some even weave the fronds into decorative crosses.

Later in the week, the faithful observe Maundy Thursday when they symbolically recreate the last supper of Jesus and 12 men are chosen to be his disciples. During the mass, the priest removes his vestment, ties a white cloth around his waist  and bends down to wash and clean the feet of the 12 men.

North Goa's Lok sabha history since liberation

Goa which was still under the rule of the Portuguese could not take part in the elections that took place in Independent India in the years 1952 and 1957 thereby missing out on the first two Lok sabha polls.

It was only in the year 1963 that Goa could take active participation in Indian politics which has continued till date. After Goa's liberation in 1961 along with Daman and Diu, Goans took part in the electoral process of free India which went to polls for the third time in 1963 when Goa voted for Mr Peter Alvares from Panjim constituency and Mr Mukund Shinkre from Mormugao constituency, both of whom won on the MGP tickets.

Subsequently in the year 1967 Goa participated in the Lok sabha polls wherein Mr Janardan Shinkre another MGP candidate was elected from Panaji constituency While the United Goans party - sequeira group won the ticket in Mormugao constituency.

The fifth Lok sabaha polls in 1967 however saw a congress candidate Mr Purushottam Kakodkar achieving victory from the North Goa constituency beating Mr Madhav Talauliker of the MGP.  However he lost in the subsequent elections held in post-emergency 1977 to the MGP candidate Mr Amrut Kansar.

Sanyogita Rane of the MGP emerged victorious in North Goa constituency in the 1980 elections on a MGP ticket by beating the Indian national congress candidate Mr Purushottam Kakodkar.

In !984, post the tragic assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the congress wave swept he entire country and Goa was no exception with Mr Shantaram naik of the congress being voted with a thumping majority by defeating his MGP rival Mr Motilal Bandekar by a whopping 40,000 votes.

The next decade from 1989 to 1999 saw over five parliamentary elections. In North Goa, Gopalrao Mayekar of the MGP beat Mr Shantaram Naik of the Congress in the 1989 elections by over 16,000 votes but the same candidate lost to the Congress' candidate Mr Harish Zantye by over 58,000 votes in the 1991 elections. Part of the reason for the humiliating defeat of the MGP in 1991 was the electoral debut of the BJP candidate Mr Manohar Parrikar who garnered over 27,000 votes in the North Goa constituency.

In 1996 Mr Ramakant Angle contesting on a MGP ticket in North Goa defeated his Congress rival Mr Amrut Kansar by over 10,000 votes. Within two years in the 1998 elections Mr Ravi Naik representing the Congress defeated Mr Pandurang Raut contesting on a BJP ticket by a narrow margin of 400 votes.

Subsequently in the years 1999 and 2004 the BJP made its presence in North Goa, clear, with its candidate Mr Shripad Naik defeating Mr Ramakant Khalap of the congress in 1999 and Mr Wilfred Dsouza of the NCP in 2004.

This time in 2009 the major fight for the Nor th Goa ticket will therefore be between the BJPs Shripad Naik and the NCPs candidate Mr Jitendra Dehsprabhu who filed his nomination yesterday after resigning from the congress in a tacit arrangement .

The need for Goans to learn Portuguese

Of late there has been some interest shown amongst Goans to learn the Portuguese language. This is indeed welcome news given the fact that some years back since the time of liberation, any issue related to Portugal or the Portuguese language was viewed with utter disdain and repugnance.

There is a select group of miscreants inside Goa who don the mantle of self-appointed nationalists whose version of nationalism is itself warped and garbled in religion based fundamentalist ideologies and who in the name of culture and religion, language or heritage have sought to maim and disfigure many engravings and marble slates or written historical data in the Portuguese language.

It is essentially due to this notion of hatred spread by certain elements that the spread of the Portuguese language was declining in Goa. Some of the schools and colleges had also abandoned the idea of having classes for Portuguese studies as the second or the third optional languages.

Under the circumstances prevailing , even the elite classes among the hindus and even catholics and the well spoken Portuguese Goans reluctantly switched to English in their respective homes. It is therefore important that the Portuguese language be revived vigorously for a variety of reasons. In fact it should be ensured that the new generation of Goans should have atleast a working knowledge of the Portuguese language so that they can use it in many areas where it is still applicable.

Firstly, knowledge of a foreign language and proficiency in it can be a valuable asset and can help you manage yourself in a foreign country like it is at home. Also, in Goa, we have old documents either of property or legal documents or historical records, in the Portuguese language dating back to atleast five centuries. Presently most Goans who do not know to read Portuguese have to seek the help of a translator thereby causing themselves an inconvenience. If they knew the language themselves it would be an invaluable asset.

In this regard there is the example of a hindu family in Goa, the Keni family from Taleigao who are credited to being one of the few Hindu families in Goa who converse at home in the Portuguese language very fluently, with Mrs Keni having studied  till 'quinto ano'( class V) and her husband having studied in Portuguese till 'setimo ano' ( Class VII).

Goans need to be clever and rise above petty politics of disgruntled elements who only have divisive and foolish policies.We need to ensure that Goans rise in all fields of education thereby excelling in our academic careers without being misled by select groups.

Goa Beaches - Nuem Beach, down south of Goa

The beautiful Nuem village which is next to Betul in south Goa has been a traditional home to fresh water springs and is a secluded spot for picnickers to unravel. While the route to the beach is a terrain of steep slopes and narrow roads, the beach has been ravaged with time with some picnickers left overs causing concern.

The  Nuvem (Nuem) Beach is a small tiny beach which is covered in black and red stones. At high tide the waters rise to a high level and the sandy bank of the beach is lost among the waves and only the rocks are seen still breathing above the waters. There is a fresh water spring below the hills, the waters of which immerses into the sea. The creek is a place where the picnickers like to wade in the waters and it can be quite a delightful place with a lot of party revellers around.

How to get there
The beach is around the cananguinim beach in South Goa and is around 20 km from the commercial city of Margao. Take the road to Betul via Assolna and Velim and you will have to negotiate some slopes and sharp turns untill you get a steep slope downwards leading you to the Nuem beach.

The beach is a secluded spot with no restaurants or eateries around. One has to carry almost everything to survive the trip and any refreshments are atleast a couple of kilometres away. However the serenity of the place is still intact and one hopes that the government of Goa diverts some attention to beautify this enchanting place to restore it to its former glory.

Goa's Schools and the undesirable ringing bells

As a school student, I remember the ringing bell in school as a reminder for a certain action to follow. It started the day with a bell  for the assembly and then continued throughout till afternoon to separate different periods of teaching from one another. In between the ring for recess was a delight and a pleasure to contain oneself in mid-school activity most yearned for. Finally the bell ringing to depart for the day signalled the end of the day at school.

In today's world of Goa however, there is a second bell ringing too often which is giving Goan schools a nightmare.This bell is the undesirable ring of the mobile phone which has somehow intruded into the school campuses much to the disturbance of one and all. The problem is wholesome because it is found that both students and teachers have fallen prey to the use of the mobile in school thereby misusing the school premises and creating a nuisance.

While students in schools are frowned upon at the use of a mobile the same still goes on despite forbidding it, thanks to half-hearted policies followed by schools in Goa. However the use of the mobile by the teachers is a matter of disgrace for the teaching community who should be setting the right examples for the students to follow. While some teachers answer calls right in the class, there are others who leave the classroom to ensure that their calls are attended in time.

The above violations have therefore prompted the Directorate of education of the government of Goa to issue a circular to all schools regarding the misuse of the mobile phone and has highlighted the use in the school campus as an ugly reflection of the teaching-learning condition while giving examples of the disturbances created in the teaching and learning process.

The mobile phone is indeed a very dangerous tool in the hands of students who have been known to use it for purposes other than just being in close touch with their family. Most mobiles have cameras which can be misused and cause distress to others while also inviting embarrassment for the schools and the parents leading to crimes. Also the "sms syndrome" has changed the way people relate to each other besides being a complete drain on the spelling culture inculcated by students due to the sms following short wording codes.This fact has reflected painfully in the answer papers of students where they have unwittingly baited themselves into using short words due to the dreadful mobile habit thereby making themselves academically short of acceptance.

Also the young minds tend to waste their energies and useful time on useless cell phones which at their age is an undesirable evil which can definitely affect study patterns. The parents of the Goan students are directly responsible to allow or disallow their children with a mobile phone and they should shoulder the minimal responsibility to ensure that  children do not carry a phone to school and should not be provided a phone in the least until they finish school and college education.

The directorate of education should enforce practical solutions to this problem by penalising parents of such students to ensure a complete unflinching and firm compliance of rules. Teachers should also be disallowed this unholy practice of using mobiles in school as it is a deterrent to concentrate on the teaching process as also to prepare for a teaching session. Also, it is a blatantly contrarian example set for the students to follow.

The modern generation should not be allowed to misuse technology in the name of modernism while decaying their future in the bargain.

Goa Cuisine : Goan Sannas

"Sannas" are commonly known as the Goan rice cakes in the world outside Goa. But to the traditional Goan foodie, Sannas are an inseparable part of any festivity be it the  Church feast, birthday party, anniversary, christening, communion, or simply a bash, the sannas have to be decorating the table.

Sannas, are essentially a substitute for bread and are made from steamed  rice and coconut toddy and is a spongy, white,  and warmly sweet Goan speciality . Many outside Goa consider  Sanna to be a Goan variant of idli  a south Indian dish which is made from rice, udad dal( for fermentation), but without the coconut or the toddy. So while sannas may appear to resemble idlis on the outside, they are completely different in texture, as well as in taste. The difference between the two is like chalk and cheese.

Sannas are a distinct Goan delicacy, often  served as an accompaniment to a meal or as a starter in itself . It is a steamed-bread made from fat ground rice, fresh coconut, salt, sugar and toddy. Toddy forms the most essential part of the sannas and contributes to its distinct taste while also making it light.

Sannas are extremely popular among native people of Goa and also among migrated Goans such as the Mangalorean catholic community or any Goan community settled abroad. Sannas  are  popular among Goan Catholics and Hindus alike and prepared by them on several special occasions.  

Traditionally, among Goan catholics, Sannas are served with a Goan pork dish called Sorpotel which is widely popular. The preparation of Sannas entails gentle grinding wherein there is no heat generated during mixing, resulting in a healthy mixture full of vitamins . Sannas are wheat free, gluten free and fat free and because they are steamed, their appeal is absolutely distinct in taste.

Method of preparing Sweet Goan Sannas
Ingredients needed for the preparation:
2 1/2 kg Goa rice ( traditional Goan rice is best)
2-3 large fresh coconuts
11/4 kg sugar
1 ½ bottle fresh toddy
1 tbsp salt or to taste
Method:

Soak the rice overnight. In the morning grind the rice to a fine paste. Grate the coconuts and grind them. Take the toddy and strain it separately to remove any particles or sediments.

Now mix all three, i.e the ground rice, the coconut and the toddy. Add the sugar and mix the entire mixture. Add little water and salt to the mixture and pour it into a large container and keep it aside till the mixture begins to rise which should take a time of around 4 hours.

Next water is kept to boil in the "kompro", a large copper vessel with an air-tight lid used for cooking sannas. Take some saucers and pour the mixture into each saucer known as "vanttleo" ( which are made of stainless steel)and arrange them on the kompro stand and keep for steaming for around 25 minutes on high heat.

The time could be more depending on the size of the "vanttleo". After the first batch of "vanttleo' mixture is ready into steaming sannas, the next batch is ready for cooking.The freshly made Sannas are often oozing with a lovely aroma and are spongy-soft in their texture and absolutely delicious.

Have a Sannnatastic meal!

Goa Elections review 2009 : South Goa's Mormugao seat

The South Goa's Mormugao Parliamentary constituency has by and large remained to be a traditional bastion of the Congress with the party emerging victorious in this constituency in most of the parliamentary elections, for a record seven times including a bye-election. However there have been four occasions when a party other than the congress wrested the seat. The United Goans Party (UGP) won the first two elections after Goa's liberation while the United Goans Democratic party (UGDP) won the elections from this constituency in 1996 and the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed the seat in 1999.

The Mormugao constituency has always been known to have a sizeable number of the Christian community which has traditionally voted for the secular parties and thereby ensured their triumph. The erstwhile UGP headed by Jack de sequeira got the bulk of the votes and since 1977 the people of the constituency voted in favour of the Congress on six occasions but the smooth run of the congress was interrupted by Mr Ramakant Angle, a BJP candidate in the year 1999 who won the seat after defeating the Congress nominee Mr Joaquim Alemao.

Earlier the congress party had lost the seat to Mr Churchill Alemao who, riding on the anti-congress wave had defeated Mr Eduardo Faleiro, a five time Member of parliament from Mormugao. Mr Churchill won the seat again in 2004, however this time on the congress ticket and subsequently resigned in 2007 to contest assembly elections on the ticket of the save Goa front, a party formed by himself.He subsequently rejoined the Congress and the contesting candidate for the ensuing Bye -elections, Mr Francisco Sardinha won the seat by a huge margin.

This time around, the mix of MLA's in the local Goa assembly are from both the congress ( 10 MLAs) and the BJP ( 6 MLAs) as also the NCP(2 MLAs), MGP(1 MLA) and an independent MLA. The constituency is therefore more likely to see a battle between the Congress and the BJP.

Both the congress and the BJP are most likely to see a snatch of their vote bank by the UGDP and the MGP respectively with both the parties fielding their nominees and drawing attention of the voters with populist campaigns. The task is bound to be tougher for the congress as the UGDP is expected to play spoil sport by taking a chunk of the Christian votes normally garnered by the Congress.

Goa state project towards "malaria elimination"

Malaria has been plaguing Goa for too long a time and the government  of Goa has been trying to fight this menace through its various health centres inside Goa and also by making people aware of the dangers of the dreaded disease and educating the masses on the steps to be taken to prevent it.

Malaria which is spread essentially through mosquitoes in Goa is often rampant in the rainy season but also thrives in other seasons with infected mosquitoes posing a serious threat throughout the year.

The prime source of the spread of malaria has been attributed to stagnant water which helps in the breeding of the mosquitoes and "construction sites" have been pointed out to be the prime communicators of the disease. Also migrant labour working at such sites are often found to be the major reason to import and spread the disease from outstation areas.

However in a bid to eliminate malaria, the state unit of the national vector borne diseases control programme will soon implement the 'Malaria Elimination" project to control the disease in the state of Goa. Assisting the state in the project will be the National Malaria Control Programme.

Over the years the state of Goa has witnesses a steady increase in the spread of malaria and this is mainly attributed to teh migrant construction labour pouring into the state from other states of India such as Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka etc and these carriers of malaria are expected to be covered under the "malaria elimination" programme to try and prevent the spread of malaria in the state of Goa.

Among the many measures to be enforced under this project, is the distribution of mosquito nets treated with chemicals to be given to all these migrant workers in Goa and 12 centres have been set up in Goa to implement this focussed project. These centres are also expected to study the preventive measures necessary to stem the growth of mosquitoes in Goa.

While the project is expected to bear expected results in around 3 years time, local doctors and health officers besides various NGOs , the World Health Organisation and the UNICEF will be participating in the project.

Goa sees special summer trains

Great demand to head to Goa for that unmistakable holiday has pushed the cause of the various travellers seeking more trains destined to Goa and the central and South Western railways have happily obliged.

With the success of its weekend special train to Goa, on its heels, the Central railway which had introduced this train on a trial basis has decided to extend the service owing to the heavy demand.

The weekend special trains to Goa were introduced after observing the desire of the commuters wanting to get away at the end of a hard week. It found instant success as the trains take lesser time compared to other means of transport. Besides one can be back to work on Monday morning according to the railway officials.

the South Western railway is also expected to run weekly special trains to clear the extra rush of passengers during this season. the Yeshwantpur-Vasco-da gama Garib rath weekly express special(0695) will depart form Yeshwantpur at 9 pm on Saturdays and arrive at Vasco da Gama at 11.40 am the next day . the last service from Yeshwantpur is on May 30.

In the return direction, Vasco-da-Gama - Yeshwantpur Garib rath weekly express special (0696) will depart from Vasco-da-Gama on Sundays at 2.30 pm commencing on April 5 and arrive at Yeshwantpur at 5am the next day. the last service from Vasco-da -Gama is on may 31.

South Goa seat : Bigwigs file nominations

Amid hectic political activity in the build-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the candidates from various political parties filed their nomination papers on Thursday for the South Goa parliamentary seat. Mr Francisco Sardinha (Congress) Mr Narendra Sawaikar (BJP) Mr Mathanhy Saldanha (UGDP) and Antonio Fernandes and Mr Borkar (Both Save Goa front) filed their nominations for the congress bastion of South Goa's Parliamentary constituency.

The Save Goa front which was the first party in the morning to file the nominations, had two nominations filed for the South Goa parliamentary seat. The two candidates are Mr Antonio Fernandes and Mr Borkar who were both accompanied by Mr Gaoncar and party workers filed the nominations under the same party . The party is expected to finalise on either one of the candidates in the coming days.

The congress nomination was the next in the day by Mr Francisco Sardinha who was accompanied by the chief Minister Mr Digambar kamat, Goa party President MR Subhash Shirodkar, Home Minister Mr Ravi Naik, Urban Development Minister Mr Joaquim Alemao and other party workers. Sardinha maintained his priority to  introduce the bill on Dhirio in parliament as his resolve towards the people.

The UGDP candidate Mr Mathany Saldanha also filed his nomination papers accompanied by Party President Mr Jorson Fernandes, party's general secretary Mr Anacleto Viegas, Mr Radharao Gracias and others.

The BJP candidate was the last of the day with Mr Narendra Sawaikar filing his nomination accompanied by Mr Manohar Parrikar, North goa candidate of the BJP Mr Shripad Naik, Mr Damodar Naik, Mr Vijay Pai Khot and Mr Ramesh Tawadkar among others. Mr Sawaikar expressed his resolve to solve the CRZ issue and the issues related to Goa state security and interestingly mentioned that the UGDP candidate was his main rival

Apart form these candidates others in the fray are CPI candidate Mr Rajendra Mangeshkar and two Independent candidates Mr Jawahar Dias and MR Mulla Salim.

Portuguese nationality for Goans: Documents needed for the Bilhete de Identidade (BI)

To apply for the Bilhete de Identidade ( BI) for Goans claiming the Portuguese nationality, the documents required are as follows

1. Assento de nascimento issued not earlier than 6 months

2. Document of Identification:
---Original Indian passport with elements of identification similar to that of the "Assento" and 1 attested xerox copy.

3. If there is divergence in the names between the Assento de Nascimento and the Indian passport, a divergence certificate should be attached as an explanatory declaration of the divergence

4. Police Clearance certificate

5. Residence certificate specifying a detailed residential address

6. If married, marriage certificate, if marriage not yet integrated in the Portuguese civil registration.

7. Photographs - 5 in number, size 35 mm x 45 mm , white background

8. Additional documents of Identification
---Originals- Ration card and Electorate card.

Specific details
Item Nos (1) and (4) not to be attested. Item No (4) is actually for local reference of the consulate in Goa.

Item No (2) to be attested only with Notary.

Item No (8) in originals only for verification and returnable back to you . These documents are not to be attested by anyone.

For Item No (7), the better photo studios in Goa to have a good neat photograph as per the requirements of the Portuguese consulate are "Sousa and Paul" in Panjim and "Lorenz" from Margao. However other photographers following the photography requirements are also allowed.

For complete detailed and step by step info on the portuguese passport process CLICK HERE

Portuguese passport procedure for Goans - Bilhete De Identidade

After submitting your documentation to claim the Portuguese nationality, you will be receiving the Assento de nascimento(Registration of your birth) from Portugal. The letter of confirmation of this will be sent to you and a copy will be sent to the Portuguese consulate in Goa.

The consulate will subsequently send you an intimation to collect your Assento de Nascimento which you have to collect from the consulate on the appointed date. After collecting the Assento de Nascimento, you need to register your marriage in Portugal if you are married and if you wish to register your children as well.

For registration of marriage in Goa through the consulate of Portugal, you need to first make the identity card which is the Bilhete de Identidade. Once you make the Bilhete de Identidade ( BI), you can then apply for the registration of Marriage. However the process is shorter if applied directly by some representative in Portugal where you don't need to make the Bilhete de Identidade ( BI) in order to register your marriage. In Portugal, you can directly register your marriage before making the Bilhete de Identidade ( BI).

Until march 2009 there was no need to have a separate appointment to make your Bilhete de Identidade ( BI) in Goa. However from April 2009 the process is expected to undergo a change and it is believed that the Bilhete de identidade may also require a prior appointment from the Portuguese consulate in Goa. This has been necessitated due to the high number of applicants for BI on a daily basis thus burdening the consulate considerably.

However till now, no such update is given on the website of the Portugal consulate in Goa and whenever this update is given, it would be prudent to follow it. To visit the portugal consulate in Goa click here.

For complete detailed and step by step info on the portuguese passport process CLICK HERE

Its "Fools day" for sure, but this is no joke!

Come 1st of April 2009, ATM users in Goa as well as the rest of India can breathe freely inside any ATM. From today, ATM users do not have to pant high and dry looking out for the ATM of their own bank to withdraw money and can in fact use the services of any other bank ATM for the same purpose without spending an extra paisa.

The move to reduce fees by other ATMs was made last year on 10th March when the RBI had issued guidelines to limit the fee  levied by banks for using their ATMs by clients of other lenders to Rs 20 and balance enquiry was made free of any charge till 31st March 2009.

Now, in an enhancement of those guidelines,  a recent RBI directive prevents banks from charging any fee for cash withdrawals using ATM and debit cards issued by other banks from 1st April 2009 onwards.

However, use of credit cards at any ATM is subject to bank charges for services such as cash withdrawal etc.