News -- Goa News and Pics: From Rupesh Samant and Rajtilak Naik - August
30
from Rupesh Samant in Panaji for Daijiworld News Network - Goa
Panaji, Aug 30:
Sugar tastes bitter for 1,000-odd sugarcane farmers in the state
With the increase fertilizer prices, the sugarcane cultivators have asked
for a hike in the prices offered for their cultivation by Sanjeevani Sugar
Factory, the lone such unit in Goa. The state government-run factory
currently pays Rs 700 per metric ton price while farmers demands minimum
Rs 1,000 per metric ton.
It was eight years back that the price was hiked to Rs 700 per metric ton.
Since then, it has not increased by a single paisa. ``All other prices
have gone three times. The sugar which cost Rs 8 to 10 those day now costs
Rs 20 to Rs 22. But the state government is adamant in increasing the
price of sugarcane procured,'' complained Fr Chrys D'Cunha.
This priest who serves in a rural village of Sanguem taluka led a group of
600-odd farmers who marched to the state legislative assembly complex. The
Goa assembly is in session. They were blocked on the way which created
chaos in Panaji city for few minutes.
"They (state government) do not protect interest of Goan farmers. The
sugarcane procured from other states is paid a whopping sum of Rs 1,200
per metric ton. Why should we suffer?'' questioned aggrieved farmer
Dayananad Faldesai.
While 60,000 ton sugarcane is supplied to this factory from Goa, it
procures 20,000 ton from neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra states.
The farmers contended that it is becoming extremely uneconomical for them
to grow sugarcane. "Labour charges have increased from Rs 35 to Rs 150 per
day, tractor charges Rs 225 per hour. There is rise in everything...,''
said another farmer Dinanath Samant. The farmers with sugarcane stick in
their hand had marched in Panaji city from rural areas.
Despite such an agitation, the state government denied to bock down.
Cooperation minister Sudin Dhavlikar participating in a discussion in the
state legislative assembly said that he could not increase the price.
" The state government may think about it next year,'' vaguely he answered.
UNESCO Kalinga Award-winner to Felicitated
Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with the Ministry of
Science & Technology, (GOI) has organized a felicitation program in honor
of Dr. Jean Audouze, UNESCO Kalinga Award Winner at 6.30 pm on September
12, 2005 at Goa Marriott .
Dr. Audoze is an astro-physicist by profession and Director of Palais de
la Découvert, Paris. He has held several honorable positions in his
careers so far. Besides being associated with various research activities
in the field of nuclear astrophysics, he also had the honour of being
Scientific Advisor to the French President Mr. François Mitterrand, from
1980-1993. He has been the Vice-President of the UNESCO French National
Commission in the year 2000. He also has been the Chairman of the Panel
“Future of the French Nuclear Weapon Systems” (Ministry of Defense) in the
year 2000.
Dr. Audoze has also taught Astrophysics and Space Physics from 1974 to
1989 at Ecole Polytecnique. Besides this he has taught this topic at
several other universities viz; Caltech, UCLA, Berkley, Virginia and
Washington University. He has published many books and text books on the
subject. He has also been the Director of the largest Scientific Museum in
France for more than 5 years.
Dr. Audoze will be on a three-day visit to Goa from September 10 to 13 at
the invitation of Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
During his three days' visit he will visit deputy chief minister and
minister for science and technology Dr Wilfred De Souza.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=14142&n_tit=Goa+News+and+Pics%3A+From+Rupesh+Samant+and+Rajtilak+Naik+-+August+30
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