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Eduardo for emigrants office in Goa / Goan Welfare
Society (GWS) demands made in 2003 - finally under
consideration
From: Carmo Santos, President, Goan Welfare Society
(GWS), Kuwait
Eduardo for emigrants office in Goa
NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, April 12: The Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Mr
Eduardo Faleiro has written to the Union Minister for
Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vyalar Ravi to consider
exempting maids, drivers and other workers of the
lower income group who seek employment abroad, from
approaching the office of the Protector of Emigrants,
at Mumbai, to obtain the emigration clearance.
Presently teachers, doctors, nurses and those holding
a diploma or a university degree are exempted from
emigration clearance.
Addressing a press conference at the ministers block
in the secretariat today, Mr Faleiro informed that he
would also visit some states like Punjab, Haryana,
Gujarat and Rajasthan to study the emigration pattern
for the persons from these states who emigrate to
foreign land.
I would have liked to visit Kerala, immediately, but
the election process in that state has made me change
my mind, he added.
Due to low literacy and other factors, such persons
need the services of intermediaries and they are
harassed and fleeced and often they are also victims
of criminal offences, Mr Faleiro observed, adding that
under these circumstances, it becomes necessary to
establish an office of the protector of emigrants in
Goa itself.
Mr Faleiro said that he would follow the possibility
of conferring voting rights on the non-resident
Indians from Goa, living around the world. There is a
bill pending in the Parliament to amend the
Representation of Peoples Act so that such rights may
be conferred on NRIs, he said, pointing out that the
bill however, is not yet scheduled for discussion in
the Parliament.
I will meet the Union Minister for Law, Mr Hansraj
Bharadwaj during my proposed visit to Delhi, scheduled
during April-end, for discussing this issue, Mr
Faleiro said.
The other issue in the list released by Mr Faleiro
about the priorities concerning the NRIs from Goa
includesprotecting the houses and properties of the
Goans away from their motherland. The Chief Minister,
Mr Pratapsing Rane has asked me to take special
interest in this matter and I am working in this
regard, Mr Faleiro said.
Mr Faleiro also intends to get the degrees of the Goa
University recognised by foreign countries, especially
the government of Kuwait where maximum Goans go in
search of employment. I have taken up the matter with
our ambassador in Kuwait and hope that he will pursue
the matter with the said government, he stated.
Goans holding foreign passports may use chartered
flights, however, the PIOs who come to Goa on
chartered flights are required to return within four
weeks from the date of their arrival, Mr Faleiro
further said, mentioning that PIOs of Goan origin
should not be inconvenienced only because they have
exceeded the four week period.
The office of the commissioner for NRI affairs will
also be setting up its website within a month to
inform the NRGs of different facilities available to
them from the state as well as the central government.
The website will be developed by Goacominsys and Mr
Jerry Menezes.
Replying to a question, Mr Faleiro said that he would
be proposing issuing of bonds for the NRGs with higher
rate of interest than that offered by the banks, so
that maximum money earned by the NRGs is invested in
the state.
Answering yet another question, the Commissioner for
NRI Affairs said that he is examining the possibility
of a single window system with the Economic
Development Corporation. (The Navhind Times)
Goa-World.Com Team adds:
Goan Welfare Society-Kuwait <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun Dec 21, 2003 9:37 am
Subject: NRI-Goa Facilitation Centre Delegation's
Visit to Kuwait
NRI-GOA FACILITATION CENTRE DELEGATION'S
VISIT TO KUWAIT (December 12, 2003)
A delegation of NRI-Goa Facilitation Centre comprising
of Mr. Chandrakant Keni - Chairman, Mr. Tony Correia
Afonso - Member, Mr. Pramod Shetye - MD Goa Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd., Mr. Swapnil Naik -
Nodal Officer NRI, was met on arrival by the
representatives of Goan Welfare Society (GWS) - Kuwait
on December 12, 2003.
A Seminar was held at Carlton Towers Hotel - Kuwait
City, on 13th December, 2003, where a large number of
Goans attended and raised various issues concerning
the NRIs. The main speakers Mr. Tony Correia Afonso,
Mr. Chandrakant Keni and Mr. Pramod Shetye addressed
the gathering and spelt out the purpose of their visit
to Kuwait and other Gulf Countries. Mr. Keni's
eloquence in Konkani was greeted with frequent
applause. His main focus was on awakening Goans to
safeguard the rich traditions of Goa and encourage
Goans, in all walks of life, to work unitedly for the
development and progress of our beloved homeland, Goa.
During the open discussions a number of questions and
issues were raised by the attendees which were posed
before the delegation for due consideration and
appropriate action on their return to Goa. Some of
the issues raised were as follows:
-Need for NRI single window at all Public Service
centres in Goa.
-Local address requirements for renewal of licences or
any Governmental formalities. Why the address shown
in the passport is not considered sufficient.
-Degrees conferred on Engineers by Goa University are
not recognised by the Society of Engineers in Kuwait.
Matter needs immediate attention and corrective
measures.
-Konkani language controversy to be put to rest with
immediate effect and the use of Konkani for all
official purposes to be made compulsory.
-Announcements at Dabolim Airport are made in
languages other than Konkani, suggestions to include
Konkani were made. Also sign boards for directions
to various places in Goa to be in Konkani.
-Why is development work at Dabolim Airport not being
undertaken despite allocation of funds for the
purpose. New airport at Mopa not convenient for most
passengers from Central and southern Goa. Dabolim
airport most suited and hence should be retained.
-State Awards for Konkani Tiatrists not to be
restricted for residents of Goa alone but should
include all Goan Tiatrists worldwide.
-Adult franchise (voting rights) to Indian citizens
must include NRI Goans from the Gulf region. Voting
by postal ballots would be an ideal solution.
-Suggestions to venture into "Education Tourism"
alongside "Entertainment Tourism" have been proposed.
-Proposals for allocation of land to NRI Goans for the
purpose of investments in construction of cottages for
tourists were made.
-Also proposals for special schemes, such as, small
scale industries were made.
-Pension schemes with 9% interest in line with LIC
should be made available to NRIs with tax free
benefits.
-What facilities is the NRI-Goa Facilitation Centre
offering to the NRI Goans in cases of starting
individual enterprise such as Distributorship,
Computer business or any other business, to overcome
obstacles which may arise in the process.
-When a sick patient, requiring special medical care
on the aircraft, an accompanying Doctor and/or Nurse
which the patient can ill afford, what facilities can
Air India or Indian Airlines, our national carriers,
provide in such cases on humanitarian grounds.
All the points raised were well taken note of and
assurance has been given that the issues will be taken
up and positive results are expected.
During the course of the discussions, the guest
speaker, Mr. D. Kishore - Manager, Air India -
Kuwait/Cyprus/Turkey, urged Goans to avail of the
facilities provided by Air India on their direct
flights to Goa (via Dubai) and also assured that Air
India will always be there to support Goan causes
whenever the need arises. He also appealed to the
Managing Director - Goa Tourism Development
Corporation Ltd. to create awareness and promote
tourism in the Gulf as there is enough potential to
attract the Gulf nationals and expatriates in the
Gulf. He suggested Tourism Department to come up with
special packages which will receive due support from
Air India through their network.
The NRI delegation has extended invitation to all NRI
- Goans in Kuwait to attend the Gomant Vishwa Sammelan
(Goan Worldwide Convention) to be held in Kala
Academy Auditorium - Panaji - Goa from January 3 to
5, 2004.
"TOGETHER FOR GOA" is the motto behind the
sammelan.
Upon the request made by officials of GWS, the
Manager - Air India, assured that he would arrange for
special concessions for all those desiring to visit
Goa for the purpose of attending the Gomant Vishwa
Sammelan. Similarly, in cases of Death occurring in
Kuwait and the family of the deceased is unable to
transport the remains due to financial hardships and
paucity of funds, Air India would consider
transporting the human remains along with 50 Kg.
baggage together with one person who will be
accompaning the passenger, free of charge, to any
destination in India operated by Air India from
Kuwait.
At the very outset, the GWS President, Mr. Rabindra
Pimenta, welcomed the delegation and the guests
present for the seminar. GWS Public Relations Head,
Mr.Wilson Coelho conducted seminar and moderated the
open discussions. GWS General Secretary, Mr. Gaspar
Almeida proposed a vote of thanks. He thanked Goa's
Chief Minister for the interest shown for the NRI
Goans, and wished the NRI Goa Facilitation Centre the
very best. Special thanks were expressed to the
representatives of the various Goan clubs/associations
attending the meeting, as well as to all the other
Goans present.
On 14th morning, the GWS representatives bade farewell
to the Goa NRI delegation at the Kuwait International
Airport on their onward journey to Bahrain, and
thereafter in a couple of days to Dubai (UAE).
Links: www.goa-world.com/gws/
__________
The following is the report www.goa-world.com team
requested for the info of all NRI Goans from Mr.
Chandrakant Keni of NRI GOA Felicitation Centre.
We hope the same will be updated together with other
information on the official website of NRI Goa
Felicitation Centre regularly as well as an update on
the many development projects on the anvil such as:
the Software Technology Park, Pharma Park, Biotech
Park, Gems and Jewel Park, Apparel Park, Food
Processing Park, Knowledge Park, Film City, Sky Bus
Project, New Civil Airport in North Goa, etc, in which
the government is looking for massive investment and
is open for public and private partnerships.
Gaspar Almeida
Associate, www.goa-world.com
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 04:41:17 -0500
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: 3rd Gomant Vishwa Sammelan Report
NRI GOA FACILITATION CENTRE
Gomant Vishwa Sammelan (Worldwide Goans Convention )
Held on 3rd and 4th January 2006
Venue :- Kala Academy Complex, Campal, Panjim - Goa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/7782
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/7614
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/7462
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/5957
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/4161
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/8211
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/8508
I take this opportunity to wish all A VERY BLESSED
EASTER.
Carmo Santos
Hon. President, Goan Welfare Society (GWS)
Kuwait
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