GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 27 February 2004 CONG VOWS TO NAIL SHRIPAD NAIK: The Congress on 26 February expressed confidence that it would win both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa since the people had seen the evil designs of the BJP more so of the Union Minister of State for Finance Shripad Naik. MLA Jitendra Deshprabhu referred to the booklet circulated by Naik during BJP's "Ghar Ghar Chalo Abhiyan" and charged that it was packed with misleading comments about the projects he claimed to have completed in North Goa. (GT)
UGDP TO DWELL ON CANDIDATES: The United Goans Democratic Party has called a meeting of its workers at Margao at 5 pm today, mainly to discuss the candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. (GT) DONE TO DEATH: In a gruesome murder on February 26, a labourer was found dead with his head smashed with a laterite stone at Mestabhat, near the Old Railway Station, in Margao. (GT) RECONVERSION ANNIVERSARY: While Masurashram, a Mumbai-based organisation, is planning to hold a function at Chimbel from 8 am on 29 February to mark the 76th anniversary of the reconversion of 'Gavdas' back to Hinduism, there is criticism about this event from some quarters. The reconversion has created a new caste referred to as 'Nav Hindu Gavdas' and by holding this function, certain elements want to exploit the occasion for political gains, some members of this community have alleged. WOMEN'S STATUS IN GOA LOOKS DOWN: The status of women in Goa is not all that rosy as painted by government machinery. Goan women though capable and talented lack opportunities by and large to unleash their potential. While work conditions for women are unfriendly, crimes against them have increased. On the other hand, government pay lip service to recommendations made by Goa State Women's Commission and other NGOs in the interest of women. This was the view of woman activists who had assembled at Hotel Nova Goa in Panaji on February 26 to participate in the State Level Meeting organised by Goa State Commission for Women on "Status of Women in the State". (GT) BABY GETS HER FEMININITY BACK: One could not conclusively identify whether the child was a male or female. For 14 months, this under-nourished child carried the abnormality, before being given a normal female appearance in a surgical marvel performed by renowned Goan pediatric surgeon and urologist, Dr Sanjay Khope. (H) SAFETY ON BEACHES: A visit to Calangute beach will reveal that safety of the tourists, particularly those who venture into sea, is not the prime concern for the State.the lifeguard's view is blocked by the shacks that have been put up right in front of the post. (NT) TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING DEPT SHIFTED: The Town & Country Planning Department, Head Quarters, Panaji, presently working in the Old GMC Complex, Tiswadi Branch Office & State Land Use Board, are being shifted to new premises at 2nd Floor, Dempo Tower, Platto Plaza, Panaji. The office will be functioning from the new premises with effect from 1 March. (GT) PLOTS FOR DISABLED: The Revenue Department has decided to allot plots on Comunidade land without auction for construction of houses to persons with at least 50 per cent disability. The eligible persons have been asked to apply to the Governor for allotment of the plots. (GT) NOTICE TO CHURCH WAS A MISTAKE: The Benaulim Panchayat has decided to tender an apology to the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Church, Benaulim, acknowledging that its letter to the church to stop dumping of garbage was a mistake. (H) ORCHIDS UNIT IN SAL: Goa's largest commercial orchid unit with 15,000 plants has been set up in the scenic village of Sal in Bicholim. While the orchid plants are in various stages of growth-from established plants to flowering-peak blooming is expected to coincide with the decennial exposition at Old Goa and International Film Festival of India at Panaji. (GT) TEENAGER HELD FOR STABBING: Vasco police arrested a teenager on charges of stabbing a person on February 26. Sudhir Valangi of Vollant in Vasco allegedly stabbed Laxman Dhawaskar near the Vasco fire service station. (H) BODY FOUND IN LAKE: Bicholim police retrieved the body of a 60-year-old man (Pandurang Kerkar) from the Mayem lake. (H) LIVING BY SEA: The two-day international workshop on marine pollution organised by the National Institute of Oceanography has brought into focus once again the urgent need to take care of the marine environment. Despite a number of regulations, the awareness of the threat to human population from the degradation of the marine environment remains very low in Goa and rest of the coastal land. People still treat sea as a boundless reserve of resource for human consumption and enjoyment. (Edit in NT) STILL UNMARRIED! Though it is commonly said that marriages are made in heaven. The modern laws require that they be registered here on the earth. About 27 couples in Madkaim and Kundaim are in for a rude shock several years after their marriage on realising that their registration of marriage had turned invalid for want of completing the entire procedure. (GT) NIPPON STEEL CHIEF IN GOA: Mr Toru Obata, general manager, Raw Materials Division II, Nippon Steel Corporation, Tokyo, arrived in Goa on February 26, for a short stay. Mr Obata will meet Goan suppliers and observe their mining operations. The relationship between Goan suppliers and Nippon Steel goes back to over 50 years. Goa exported around 23.70 million tons or iron ore to various countries in the world during 2002, of which about 10.60 million tons was exported to Japan. Nippon steel's consumption of Goan ore is around 4.24 million tons, which is equivalent to 20% of total Goan exports. (NT) POSTMAN NAIK BIDS ADIEU: TO SIOLIM Postman Nagoji Shankar Naik , hailing from Arabo in Pernem, had become a household name in picturesque Siolim after serving the people dedicatedly for the past 25 years. On his last day at work his colleagues organised a farewell lunch for him. As a token of gratitude for his years of dedicated service, on 15 February the residents of Gaunsavddo-Siolim presented the affable postman with a bag full of goodies and a souvenir photograph of himself in Gaunsavaddo. (Olympio Almeida in GT) FR PEREIRA LAID TO REST: The mortal remains of Rev Fr Antonio Pereira were laid to rest at the Bicholim cemetery on February 26. Thousands of people from all walks of life participated in the funeral procession to pay their last respects to the departed soul. (GT) PHOTO GALLERY IN MAPUSA: After a hugely successful exhibition of his photographs at the Kala Academy on December 1, Mr Thomas Vaz has now opened his own photography gallery called Thomas Vaz Arte Photographica. The gallery will be housed at the Mapusa municipal market for all to see on a daily basis. (NT) D E A T H S 21 Feb: Orlim: ANTONIO ANCETO D'COSTA: husband of Catherina, father of Sylvester, Sonia, Silvia/Alexinho. 26 Feb: Nagoa-Salcette: JOSEFA D'CRUZ, wife of Nicolau, mother of Julieta/Domnic Pereira, Romeo, Xavier and Concy. 26 Feb: Candolim: MARY CALDEIRA E BELEM: wife of Raul Villa Nova, mother of Vianney/Carlos (Dubai), Teofe (Dubai)/Braz, William (Dubai)/Aira, Armey/Royce (Muscat). 26 Feb: Ponda: XAVIER A MENDONCA: husband of Amalia, father of Diana/Dr Antonio, Commander Dean/Liria, Diamond/Rodney. G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 26.6 degC (79.9 degF) at 8.00 am today in Assagao. Max Temp: 30.7 deg C; Min Temp: 19.8 deg C; Humidity: 84% (Official figures for yesterday) Weather: Courtesy: H=Herald; NT=The Navhind Times; GT=Gomantak Times JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao-Goa-India. 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