OHERALDOThe Voice of Goa Since 1900

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

In a major decision, KadambaTransport Corporation Limited(KTCL) has decided to takeprivate buses on contract andrun them on a trial basis fromMay 1.

KTCL Chairman Deepak Dhav-likar told Herald that the buscrew would, however, be fromthe Corporation and the buseswould display the Kadambalogo. To start with, the Corpo-ration has decided to take justfive buses.

Several private bus operatorshad approached us but for now,we are going ahead with onlyfive buses, which will run Stateroutes from May 1, he said.However, gauging the responsefrom the public, the Corporation

will add another 20 buses fromMay 15, he added.

The decision will bring themuch-needed relief to hundredsof passengers who are at the

mercy of private bus operators often on strike for petty rea-sons.

The recent day-long strikecalled by All Goa Private BusOwners Association, had forcedGovernment to deploy an addi-tional 50 KTC buses, which alsoincluded buses from the inter-State route.

Dhavlikar said that the deci-sion to take over private busesresulted from the frequentstrikes by private bus owners.

The private bus owners al-ways rued that their businesssuffered losses. Now we will bein a position to find out whetherthey are really in a loss, hesaid.

The decision also aims tocope with the huge financialloss, the Corporation is going

through. This will help us inearning revenue, which will helpus to overcome our financial sit-uation to some extent, theChairman said.

He said that the Corporationis also planning to introducemore routes, where buses fromadditional fleet will run.

KTCL, which has a fleet ofaround 397 buses, had recentlyadded five new high-tech buses.These buses were part of thetotal 20 buses sponsored underJawaharlal Nehru NationalUrban Renewal Mission (JN-NURM).

The Corporation, however, isstill in the dark whether theywill be successful in getting Cen-tral funds for the remaining 15buses lying idle at a privatedepot.

IN BRIEF

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(Continued on page 8)

sD iceire rvcto Serate of Health sD iceire rvcto Serate of Health

Girl or Boy raise them with equal love and

care

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Actor Genelia D'Souza posesafter unveiling a range of rareplatinum jewelery at a show-room in Chennai on Tuesday.

SHWETA KAMAT

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Rolling out the Right to Educa-tion (RTE) Act in a phased man-ner in the State, the EducationDepartment has put up a pro-posal before the ministry thatno student should be detainedfrom Class I to Class VIII.

RTEs Section 16 reads thatno child admitted in the schoolshall be held back or expelledfrom school till the completionof elementary education.

Sources stated that the nodetention policy envisaged inthe RTE would be implementedin Goa, possibly from the forth-coming academic year.

The Department has alreadymoved a note to the ministryseeking its approval to imple-ment this proposal.

There will be examinationwith a provision that there willbe continuous evaluation of thestudent on regular basis, a sen-ior Department official saidadding that if a student is weak

or a slow learner, he will be sub-jected to remedial teaching.

The official said that teachersand school managements wouldbe asked to take care of thispolicy as they are the concernedauthorities.

The teacher will have to as-sess the learning ability of eachchild and accordingly supple-ment additional instructions(training), if any, as required,the official said pointing to theSection 24 of RTE.

Hold regular meetings withparents and guardians and ap-

praise them about the regularityof the attendance, ability tolearn, progress made in learningand any other relevant informa-tion about the child, the Sec-tion further reads.

Formation of a school-levelmanagement committee, ineach school would be madecompulsory, in order to monitorthe teaching process.

The official said that with theimplementation of this policythe criteria for the admissionor promotion of a child would

RTE for no failures from Class I-VIII

SC scraps airportfees in MumbaiThe Supreme Court todaystruck down the Airport De-velopment Fees (ADF) chargedon passengers by private de-veloper in Mumbai as it wasnot permitted by the regulatorwhile it allowed the levy inDelhi to go on. The court heldthat the Airports EconomicRegulatory Authority (AERA),and not the Government, hadthe authority to allow private-led Delhi and Mumbai airportsto collect the fee. (PTI)

(Report on page 9)

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

In a bid to cash in on minorityvotes, the State unit of BJP hasproposed to reserve 25 per centof seats to minority populationin the forthcoming Assemblyelections.

The 25 per cent of the reser-vation would be for Christiansand Muslims but with greaterthrust on Schedule Tribe Chris-tians in the State which the partybelieves feel alienated from theCongress.

Speaking to Herald Fatordalegislator Damodar Naik, whois also the spokesperson for BJPlegislative Wing, said they haveproposed to reserve seats for

minorities in the State. However,the thrust will be on ST Chris-tians.

The BJP has started a mem-bership drive and has receivedgood response in Salcetewherein about 2000 ST Chris-tians have joined the party, theFatorda MLA claimed.

Currently, BJP has two MLAsfrom ST community RameshTawadkar e l ec ted f romPo ingu in im and Vasudev

Gaonkar representing Sanguemtaluka whereas Congress hasjust one Babu Kavlekar whorepresents Quepem.

When contacted OppositionLeader Manohar Parrikar said afinal decision has not been madebut it has been proposed to re-serve 25 per cent of the seatsfor minorities.

The Opposition Leader is,however, acutely aware that itwill not be an easy task to get

suitable candidates if they de-cide to give higher representa-tion to minorities in the State.

The BJP also has plans to givetickets to women candidates inthe next Assembly polls and theparty has been promotingwomen leaders at the State levelto prepare them for a biggerrole in State politics.

In the last four-five years wehave been encouraging womenleaders in the party to play big-ger role, the Opposition leaderstated.

In the recently concludedelections to the Corporation ofthe City of Panaji, almost 50 percent of the BJPs candidates werewomen.

SURAJ NANDREKAR

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Four months after the Govern-ment terminated the contractwith Shimnit Utsch Pvt Ltd, theState Law Department has rec-ommended a police inquiry intothe tendering process for HighSecurity registration plates.

After terminating the con-tract, the Transport MinisterSudin Dhavlikar had informedthe Goa Legislative Assemblythat the Government had soughtLaw Departments advice on fu-ture course of action in the mat-ter.

Accordingly, sources in thesecretariat informed Herald thatthe Law Department has recom-mended police inquiry into thealleged manipulations in thetender papers for the HSRP con-tract.

There seems to be primafacie evidence that there is ma-nipulation on the footnote offinancial bid papers as per thereport submitted by the ChiefSecretary Sanjay Srivastavawhich needs to be investigatedby police, says the noting bythe Law Department.

However, Law SecretaryPramod Kamath when contactedrefused to confirm or deny thedevelopment.

I have submitted the reportto chief secretary and I cannotsay anything more, he said.

While transport ministersphone was not reachable, Trans-port Director Arun Desai saidhe had no knowledge of the de-velopment.

The file has not reached meand as per my information thefile is with CS, Desai said.

Calls to Chief Secretary SanjaySrivastava went unanswered.

Sources further informed Her-ald that Law department wantedthe Government to probe thetender process thoroughly.

They said that the joint ven-ture of Shimnit Utsch with theforeign collaborator did notexist as on September 29, 2005,when they bid for the contract.

The new director, Nitin Shah,was also not a director with thecompany as on that date. Thevalidity of the joint venture wasunder a cloud, the sources in-

formed.Moreover, the sources con-

tinued, in the financial bid, astatement was written in inkthat HSRP users would have topay a 48% premium for replace-ment of number plates.

This ink-written statementwas not signed for authentica-tion. Also, paying of a premiumwhile replacing a number platewas not acceptable. If you arereplacing your number plate, itmeans the company gets addi-tional business. For this, the cus-tomer shou ld be g i ven adiscount, not asked to pay a pre-mium, sources stated.

Another reason sighted wasthat there was a change in thecomposition of the joint ven-ture, where Nitin Shahs namewas replaced with that of hisson, Rushank Shah.

This was not informed tothe government, which was acontractual obligation, sourcesstated.

Says criteria for admission, promotion be based on age and not merit

KTC to take pvt buses on contract

BJP eyes minorities,reserves 25% seats

Police to probe HSRP tenders?

Joint venture of ShimnitUtsch with foreigncollaborator did not existas on September 29, 2005at the time of bidding.

The new director, NitinShah, was not a directorwith the company as onthat date and the validityof joint venture wasunder a cloud.

In the financial bid, astatement was written inink that HSRP userswould have to pay a 48%premium. This ink-writtenstatement was notsigned forauthentication.

Nitin Shahs name wasreplaced with that of hisson, Rushank Shah acontractual obligation not informed to theGovernment.

The 25 per cent of the reservationwould be for Christians andMuslims but with greater thrust onST Christians.

Damodar Naik

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Directorate of Education(DoE) which is in process offinalising the Education policyis likely to make it mandatoryfor all pre-primary schools tobe registered with DoE.

Deputy Director of Educa-tion Anil Powar said thatunder Right to Education(RTE) Act, the pre-primaryschools would be broughtunder DoE umbrella.

The RTE, which is supposedto be implemented from theacademic year 2012-13 in Goa,has made it mandatory forthese schools to be registeredwith Education Department.

To begin with, the Depart-ment will prepare a list of such

schools form academic year2012-13, so that for the sub-sequent academic year, theycan regulate these schoolsunder RTE.

The Department in 2010,under Goa School EducationRules, 1986 had directed allsuch schools to register withthe Directorate inorder to in-spect the infrastructure facil-ities. The Department till datehas list of only 469 schools.

We are in process of final-ising the policy to make pre-p r imar y reg i s t r a t ioncompulsory, Powar said.

Concerns were raised asmany pre-primary schoolswere running without properinfrastructure like toilets,drinking water, chairs, etc.

All pre-primariesto be registered!

Questions to ponder

KIDS BREATHE EASY: Swami Ramdev interacts with children at Mapusa after attending a Yog Shibir near Bogdeshwar Temple on Tuesday. (Report on page 7) Photo by Amit Soyru

Banks finedRs 1.95 cr for flouting norms

PTI

MUMBAI, APRIL 26

The Reserve Bank today slappeda penalty of Rs 1.95 crore on 19banks, including heavyweightsSBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank andCitibank, for violating norms onderivatives, an instrument usedto hedge financial risks.

The fine has been imposed onthe banks for selling derivativeproducts to companies and ex-porters without complying withthe instructions issued by thecentral bank from time to time.

The penalties have been im-posed on these banks for con-t r aven t ion o f v a r iousinstructions issued by the Re-serve Bank (RBI) in respect ofderivatives, the RBI said.

The lenders, according to RBI,failed to carry out due diligencewith regard to suitability ofproducts and sold derivativeproducts to companies not hav-ing risk management policies.

To run trial with five buses from May 1

(Continued on page 8)

GOAOHERALD

O

Pg2GOA, WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2011

Lifting restrictions on trucktimings amounts to contempt

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Transport Department has saidthat the district administra-tions act of lifting restrictionson the truck timings amountsto contempt of the High Court.

Director of Transport ArunDesai said that the restrictionon the movement of the trucksduring certain time was im-posed as a part of High Courtdirectives.

If district administrationlifts the restriction it amountsto contempt of the court,Desai said.

As per the press note, Dis-

trict Magistrate, South Goa,has ordered relaxation of tim-ing due to closing of Schoolsfor vacation for entry for trans-portation of mining Trucks inQuepem and Sanguem Talukafrom

April 21 to May 31, 2011 from6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. However,the loading at the Mines shall bestopped at 4.45 p.m.

It is further notified to erectnecessary traffic sign boardsat Quepem to Curchorem andSanguem to Curchorem andCurchorem to Sanvordem stat-ing Entry of Transportation ofMining Trucks from 6 am to 6

pm.Similarly, relaxation of tim-

ing due to closing of schoolsfor vacation period the roadsnotified for transportation ofMining Trucks in Mining sectorin Usgao between UsgaoBridge to Suktolim (Dharban-dora) and up to Digas Bridgefrom April 21, 2011 to May 31,2011 from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00p.m.

Meanwhile, transport de-partment on Tuesday issuedchallans to 26 trucks in SouthGoa and 34 in North Goa foroverloading and illegal trans-portation.

Goa yet to decide on entrance test for graduates, PG doctors

SHWETA KAMAT

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Though Medical Council of Indiais in process of creating IndianMedical Graduates -- a nationalentrance test compulsory forthe Graduates and Post Gradu-ate students across the country,Goa is yet to take its formalstand.

The state is groping in thedark over whether to go for Na-tional Entrance test or designits own test for the PG and Grad-uate students.

Former Indian Medical Asso-ciations Goa Branch chief DrShekhar Salkar said that gov-ernment should decide onlyafter taking the views of expertsand students.

He said that national entranceexam should be supported as itwill help the students to com-pete at all India level and theywill also have the chance to seekadmissions outside the state, ifthey cannot make it at Goa Med-ical College (GMC) and hospi-tal.

If they are restricted only toGoa level exam, then the col-leges outside will not entertainthem, feared Dr Salkar.

The issue was figured in therecently held Budget session,where Leader of Opposition hadexpressed apprehensions that

the Goan students would be lostin the national common En-trance test.

Goa government is yet toform the committee, as assuredon the floor of the House, whichwas supposed to take the deci-sion on this matter.

Parrikar had said there is anx-iety among Goan students aboutappearing for a central entrancetest because most of these cen-tral exams are fixed.

However, Dr Salkar allayedfears that Goan students wouldbe lost in the national entrancetest. Although the exam wouldbe at national level, there willbe a separate merit list for thestate according to which the re-served seats for the state wouldbe filled, Dr Salkar added.

As per the draft placed byMCI during national meet

on implementation of re-forms in undergraduate andpost graduate medical edu-cation, the National Eligibil-ity -cum-Entrance Test forPost Graduates (NEET-PG)will be held from 2012.

Candidates who have com-pleted internship or those ex-pecting to complete by March31, 2012 will be eligible to takethe examina t ion . About100,0000 and maybe upto amaximum of 1,50,0000 candi-dates are expected to take theexamination.

It will be notified in August2011 with applications collectedby September end.

The admit cards will be dis-patched by mid November 2011.The examination will be onlinetype conducted in the mid Jan-uary, 2012 and the number ofsessions etc will be finalisedafter the feasibility is explored.

The MD/MS courses will com-mence from May 1, 2012. Thecandidates aspiring for direct 5-year neurosurgery and neurol-ogy super-specialty or similarcourses will have to take thisNEET-PG examination for thecourses commencing in August.There will be a common paperwith 180 MCQs at MBBS stan-dard to be answered in 3 hours.

In case of national Eligibility-

cum-Entrance Test for SuperSpecialties (NEET-SS) for 2012,the candidates who have com-pleted post-graduation (MD/MS)or those expecting to completepostgraduate by June15, 2012will be eligible.

About six to seven thousandcandidates are expected to takethe examination with coursescommencing from August 1,2012.

It will be notified in February2012 in all by April end. Theadmit cards for the same willbe dispatched by middle of Mayand the exam will be conductedin middle of June.

The paper will consist ofabout 150 to 180 questions of3 hours duration. The examina-tion will be online.

Meanwhile, MCI in its Vision2015 document has also pro-posed curricular changes, mak-ing training more exciting andchallenging to the students.

MCI has re-structured under-graduate medical course fromfive years to five and half years,with introduction of foundationcourse (2 months), elective 1 (2months) and elective 2 (2months) apart from the basiccourses.

Similarly, several changeshave also been cropped up inthe PG course.

nDr Salkar allayedfears that Goanstudents would be lostin the nationalentrance test. He therewill be a separatemerit list for the stateaccording to which thereserved seats for thestate would be filled.

One sentencedfor attempt to

rob bankHERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

The South Goa Sessions courton Tuesday sentenced oneRobert Moraes to three yearsrigorous imprisonment in con-nection with the attempt tocommit bank robbery in the year2005.

Sessions Judge Bimba Thalifurther directed the accused topay a fine of Rs 3000 or in de-fault to undergo four monthssimple imprisonment. If theevent the fine is paid, the courtdirected that Rs 3000 be paidto the injured employee of thebank.

Considering the seriousnessof the offense and the mannerin which it was committed, I amof the opinion that ends of jus-tice would be met by convictingthe accused for the offense pun-ishable under section 394 of theIPC to three years rigorous im-prisonment and a fine of Rs3000, Judge Thali stated.

REjECTED: The Court of Ad-ditional Sessions Judge, VijayaPol has rejected the bail appli-cation filed by Raju Talwar, whowas arrested by the Colva policein an assault case.

While rejecting the bail, theJudge said that thought the po-lice has recovered the weaponof assault, the case is indeed aserious matter which needs tobe investigated by the police.

Mining firms directed to take upprotective measures at site

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

In a significant order, SouthGoa District Magistrate, andChairperson of District DisasterManagement Authority, G P Naikhas directed all mining compa-nies to build protective bundsand purification plants at themining sites.

The order issued under theDisaster Management Act, 2005directs the managing bodies ofall the mining companies oper-ating in South Goa district toadopt all protective measuresat the dumping sites by way ofprotective bunds and purifica-tion plants by May 30.

The mining companies havebeen further directed not to dis-charge any effluent in the watercourse without treatment beforeits discharge. Further directionshave been issued to ensure thatno water body is polluted dueto any mining related activity inSouth Goa district.

This orders is issued as apro-active step towards the pro-tection of life, property and en-v i ronment and does no tdischarge any managing body

form their mandatory duties en-visaged in various Acts and Rulesin force, Naik stated in hisorder.

The order was served on therepresentatives of the miningfirms operating in the districtat a meeting held in the SouthGoa district Collectorate hereon Tuesday morning.

Calamities or disasters,namely floods, cyclones, land-slides occurs in the state of Goaand Karnataka during mon-soons. As the advance warningof these calamities is seldompossible, numerous lives andproperty remains at stake duringmonsoons. The only remedy tothe situation is to take certainpro-active steps required to beundertaken by every stake-holder to avert any calamity to

the extend possible, thereby en-suring safety, Naik said, addingthat the mining belt in SouthGoa district is always under ten-sion during monsoons due to riskinvolved at the dumping sites.

The district Magistrate toldnewsmen that the mining com-panies have been directed toadopt the safety measures toensure that the silt will not slidedown during monsoons and de-stroy cultivable fields devas-tated. The protective bundswill go a long way in arrestingthe flow of silt in the fields andwater bodies, he said, addingthat residents inhabiting themining companies have beencomplaining to the large scaledeposit of silt in the fields, leav-ing agricultural land devastatedby mining activities.

nThe District Magistrate told newsmen that themining companies have been directed to adoptthe safety measures to ensure that the silt willnot slide down during monsoons and destroycultivable fields. The protective bunds will go along way in arresting the flow of silt in the fieldsand water bodies, he said.

Contamination of Comba wells still haunts officials

The Comba well which have under the scanner of officials after their contamination. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

Mystery still shrouds the con-tamination of Comba drinkingwater wells, with analytical re-ports once again ruling out thepresence of petrol, oil greaseor kerosene in the wells.

Even as shock chlorinationtreatment of the wells consid-erably brought down the pres-ence of iron bacteria in the wells,the waters are still unfit forhuman consumption.

In his provisional report onthe Comba water wells submit-ted to the District Collector,South G P Naik, Deputy Collec-tor, Johnson Fernandes has nowrecommended cleaning up of aPortuguese era undergrounddrain choked in the interest ofthe city at large and to find outthe source of the water wellcontamination.

As per the analytical reportof both the persons, the con-tamination of wells in not ac-count of petrol, oil grease orkerosene. The iron bacteria wasconsiderably reduced on ac-count of the concentrated chlo-rine, but in any case it was notfit for human consumption thedeputy Collector said his report.

Johnson said that since allmethods adopted by the nodalofficer, Dr Srikant Mutnuri ofBITS Pilani were inconclusive, itis imperative to open to chockeddrain to serve dual purposes:one to ensure free flow of waterthrough the drain and toallay apprehensions in thepublic mind over percolationof dirty waters underground

a n d c o n t a m i n a t i n g t h estreams.

The toposheet doesnt showthe existence of the trench butupon excavation of a trench be-hind the property of Datta Naik,but shows visible signs of adrain. That being the case, thenthe drain of the erstwhile Por-tuguese regime is required tobe restored by all means. Non-depiction of the drain on the

toposheet doesnt mean thatthe visual evidence can be im-paired. In the recent past fewyears, there have also been ex-periences of flooding in this areaof Comba and possibly so, thechoked up drain could be oneof the reason, the deputy col-lector stated in his report.

It is hence necessary and ex-pedient that the Asst. Engineerof WRD W.D. III Ponda gear up

to excavate the drain in thelarger interest of the Town ofMargao and more specially topreserve the elixir of life(water)from getting contaminated. Thedepth of the drain shouldroughly be 1.5 mts below theexisting surface of the drain.The work should be carried outon priority basis at least withina weeks time or a weekend,he added.

Plaint filed under I-T Act

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

Colva police on Tuesday reg-istered an offense under theInformation Technology Actafter a woman complainedthat an unknown personopened her account on theFace Book.

Colva PI Tushar Vernekar in-formed that the accused afteropening the account of the com-plainant had loadedobscene andlewd message.

Farmers plea against fieldsacquisition dismissed

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

In what is seen as a setback tothe farmers of Navelim agitatingto protect their fields from ac-quisition by the government forthe Margao sewage treatmentplant, the Panjim bench of theBombay high court on Tuesdayhas dismissed the petition filedby the farmers against the gov-ernment move.

Activists Sidharth Karapurkar,however, said the farmers willtake stock of the high courtorder dismissing their petitionbefore admission after receivinga copy of the high court order.Karapurkar said the farmers willweigh various options, includingfiling a PIL, a review petition orapproaching the Supreme Courtfor relief.

Farmers from Navelim hadbeen agitating since December2009 against the governmentsnotification to acquire their agri-cultural fields admeasuring 2.72

lakh square meters for the twinpurpose of expansion of theMargaos sewage plant and toprovide a buffer zone aroundthe plant.

Coming together under thebanner of Sa lpem Tol lemXetkarancho Ekvott, Navelim,the farmers have been runningfrom pillar to post to save theirfields from acquisition. And,with pleas falling on deaf ears,with the government bulldozingits way with the acquisitionprocess, the farmers have nowknocked the doors of the highcourt to stop the governmentfrom acquiring their agriculturalfields.

Their objections were three-fold: One, the land sought tobe acquired are paddy fields,cultivated by them; that thefields are their sources of liveli-hood and that such a vast landadmeasuring 2,72,737 squaremeters was not required for thebuffer zone.

The petitioners had con-tended that the proposed ac-quisition is not intended toserve and public purposeand they apprehend that theacquired land under the garbof sewage plant expansionand a buffer zone would beconverted to commercial useor allotted to private indi-viduals.

Meanwhile, Chairman ofGoa Sewerage DevelopmentCorporation Ganashyam Shi-rodkar has said the govern-m e n t i s n o t a g a i n s t t h efarmers cultivating the fieldssought to be acquired forthe sewerage project.

We want to acquire the landfor expansion of the sewerageproject by laying a sewerage linein Navelim and to create a bufferzone. If farmers are interestedin cultivating the fields, modal-ities can still be worked out bysiting across the table, Shirod-kar added.

Complainantsatisfied

with policechargesheet

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

Complainant Franky Monteirohas expressed his satisfactionover the pol ice act ion ofchargesheeting ex-Sarpanch ofLoutolim village panchayat JoseFernandes for submitting an al-leged fake draft Regional Plan2021 to the Chief Town Planner.

Monteiro said that he and 24other villagers had lodged a FIRwith the Maina Curtorim policeon January 5, 2010 on groundsthat the alleged fake plan wassubmitted as genuine in an at-tempt to bypass the proposeddraft regional plan prepared andsubmitted by the Village LevelCommittee selected by the gramsabha after following the dueprocess of law.

The villagers of Loutolim arethankful to the investigating of-ficer, PI Sidhant Shirodkar forthoroughly investigating themat te r and f i l i ng thechargesheet inspite of politicalinterference and constraintswhich was an open secret. Suchactions by the police will set aprecedent and also a deterrentto others as such illegal acts bythe Sarpanchas and commonwho are then protected by po-litical interference, he added.

Monteiro claimed that thefake plan submitted by the exSarpanch depicted glaringchanges from the proposed draftplan submitted by the VillageLevel Committee only to the ad-vantage of very few individuals.Certain privately owned landsadjacent to the Verna Industrialestate were illegally changed toindustrial in the fake plan sub-mitted whereas the plan sub-mitted by the Village levelCommittee depicted these landsas Orchard lands. Another glar-ing change was areas on theriver banks of zuari where ille-gal shipyards are operating weredepicted as industrial zonewhereas the Village Level Com-mittee had proposed these areasto be retained as per 2001 RPwhich were agricultural and set-tlement, he said.

Garbage treatmentplant at Sonsodo by

May 30 next!HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

Residents of Margao can nowexpect the garbage treatmentin place in full respect only byMay 30 next year.

After its failure to honour itsown deadline to set up thegarbage treatment plant at Son-sodo by April 30, 2011, the Mar-gao Municipal Council has nowpromised to put a treatmentplant in place at the dumpingyard by May 30, 2012.

The assurance was conveyedby the Margao Municipal ChiefOfficer, Prasanna Acharya in anaffidavit filed in the high courton the issue.

Acharya told Herald on Tues-day that the Civic body has setthe latest deadline after takingall aspects into account, includ-ing the intervening monsoonsand the acquisition of additionalland at the Sonsodo yard.

He exuded confidence thatthe waste treatment plant willbecome a reality at Sonsodo be-fore May 30 as the Civic bodyhas signed an agreement withFomento Sociadade to under-take the work in a time boundmanner.

Replying to a question,Acharya said that work on thetreatment plant can commence

before the monsoons if the landin question comes in the pos-session of the Civic body. Wehave put for acquisition land ad-measuring 57,000 sq mts at Son-sodo adjoining the existingdumping site for waste treat-ment. If the Civic body gets pos-session of the land immediately,work on the treatment plantwould commence at the earli-est, he added.

Incidentally, Fomento officialsclaimed that work on the settingup of the treatment plant at thedumping site is hampered forwant of land since the exist-ing dumpyard is saturatedand the acquired land yet tocome in possession of theCivic body.

In fact, even operations tosegregate the existing wastethrough the Trommel has beenadversely hit since the Civicbody has utterly failed to cartaway the rejects from the dump-ing sites.

If Fomento officials are to bebelieved, the company is allgeared up to build the treatmentplant at the site and work wouldcommence on a war footing nosooner the Civic body gets theacquired land.

Goan seamen welfarepanel denies merger

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

The Goan Retired Seamen Wel-fare Association has assertedthat the organization has notmerged with any other associa-tion looking after the welfareof seamen.

GRSWA President Ifrona Diassaid the Association has beenfighting for the last two yearsto enhance the monthly ex-gra-tia monetary assistance of Rs200, stagnant for the last 20years, to Rs 1500 per month andfor the introduction of a properregular pension scheme to meetthe increasing prices of all es-sential commodities.

This is being done to ensurethat the retired seafarers andwidows enjoys a decent living,Dias said, while making an ap-

peal to the members of the as-sociation not to fall prey and donot be misguided and be victimsof, false rumours, as their gen-uine demands are put forwardbefore NUSI/ITF, Indian Sea-farers Welfare Trust and Stateand Union Ministers, besidesthe MPs.

Barge crew attacked

HERALD NEWS BUREAU

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Some non-Goan crew of bargesbelonging to different ownerswere reportedly injured in a scuf-fle between Goan and non-Goancrew in Sanvordem and Amona.

Goa Barge Owners Associa-tion (GBOA) President Atul Jadavwhen contacted however saidthat he had not received infor-mation on the incident.

One barge owner from North Goaspeaking on anonymity claimed thata crew of 20 members each hiredpassenger launches and went to in-vite crew for the May 1 meeting.

However, the crew later in aninebberated condition on Tues-day evening attacked some non-Goan crew members from thebarges which were at Sanvor-dem channel and at Amona.

Hotel staff held for theft

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

The Colva police has arrested amember of the housekeepingstaff of a starred Varca-basedhotel in connection with thetheft of cash and a mobile of acustomer. Police informed that one ShivKumar Kukuswami, a native ofTamil Nadu had complained thatcash amounting to Rs 40,000,besides a mobile phone wasstolen by unknown persons.

Hubby arrested for murder

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, APRIL 26

A 29-year-old man residing inNachinola was arrested oncharges of murdering his wife,after her body was found by theroadside at Nachinola on Tues-day evening.

Mapusa Police have identifiedthe deceased as Sneha Shetye,who was married to Ganpat PShetye, a native of Pernem, sixyears ago.

Incidentally, Mapusa Policeinformed that Ganpat had ap-proached Pernem Police stationand had admitted having mur-dered his wife Sneha.

According to Mapusa Police,after they were informed aboutwomans body lying alongsidethe side near Nachinola at about

7.30 pm, they rushed to the siteand shifted the body to AsiloHospital in Mapusa.

Police further informedstab injuries were seen onthe deceaseds stomach andchest.

Pernem Police first sent Gan-pat to Goa Medical College Hos-pital at Bambolim for medicalexamination. He was laterhanded over to the Mapusa po-lice station, where he was ar-rested.

The accused has beencharged under Section 302 IPC.Since the marriage took placewithin seven years, the inquiryis being conducted by theDeputy Collector. Police Inspec-tor Rajesh Kumar is also inves-tigating the case.

woman matka bookie arrestedHERALD CORRESPONDENT

CANACONA, APRIL 26

When women break barriers ina male bastion, they are nor-mally lauded for their achieve-ment.

But in this case, there wereno accolades and the woman inquestion ended up with an of-fence booked against her.

In an unusual development,Canacona Police late Tuesdaynight arrested a woman Matkabookie from Agonda on charges

of accepting Matka bets.Sources informed that this is

perhaps the first instance inCanacona taluka where policeswooped and arrested a womanMatka bookie.

It is, however, widely believedthat a few women accept Matkabets elsewhere in the State.

According to Canacona Policesources, the woman was report-edly caught red-handed whileaccepting Matka bets in an es-tablishment near her residence

at Agonda.Police further informed that

cash of Rs 821 and other Matkabooking materials used in theillegal trade were recoveredfrom the accused. Head Con-stable Sapna Rane from Cana-cona Police led the all womenpolice raiding team apparentlyin a pre-planned move by Cana-cona Police, sources informed.

When contacted, CanaconaPolice could not provide any fur-ther details of the arrest.

driver heldHERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

The Cuncolim police has ar-rested the driver of the buswhich was involved in a headon collision with a Uno car atBalli last week.

The bus driver Ramdas Tulsi-das Naik was arrested by thepolice and later released on bailof Rs 10,000

The Cuncolim police are in-vestigating.

GOAOHERALD

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GCCI, Panaji

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Education Minister Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate on Tuesdaysought a direction from the HighCourt that the February 2008Panjim police station attack casebe handed over to Special In-vestigation Team (SIT) althoughchargesheet has been filed bythe CBI.

Babush, one of the accusedin the infamous attack on thepolice station has also pleadedto quash and keep in abeyancethe case trial in the lower Courtpending registration of the FIRto its counter complaint and fil-ing of appropriate chargesheetby the CBI.

The CBI has admitted thatthey have investigated the casewithout the counter complaintfiled against the Panjim policebeing registered. The probe hasbeen biased although there wereCourt directions to register the

counter complaint, Babush saidin his petition filed throughcounsel S Nadkarni and ArunBraz DSa.

The Court has adjourned thematter till June 15.

CBI, in January 2010 filed achargesheet against Babush, hiswife Jennifer, former CCP mayorTony Rodrigues and others inthe Judicial Magistrate First Class(JMFC), Panjim.

On February 19, 2008, Mon-serrate along with his support-ers from Taleigao had taken amorcha to the town police sta-tion to condemn attack on hissupporters.

Some of the leaders presentgave inflammatory speeches,which caused the mob to turnviolent and riot outside the po-lice station.

Babush, his wife and 36 oftheir supporters were arrestedthereafter. Around 32 policemenwere injured and vehicles

parked outside the police sta-tion were torched by the unrulymob.

Panjim police registered anFIR against more than 500 per-sons. The case was subsequentlyhanded over to the CBI.

The CBI chargesheet againstthe education minister, his wifeJennifer, former Panjim mayorTony Rodrigues and 34 othersmentions rioting, unlawful as-sembly, rioting and unlawful as-sembly with deadly weapons,causing hurt and grievoushurt to public servants andmischief.

The accused are also chargedunder Section 3 of the Preven-tion of Damage to Public Prop-erty Act. The attack, in whichseveral policemen were injured,had shaken the state.

Interestingly, Babush in hisearlier petition before the HighCourt had demanded handingover the case to the CBI.

POLICE STATION ATTACK CASE

Babush seeks HC nod for SIT probe

Joe Boygranted bail

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Notorious criminal Jose Lopesalias Joe Boy, accused for givingsupari to a contract killer toeliminate Home Minister RaviNaiks son Roy, was granted an-ticipatory bail by the North GoaSessions Court on Tuesday.

Joe had filed anticipatory bailplea before the Principal Districtand Sessions Judge NutanSardessai, a week ago, in wakeof apprehensions that the policemay arrest him for interrogation.

Granting bail, the judge ob-served that there is no caseproven against Joe Boy.

In the order the judge saidthat if Joe Boy is arrested heshould be released on bail bondof Rs 10,000. Secondly, if theaccused is going out of Goa heshould leave his residential ad-dress with the police.

The police reply sought hiscustodial interrogation in orderto know the motive behindharming the ministers family.

Joe, who is also involved incases of theft, robbery, threat-ening and other similar offenceshad gone underground afterMichael Fernandes confessionthat he was offered Rs 2 croreto kill Naik family.

Close two Portuguese institutes or face action: Freedom fighters

do not object Goans learningPortuguese language providedthey dont forget their roots.

GFFA treasurer and veteranfreedom fighter Prabhakar Sinarihas demanded a Central levelprobe into the working of thePortuguese establishments inthe State.

To another issue that severalGoans opt for Portuguese citi-zenship, the association has saidthat they should not be allowedto Goa anymore.

They have lost their nation-alities. They are no more Goans.They can come to Goa but alikeforeign tourists on six monthstourist visa, Sinari said.

They recalled how the asso-ciation members raised strongobjection to the arrival of Por-tuguese navys ship NRP Sagresin November 2010, which wasto commemorate 500 yearsof arrival of Vasco-da-Gamain Goa.

The association membershave further criticized certainlocal politicians and bureaucratsfor having soft corner for thePortuguese.

nWe want thatPortugueseestablishments, mainlyFundacao Oriente andInstitute Camoes areshut. Their existence isonly to create pro-Portuguese lobby inGoa and split Goans. Ifthe Centre fails tomeet our demands, wewill not allow thePortuguese Consulateto function here.

-- Karmali

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

The much awaited visit of Jus-tice (Retd) Santosh Hegde tothe state was turned into ashow of hypocrisy, accordingto activists in the state, whoquestioned the presence ofpoliticians, even those whohave in the past been underthe scanner, for speakingagainst corruption.

The workshop cum brain-s to rming se s s ion onLokayukta: Goas Concerns or-ganized by the ICG, where Jus-tice Hegde spoke, also featuredan introductory talk by SpeakerPratapsing Rane, a talk on Im-plications of Lokpal Bill vis vis the local legislations byRajya Sabha MP ShantaramNaik, another talk by What isthe exact status of the GoaLokayukta Bill till date? by Ra-makant Khalap, Chairman, LawCommission of Goa & formerUnion Law Minister.

Calling politicians will nothelp. They will naturally wantto sabotage the whole thing.Both Shantaram Naik as wellas Khalap, were trying to sub-vert the whole issue. They

should not have been invitedand even if they are invitedthey should not be allowed tospeak, said Rui da Gama, anactivist who also one of thepanelists at the event.

They took most of thespeakers time. Shantaram Naikwas trying to tell the JusticeSantosh Hegde that he shouldnot be on the Lokpal bill draft-ing panel, Gama who also gavea talk on Need of a Lokayuktain Goa stressing that they wereonly trying to sabotage andsubvert the whole anti-corrup-tion campaign.

Khalap was in the past, ac-cused of swindling crores ofRupees from the Mapusa Urbanco-operative Bank Ltd, some-thing which peeved Rui all themore.

Rui however vowed to carryon his relentless strugglethrough his NGO Asha FamilyResponsibilities & Rights Asso-ciation Goa, of which he is theconvener.

Soter DSouza, when speak-ing to Herald before the event,said that it would be a wastedexercise only reiterated whathe had said albeit sarcastically.

Good to hear solutionsfrom the mouths of people whomanipulated corrupt systemsare today sponsoring anti-cor-ruption events. As long as peo-p le con t inue to ge tmanipulated nothing willchange, Soter sarcastically re-marked.

Reports doing the roundsalso suggested that Hegde waskept in the dark about theother speakers at the event.

When contacted Ar junHalarnkar, programme man-ager at the International Cen-tre, Goa, said that the eventwas not sponsored by any min-ing company or Dattaraj Sal-gaoncar, putting to rest reportsdoing the rounds that, thatwas the reason why JusticeHegde bore the airfare orstay costs.

Dattaraj Salgaoncar pro-posed the vote of thanks. Hewas there in capacity as thelife trustee of the ICG. The func-tion was not sponsored by him.In fact Justice Hegde did notaccept airfare or the stay costseven. He paid for his ticket onhis own and came down, Arjunsaid.

Cadbury is backBHARATI PAWASKAR

PANJIM, APRIL 26

The dispute between the AllGoa FMCG & Telecom Dis-tributors Association andchocolate and biscuit majorCadbury s has been re-solved. All Cadburys prod-uc t s have made the i rappearances in the shopshelves starting Tuesady, asthe association membershave resolved to resumebilling immediately.

Association President BM Prabhudessai told Heraldthat the boycott was with-drawn following a meetingbetween company represen-tatives and association officebearers at Hotel Orion, Por-vorim, at around 9 pm onMonday, in the presence ofdistributor Santosh Kamatof Sanvi Sales.

The distributor, who hadbeen suspended followinga dispute with the company,has been reinstated as partof the understanding be-tween the association andthe company.

that Portugal have no businessto speak about Goa, as memo-ries of their barbaric rule hasstill not faded away.

We strongly object to thePortuguese and Goa relations.We need to read in between thelines. They are still proud forhaving colonized Goa for 451years, he said adding that they

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Goan freedom fighters havethreatened to hit the streets inprotest if the Government failsto shut down Portuguese estab-lishments, which they consideris aiming at dividing the peopleof Goa.

Goa Freedom Fighters Asso-c i a t ion (GFFA ) P res iden tNaguesh Karmali told reportersthat if need arises they wouldvisit Delhi pressing for their de-mands and subsequently ensurethat the Portuguese Consulatein Goa stops functioning.

We want that Portuguese es-tablishments, mainly FundacaoOriente and Institute Camoesare shut. Their existence is onlyto create pro-Portuguese lobbyin Goa and split Goans. If the(Union) government fails tomeet our demands, we will notallow the Portuguese Consulateto function here, Karmali said.

The bitter reaction ensuedfollowing an interview of theAmbassador of Portugal to IndiaRoza de Oliveira to an Englishdaily, that he is still not able tounderstand what Goan freedomfighters want from Portugal. Hewas also quoted saying thatGoans have forgiven Portugal.

The association members said

Politicos presence at Lokayuktaworkshop causes resentment

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Two days later promenade alongRiver Mandovi from Panjim Mar-ket onwards will be hive of ac-tivity with people thronging tosee and taste rare fruits of theKonkan region.

Yes! Konkan Fruit Fest 2011is happening again after a gapof three years.

Botanical Society of Goa(BSG) will host a four day fruitfest to be inaugurated on April28 in the city with active par-ticipation from Agriculture De-partment of Goa, Indian Councilfor Agriculture Research (ICAR)Old Goa, Vengurla-based Re-gional Fruit Station and Dr B SSawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeet Dapoli and the University ofAgriculture Research at Dhar-wad and Bangalore.

The KFF was huge successwhen it first came to be organ-ized in 2003 as it provided arare opportunity to taste variedvarieties of mangoes and other

seasonal fruits which are oth-erwise not available in the mar-ket.

However, since 2008 BSGwas unable to organize it butthis weekend people can lookforward to feast on fruits withabout twenty stalls sellingfruits and juices.

When contacted Miguel Bra-ganza, Secretary of BSG, saidthey intend to have on displayat least sixty-five varieties ofmangoes, four five type ofcashews and other fruits.

People will also get to tastefruits such as Chirputa (physalis)sweet Karmala (star fruit), DhaviSola (made from vomt fruit).

There will be also participa-tion by Food & Drugs Admin-istration (FDA) which willdemonstrate how to ripenfruits.

The GOACAN, an organiza-tion of consumer activists willalso be part of the fest, he said.

Besides, Chorao Farmers Clubis likely to make huge impactas it will have sale of two va-rieties of mangoes -- Sakariand Mancurad.

They will put on sale 1000sakari and 1000 Mancuradmangoes and with properpacking done, added Bra-ganza.

Another attraction of the festis fruit eating competition.

Konkan Fruit Fest from April 28

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, ARPIL 26

Its really been a long wait ofthirty years for farmers and lo-cals who are waiting for aglimpse of better life after theylost their farms for Tillari Irri-gation Project (TIP).

The Goa government hasfailed to keep up with its prom-ise of giving government em-ployment made to farmers whenthey parted with their livelihoodthirty years ago.

The farmers association, in-cluding farmers from Goa andMaharashtra, has threatened toblock Left canal of Tillari projectthat supplies water to Goa onMay 1 if the government con-tinues to ignore their demand.

The association has furtherwarned that the agitating farm-ers would jump into Tillari waterif government tries to stopthem.

Its really frustrating that thegovernments have not donewhat they had promised to do.We cant hold on for any long,

stated Shashikant Gawas, Pres-ident of the Association.

Three months the govern-ment had reconfirmed its inten-tion to recruit affected farmersinto government service.

Meeting was held betweenthe ministers of the two states,told Gawas further adding thatnothing has happened till date.

As per the agreement signedbetween the government of Ma-harashtra and Goa Government,

in 1990, land acquired for theproject for construction shall beacquired by the government inwhose territory it is locatedand hand over the possessionof land to the government ofMaharashtra.

The cost of acquisition of landand rehabilitation of displacedpersons shall be debited to theproject cost.

Two governments were toshare the project cost in theratio of 73.3:26.7 with Goa Gov-ernment bearing cost to thetune of 73.3 per cent.

According to Gawas, of the1263 affected families -- 832families have been certifiedbut so far only 185 have beengiven jobs by the Maharashtragovernment whereas Goa gov-ernment has not at all deliveredon its promise.

This is grave injustice tous and with loss of land wehave nowhere to go - the gov-ernment has not kept its prom-ise, stated Gawas whose fathergave 40 acres of land for the

project -- for which the gov-ernment paid him pittance ofRs 1.25 lakh.

As part of the rehabilitationproject though they received350 sq of land in Sahanyale vil-lage of Sidhudurga district,Gawas pointed out that it isgrossly inadequate to accom-modate family of ten.

We built a house withoutsanitation facility because thereis no enough space, says Gawaswho looked completely frus-trated.

Goa receives about 120 MLDof water from the left canal ofTillari Irrigation.

When contacted P Paramasi-van, Managing Director, GoaTillari Irrigation DevelopmentCorporation (GRIDC) said he wasnot aware of the problem andif there is any it will be dealt atthe government to governmentlevel.

The Minister for Water Re-sources Filipe Neri Rodrigueswas not available for com-ment.

Tillari affected farmers warn to block canal over demands

nThis is graveinjustice to us andwith loss of land wehave nowhere to go -the government hasnot kept its promise,stated Gawas whosefather gave 40 acresof land for the project-- for which thegovernment paid himpittance of Rs 1.25lakh.

London tohost World

KonkaniSammelan

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

LONDON, APRIL 26

A Vishwa Konkani Sammelan isto be held in London as part ofthe Global Goans Conventionfrom 22 to 25 July this year.

The sammelan will see cul-tural programmes by Konkani-speaking expats from Goa andother parts of India.

The convention will also cel-ebrate the Golden Jubilee ofGoas Liberation. Eminent his-torians, social and political sci-entists, as well as freedomfighters from anti-colonial strug-gles across the world will par-ticipate in this segment of theconvention.

Leaders of Goan associationsfrom across the world will par-ticipate in this convention, or-ganised by the Goan Association(UK). An interactive session withthe Indian High Commissioneron issues concerning NRIs andPIOs of Goan origin is also partof the programme.

Report on botched up caesarean submitted to government

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Authorities in the Goa MedicalCollege have, submitted a reportof the three botched up cae-sarean operations, to the gov-ernment for further action.

Speaking to Herald, Dean ofthe Goa Medical College, Dr VN Jindal informed a report hasbeen sent to the Health Secre-tary, who will decided on whataction is to be taken.

We have received the reportand it has been forwarded tothe government. They will de-

cide what action is to be taken,Dr Jindal said.

He however denied that anymedico-legal case was regis-tered. There is no need to reg-ister any medico-legal case nor

an FIR. The government is em-powered to initiate action, DrJindal said.

Dr Vanita Pereira, a senior ob-stetrician doctor at GMC has al-ready been tempora r i l ysuspended after junior doctorsbotched up three caesarean op-erations resulting in one infantlosing two fingers and anothertwo suffering minor cuts oneon her back and another on hercheek.

All three infants were girlsand are currently recuperatingin the GMC.

nWe have receivedthe report and it hasbeen forwarded to thegovernment. They willdecide what action isto be taken, Dr Jindalsaid.

SP urged to inquireinto Agnelos death

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, APRIL 26

Suspecting foul play in the deathof Agnelo Fernandes, thebrother of the deceased on Tues-day has sought the interventionof the district police chief, SouthAllan De Sa to conduct a thor-oughprobe into the incident.

In his petition to the SP,South, Jerson Fernandes said hisdeceased brother had left thehouse at Cuncolim along withanother person on April 22, anddid not return home the nightand his body was later foundfloating in a water body the next

day. He claimed that the lefthand of the dead body frombelow the elbow was missing

The complainant told the SPthat he had narrated all his sus-picions to the Cuncolim PoliceInspector, but added that the PIhas told him to find an eye-wit-ness to the incident to registera crime and arrest the accused.

Jerson has urged the SP, Southto intervene in the matter andconduct a thorough inquiry intothe death of his brother.

Cuncolim PI Nelson Albu-querque was not available forcomments.

GOAOHERALD

O

Pg 4SHORT TAKESUPCOMING EVENTS

POWER SHUTDOWN

The National anthem is a patriotic musical composition of a country,

which reminds and praises the history,traditions and struggles of its people.

National anthems are used in a widearray of contexts. They are played on na-tional holidays and festivals, and havealso come to be closely connected withsporting events. During sporting compe-titions, such as the Olympic Games, thenational anthem of the gold medal win-ner is played at each medal ceremony;also played before games in many sportsleagues, since being adopted in baseballduring World War II. When teams fromtwo different nations play each other, theanthems of both nations are played, thehost nation's anthem being played last.

The national anthem has to also berecognised as the official national song,either by the nation's government or byconvention through use by the people.

The national anthem of India is 'Jana-Gana-Mana', composed originally inBengali by Rabindranath Tagore. It wasadopted as the national anthem of India,in its Hindi version, by the ConstituentAssembly, on 24th January 1950.

'Jana-Gana-Mana' was first sung on 27thDecember 1911, long before India gainedits independence, at the Calcutta Sessionof the Indian National Congress. Thecomplete song comprises of five stanzas,and lasts for approximately 52 seconds(playing time).

The song was then translated, from San-skrit to English, by RabindranathTagore.

As to the story behind this translation,in 1918 Tagore was invited, by contro-versial Irish poet James H. Cousins, tospend a few days at the Besant Theo-sophical College (BTC). James was serv-ing as the principal of the college, at thattime. On February 28, while attending agathering of students at BTC, Ra-bindranath sang the song in Bengali. Atthe time he thought of translating thesong in English. A few days later, inMadanapalle, Tagore wrote down theEnglish translation of the song. Hiscousins' wife, Margaret, who was an ex-pert in Western music, set down themusic for this English version. Theframed original English translation isstill displayed in the library of BesantTheosophical College in Madanapalle.

A National Anthem is meant to buoy thespirits of the citizens of a country whether to encourage them to playharder or to engender courage whenfighting for their rights. The song is in-tended to inspire patriotism and love fora country, and thereby unify a popula-tion by forgetting differences andworking together as a whole towards acommon good.

A National Anthem has no real measur-able effects, but the intangible effectsare felt by all those who have beenreared from infancy to love their country,with all its flaws.

A Little About Civics

Comments or queries? Bouquets or brickbats? Talk to us!Email Junior Herald at junior@herald-goa.com or join our Facebook fan page

http://www.facebook.com/Herald.Jr. Our readers are invited to rave, rant, chat oreven contribute. No message will go unanswered!

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Jana gaa mana adhinyaka jaya heBhrata bhgya bidht

Pajba Sindhu Gujara MarhDrbia Utkala Baga

Bindhya Himcala Yamun GagUcchala jaladhi taragaTaba ubha nme jgeTaba ubha ia mgeGhe taba jaya gth

Jana gaa magala dyaka jaya heBhrata bhgya bidhtaJaya he jaya he jaya heJaya jaya jaya jaya he!

The National Anthem

Why have a National Anthem? Jana-Gana-Mana

Conclusion

GOA, WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2011

HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, APRIL 26

The annual general body meet-ing of Goa Union of Journalists(GUJ) has been convened on May21 at its office hall, Sixth floor,Shramshakti Bhavan, Patto Plaza,Panjim at 9 am to hold electionsfor GUJ President and ten othermembers of the GUJ executivecommittee for two-year term,apart from other items of theagenda which include discussionabout amendments to GUJ con-stitution.

Questions and suggestionsshould reach the General Sec-retary by May 17.

Filing of nominations will beheld on May 14 and 16 from 10am to 12 noon. Scrutiny will bedone on May 16 from 12 noonto 12.30 pm. Candidates canwithdraw their nomination onMay 17 from 10 am to 12 noon.Elections (if required) will beheld on May 21 from 9 am to 12noon at GUJ Office hall, Panjim.

The provisional list of votershas been declared and displayedon the notice board of GUJ of-fice. This list will also be avail-

able with the GUJ General Sec-retary Sudesh Arlekar (cell no9822179125).

Objections/suggestions re-garding this list should be sub-mitted to General Secretaryby May 2. After consideringthe objections, the GUJ Exec-utive committee which willmeet on May 3 at 3pm, willdecide upon the final list ofvoters which will be displayedon notice board of GUJ Officeon May 4 and will also beavailable with the returningofficer, Sharadchandra Naik.

Members should clear mem-bership dues as they can partici-pate in the election only after theymake the payment. GUJ GeneralSecretary/Treasurer will be avail-able for the collection of mem-bership fee in GUJ Office duringthe days of filing of nominations.

GUJ accounts will be madeavailable for inspection coinci-dental with the timing of filingof nominations. Copies of theaudited statement of GUJ ac-counts will be made availableto GUJ members on requestafter May 15.

GUJ polls on May 21

Br Anils retreat at ParraPANJIM(HND): Br Anil of Salvation Ministry will conduct a

one-day retreat on May 4 at Emerald Lawns, Parra from 10 amto 5:30 pm. The service will stress on praise and worship, HolySpirit power demonstration, Word of God, Word of Knowledge,Healing and Deliverance. For details, call 9226387098/9763553575. For free transport information call 9823055659.

Sangeet Natyamahotsav CANACONA(HC): The Vth All Goa Dinanath Pai Sangeet

Natyamahotsav 2010-11 organised by Shri Asvasth NarayanDevalaya and Sarvadav Association in collaboration with theArt & Culture Department will commence at Mokhard-Canaconafrom April 27, Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference, Shri Asvasth Narayan De-valaya and Sarvadav Associations organizing secretary ShirishPai informed that the Natya Mahosthav will be declared openby Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot in the presence of Departmentof Information Director Menino Peres on Wednesday evening.

Saubadhra, a presentation of Shri Parashuram Housy NatyaMandal will be presented on the inaugural evening.

Ekuch Pyala by Asthgandh, Goa Nimrithi will be staged onThursday, the second day of the Natyamahosthav, while PritiSangam will be stage on Friday. A Konkani natak Ami LagnKarchench Naim? by Nagesh Maharudr, Nageshi-Bandora pres-entation will be staged on the last day of the Mahosthav.

The Natya Mahosthav will be staged at Shri Asvasth NarayanDevalaya Subagraha Mokard-Canacona and the stage per-formances will begin at 7 pm sharp, informed Pai.

CME programmes at GMCPANJIM(HND): The Department of Pathology, Goa Medical

College in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Cytologistswill be organising two CME (Continuing Medical Education )Programmes in Goa Medical College. The first CME Programmewill be held on May 4 at 3 pm in the Pathology Departmentseminar room and there will be a CPC (Clinico PathologicConference ) with the presentation of two cases of OvarianLymphoma and Parotid Oncocytoma. The clinical features,investigations, gross, microscopy, treatment, differential di-agnosis and prognosis of Ovarian Lymphoma and Parotid On-cocytoma will be discussed. Dr R G Wiseman Pinto and DrSavita Chandra will chair the scientific session and the speakersare Dr Ajit Nagarsekhar, Assistant Professor of Obstretics andGynecology , Goa Medical College, Dr Vynetta Maria, PostGraduate from the Pathology Department, GMC, Dr ReshmaSalelkar Assistant Professor of Surgery, GMC and Dr EugeneDe Souza, Post Graduate from the Pathology DepartmentGMC. Goa Medical Council has given accreditation for thisCME and awarded one CME credit.

The second CME Programme will be held on May 5 at 3 pmin the Pathology Department seminar room and there will bea CPC (Clinico Pathologic Conference ) on Medullary ThyroidCarcinoma .This will be chaired by Dr R G Wiseman Pinto andthe speakers are Dr Ankush Desai Head of the EndocrinologyUnit of GMC and Dr Anuya Bandekar ,Post Graduate from Pathol-ogy Department, GMC. The topics to be discussed are clinicalfeatures, investigations, treatment, gross, microscopy, and recentadvances of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. The Goa MedicalCouncil has given CME accreditation and awarded one CMEcredit for the CME. Both the CME Programmes are open to doc-tors. The CMEs are coordinated by Dr R G Wiseman Pinto.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 26

CIIs Youth wing, Young Indians(Yi) has set a plan of implement-ing various activities and proj-ects under its various focus areasin Goa.

Addressing a press briefingon Monday, CII Yis ex-chairmanDr Rahul Mirchandani said thatthe youth wing stresses on sec-tors including environment, ed-uca t ion , hea l thca re ,employability, innovation, agri-culture and others.

He said that Yi focuses onawareness building, action proj-ects, advocacy and partnershipsfor scale-up.

The Yi farmers net which has12000 young progressive farm-ers, works on spreading knowl-edge of best pract ices inagriculture which can be appliedto improve crop productivity,Mirchandani said.

He said that programmes forfarmers, study tours, training

sessions in rural schools and Na-tional Agromax conferences in-volving all stakeholders couldbe organised.

Yi Goa hopes to launch aFarmer Net for Goa during theyear, he added.

National Yi Chairman ShankarVanavarayar said that Yi Goa, aspart of the one million tree plan-tation initiative, has distributed5050 saplings in villages acrossGoa.

Dr Jennifer Lewis e Kamat saidthat it has carried out variousinitiatives in the last one year

which includes truck driversawareness camp, obesity camp,employability workshops for col-lege students, drawing compe-tition for children on cleanenvironment, and other proj-ects.

Yi, which was launched inOctober 2009, through a com-prehensive national networktill date has engaged 12,000members through its districtchapters, farmer nets & stu-dent nets and has 160 mem-b e r s i n t h re e c o r p o r a t echapters.

Yi sets plan for activities, projects in State

n Young Indians has carried out variousinitiatives in the last one year whichincludes truck drivers awareness camp,obesity camp, employability workshops forcollege students, drawing competition forchildren on clean environment, and otherprojects.

-- Dr Jennifer Lewis e Kamat

Prayer service for aged

Devappa Bhagat (103), a non-Christian, and other senior citi-zens of St Teresa of Jesus Church Chaudi with Parish Priest FrManuel Fernandes and Fr Freddy Lobo, after celebration of aspecial mass for the aged and sick celebrated on Palm Sun-day. Photo by Kathy Pereira

CANACONA(HC): Chaudi Church honoured Devappa Bhagat(103) recently where St Vincent de Paul Society held a specialmass and prayers for the aged and sick in the parish. StVincent de Paul Society, a parish body associated with theold, sick and poor brethren as per its annual practice, observedthe Sunday with special prayers for their health and peace.

Several senior residents in the parish were specially ferriedto the church on Sunday, where the society St Vincent dePaul held a specific programme after the mass and distributedsweets and refreshments. Devappa Bhagat, non-Christianresident in the locality was the star attraction among thesick and old who participated in the special mass, prayedupon and blessed by St Teresa of Jesus Church Parish PriestFr Manuel Fernandes.

Few other parishioners who were in the ages of 90-100also attended the services and were blessed by parish priest.

Kerkar on Poinguinim committeeCANACONA(HC): Prof Rajendra Kerkar has been appointed

chairman of 'MLA Ramesh Tawadkar Social-Works FelicitationCommittee' to honour the Poinguinim MLA for his contribu-tions to the society.

At a recent meeting, a committee was appointed to rec-ognize the services of Poinguinim MLA, in his various capacitiessuch as president of Balram Gram Vikas Sanstha, founderchairman of Adarsh Gram and an active leader who workedtirelessly to get special status for ST community, besides hisservice oriented leadership to uplift the downtrodden massesin the society. The felicitation programme is scheduled forMay 8 at Chaudi-Canacona. Deepak Amonkar and GovindGawade are appointed as vice-presidents, while KamlakarMhalshi will be the working president of the felicitation com-mittee. Vishant Gaonkar is secretary, while Sanjay Komarpantand Sanjay Gaonkar will assistant secretaries.

Various other sub-committees are also appointed underthe leadership of Dr Uday Gaonkar (programme committee),Dilip Gaontonde (welcome committee), Narayan Dessai (pub-licity) and Amol Pagui (stage/decoration).

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CANACONA, APRIL 26

As part of talent search for cre-ativity in teaching methods,Canacona block of Sarva ShikshaAbhiyan recently organised anexhibition of Teaching LearningMaterial (TLM) at cluster levelsfor school teachers of Canaconataluka.

Teachers from several schoolsin Canacona displayed their cre-ative teaching materials whichthey take assistance in theirteaching process. Materials in-clude working models on prin-ciples of science, mathematics,social science, EVS, geographyand languages.

SSA provides an assistance ofRs 500 to each teachers, whodisplayed their TLM in the day-long exhibition held at SSAsBlock Resource Centre, Na-garcem-Canacona.

Poinguinim MLA RameshTawadakar, who was chief guestat the prize distribution func-tion, said: Imparting the bestof education by providing thebest of practicing opportunitiesto the students, will not only

brighten the students in theiracademic works, but most im-portantly help in stopping par-ents who sometimes en-massenrol their wardens to city-basedschools looking for quality ed-ucation.

I am ready to provide finan-cial assistance if any teachersintends to bring out more in-novative teaching materials in-cluding models and charts,offered Tawadkar.

The concluding functionwas attended by SSAs Stateproject coordinator (commu-nity mobil ization) MadhuJoshi, State project coordina-tor (Pedagogy) Subhash Man-drekar, DPC (South) Celso Dias,A D E I C a n a c o n a B a b a j iKothulkar, BRC CoordinatorCanacona Kamlakar D Mhalshiamong others.

Later, certificates and prizeswere distributed to the partici-pating teachers.

BRC coordinator gave a wel-come address, Umesh Dessaiproposed the vote of thanks,while CRP Ratnakar Parit com-pered the function.

Expo for school teachersorganised at Canacona

A student checks a learning material brought in for the TLM exhibi-tion by a teacher from Canacona. Photo by Kathy Pereira

Noronha on National Expert panelPANJIM(HND): Jose Manuel Noronha, General Manager at

Agnel Technical Educationcomplex, Verna and As-sagao has been appointedon the National ExpertCommittee of the Ministryof Science and Technology,Government of India, NewDelhi. This Expert commit-tee will examine proposalsand provide guidelines andmake recommendationsthereof on Technologybased Entrepreneurship Development programs, Faculty De-velopment Programs etc which are conducted by various In-stitutions across the country. The expert committee has beenconstituted with approval of the Union Secretary for Scienceand Technology, Government of India and had tenure of threeyears.

The committee will also monitor the progress of the pro-grammes being implemented at these Institutions. Earlierthis year Noronha, on the recommendations of the StateGovernment was appointed by the Ministry of Environmentand Forests, Government of India as Chairman of the StateEnvironment Impact Assessment Authority, Goa State.Noronha was selected to Train in Business Incubation at theUniversity of Texas, Austin under the Indo US Science andTechnology Forum last year and this exposure will help increating this incubation facility.

APRIL 27

KUMBARJUA: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Kumbarjuavillage, St Estevam village and Gaudalim.

APRIL 28

SIRIDAO: From 9am to 2pm. Areas affected are Modlo waddo,Jeju Nazareth, Firguem Bhat, Sea view bar and restaurant, Zuarivillage.

PORVORIM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Bhutki wado,Sangolda Morod, Mae de dues Sangolda and surrounding areas.

HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Parishioners of Caram-bolim under leadership of theirParish Priest will organise anAll Goa Night Vigil on the oc-casion of Feast of Divine Mercyand International Workers Dayon May 1.

At 7.30 pm, Sr Ida Fernandeswill conduct the Biblical Rosarybased on the word of God andlife of Blessed Joseph Vaz. At 8pm, people from different walksof life will give witnesses onhow they have changed theirlives by attending the Friday re-treats at Carambolim Church.

From 9 pm 10 pm Fr Dinizwill speak on the theme of theyear Vavra Seventlean DevacheaTotvank Govai Dium-ia ani De-vachi Kaklut Onbhovum-ia.From 11 pm to 1 am, Mario Fer-

nandes in charge of the MusicMinistry will conduct Praise andWorship session. From 1 am to2 am, Francis Lobo from Vascowith his dramatic troupe willpresent a skit based on the lifeof Blessed Joseph Vaz. From 3am to 4 am the Parish Priest FrConceicao DSilva along with hisministry Dioginho DCosta andJose Miranda will conduct theadoration of the Blessed Sacra-ment based on the theme. Dur-ing the time of adoration, FrConceicao will pray over thechildless couples for gift of child.From 4 am onwards, the con-celebrated mass will be held.The main celebrant will be Di-rector of Biblical Centre, FrManuel Gomes. From 6 pm on-wards, confessions will be heldwith several priests in atten-dance till 12 pm.

Night Vigil atCarambolim on May 1

Notice to marinersHERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, APRIL 26

National Institute of Oceanography will deploy current meter atCortalim, Borim and Sanvordem in Zuari River on April 27, 28,and May 5 and 6 to measure the currents. During this period awatch keeping boat also will be anchored in the vicinity of thecurrent meter deployment. All river traffic plying at the abovementioned locations has been advised to keep a sharp look out,go slow and pass at safe distance so as not to cause them anyharm, says a press release.

Grant in Aid forchildrens

organisations HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Directorate of Art & Culturehas formulated a scheme for pro-viding one time grant-in-aid inmemory of Blessed MotherTeresa to institutions engagedin providing meaningful, safe,playful environment, food, shel-ter, health care to the aged, des-titute, sick, marginalised children.

Application forms for access-ing the grant are available uptoMay 20 in the Directorate of Art& Culture, 5th Floor, ShramshaktiBhavan, EDC Complex, Patto,Panjim. Last date for the submis-sion of the forms duly completedis June 30.

Rane not available HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, APRIL 26

Health Minister VishwajeetRane will not be available forpublic on April 27 at Forest RestHouse at Valpoi. However, hewill be available at the samevenue on May 4 from 9.30 amto 1 pm.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CALANGUTE, APRIL 26

Parra Panchayat in collaborationwith the Zonal Agriculture OfficeMapusa recently organised aFarmers Mela at Parra.

The Farmers Mela was organ-ised to explain various schemesavailable to the farmers withthe agricultural office and theRDA schemes through which thefarmers can go ahead with theircrops for the ensuing season.

Assistant Agricultural Officer,Zonal Office Mapusa, Joshibriefed the farmers and otherson various schemes availablewith them, while RDA officialEknath Shirodker listed theschemes through which thefarmers can avail the benefits.

Calangute MLA Agnelo Fer-nandes, who was the chief guestfor the function, called upon thefarmers to avail the benefitsunder various schemes of the

State government.Fernandes assured to help the

farmers in whatever way hecould through his own goodself. He also assured to take upthe matter with the agricultureminister for providing tractor,etc, to plough the fields.

Fernandes also had a specialpraise for the Parra Panchayatfor safeguarding the greeneryof the village.

Earlier, Parra Sarpanch Bene-dict DSouza welcomed chiefguest Agnelo Fernandes, officialsof the agriculture and RDA de-partments, farmers and the vil-lagers.

DSouza called upon the farm-ers and villagers to make thebest of the opportunity and availvarious schemes to boost agri-culture in the village.

Sarita (Agriculture) comperedthe function and later proposedthe vote of thanks.

Farmers made aware of govt schemes at Parra mela

OHERALDOPg 5GOA, WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2011

Disrespectful headlineSwapnil Shirodkar, by email

I did not like your headline in the Heraldissue of 25 April 2011 Sai Baba is Dead.Sai Baba and Sathya Sai Baba are two dif-ferent people. You have hurt the sentimentsof all the devotees and followers of ourGod Shri Sai Baba. Usage of the wordDead is inappropriate. A word like Passesaway would have been suitable for anyrespected person.

DMD ko maro goli Lawrence Fernandes, Sancoale

I have been reading these days so muchabout the Hindi Film Dum Maro Dumwhich is simply giving undue publicity to

the film. What I would think the scriptwriter, director or whoever is involved insaying that In Goa liquor is cheap and thegirls are cheaper they meant this: Theliquor is cheap (which is a fact) and thegirls (non-Goans) are cheaper. Poor BipashaBasu may have not meant Goan girls norIndian girls. It may imply that girls arecheap elsewhere, but in Goa they arecheaper. Perhaps, it has to do with Goascolonial past, and the goings-on then. Butsuch comments not only serve to degradewomen not only in Goa but across the restof the country.

It is time the Entertainment Society ofGoa opens their eyes and shut the doorsof Inox and similar cinema houses, so thatin future, these ugly producers think twicebefore releasing a movie with languagethat insults Goans.

Migrants unwelcomeHubert Lobo, Bastora

This bears reference to Hasiba Amins letterThe main issue (Herald, 12 April).

There were times we had a handful ofbeggars in our streets and now with theinflux of migrants and government corrup-tion, we have an abundance of them. Wehave land stolen from right under our feetwith records being changed at the Pan-chayat level of governance. We have politi-cians using these ignorant forces forpolitical gain. We have a social problem.We Goans are eroding at the core.

The medium of learningPradeep R Lawande, Sanquelim

A child is not required to seek employmentsoon after completing her four years ofprimary education. Therefore, linking themedium of instruction at primary level toget jobs is not correct. Primary educationis the foundation of all further learningand would get stronger only if the first ed-ucation of a child is imparted through itsmother tongue.

During our times, English language wasintroduced to us only in the fifth standard.But today, it is introduced right from thefirst standard, even though the medium ofinstruction of that institution is other thanEnglish. This familiarity with the English

language today helps a student while chang-ing the medium at the later stage.First ed-ucation through mother tongue is anuniversally accepted principle. It wouldnot be wise to debate over this truth inthe field of education.

Plebiscite for what?Reginaldo Diniz, Navelim

Plebiscite or opinion poll is not conductedto decide issues like Medium of Instruction.In 1967, Opinion Poll was conducted todecide whether Goans wanted to stay sep-arate or merge with Maharashtra. Goa de-cided in favour of the former. If at all aplebiscite or opinion poll is to be con-ducted, it has to be done in strife tornJammu and Kashmir to decide whetherthey want to join India or Pakistan. Pleasedo not misuse the term plebiscite or opin-ion poll. It is height of stupidity to linkplebiscite or Opinion Poll to MoI.

Will someone act?Ireneu Fernandes, Porvorim

It is refreshing to read that several villagesin Sa lcete a re up in a rms aga ins tbuilders/panchayats for establishing hugehousing colonies in their areas.However, there is little or no resistancefrom the villages in the North. One suchvillage is Socorro village. Just in front ofthe village panchayat, there are huge hous-ing complexes and that too, on the hillslopes. The perennial water drain near ahuge plot down the village road, has beencompleted blocked with mud from numer-ous trucks. There is no retaining wall. ThePanchayat seems to be looking the otherway. Will someone act?

Corrupt governmentGlestone Fernandes, Cuncolim

How can this government deprive its own

people clean air and water, the basic funda-mentals of their very existence? This mustbe the most corrupt Congress-led governmentthat Goa has ever experienced. Greed forpower and wealth, even at the cost of thevery people who voted them to power, hasleft Goa in a sorry state. But the election dayis fast approaching. It will then be a time todecide on a change in leadership. We needcandidates who are clean, or we would bewondering as to whom to vote for.

Whither police force?Richard Zackaria, Quepem

This is with reference to the police forcein Goa. The police have been involved inall the dirty games like drug-politiciannexus, murders being committed in custodyof ordinary people, and robbing of peoplewho had blocked the roads in the villagersto prevent mining trucks. Did they do thisto make up for the money they gave asbribes, to secure a job in the force?

I was really surprised to read articleswhich mention that the weapons like gunscan be used by only a few police officers.What would happen if a Mumbai type ter-rorist attack occurred in Goa? Would thepolice be able to handle the situation orwill they seek help of the RPF?

Bhushan bungleS Kamat, Alto-Betim

The Bhushans position on the Jan Lok Palcommittee is becoming more and more in-defensible. For those of civil society in thecommittee we should surely adopt higherstandards than what politicians follow andthat is hold on to office until provenguilty. There is a point, well-taken, whenpeople say that there will be a smear cam-paign to discredit those on the committeefrom Anna Hazares side. Moreover, if theBhushans were well aware that a smearcampaign would have been indulged in,they shouldnt have given two differentsets of CDs containing their purported con-versation with Amar Singh/Mulayam Singh,one that they gave for private testing fromtheir end and the other that they gave tothe Delhi Police. The two conflicting reportson the CD testing should have beenavoided.

Hand it over to Goa; and a few other Statesdo it with so much shamelessness. Evenwhen a supposedly secular Congress gov-

ernment is in power here, the agenda-settingrole gets handed over to communal ideologies.

Not only that, even issues as crucial as com-memorating our past, is left to individuals andinstitutions who confuse chauvinism for nation-alism, and see hating a neighbouring country orpeople of another religion as patriotism.

In Goa, weve spent years letting the debateget set by the lunatic fringe. Portugals ambas-sador in India to Jorge Roza de Oliveira put itwell the other day, when he said some peoplethink that the former Portuguese dictator, DrAntonio de Oliveira Salazar is still alive and120 years old.In another statement, which perhaps didntget the attention it deserved, Portugals Con-sul-General in Goa Dr Antnio Jos MarquesSabido Costa thanked freedom fighters whohelped the Portuguese society to understandbetter all the wrongdoings we were doing incertain countries, and... realise that we neededto change our official policy and fight for ademocracy ourselves.

Saying sorry is a tough job. Still, the recentgeneration of Portuguese the Consul-Generalwas born after 1961 have shown their will-ingness express regret. Are we in Goa now willingto stop continually seeking victim status, to faceup to the past, and to acknowledge both the badand the good it brought to us? Whether we likeit or not, we have to face up to some harsh real-ities. It may be fashionable to portray Goans --almost all of them as victims of the past. Yet,this is not simply true. Goa, with its long andmixed history of colonial rule, reminds us stronglyhow communal recordings of the past dont holdwater. Of why self-interest and perceived groupinterest is stronger than ideology, religion orother isms.

Scratch the surface of Goas past, and you comeup with all kinds of answers. Portuguese colo-nialism in the early 16th century was virulentlyanti-Muslim, and some of our Hindu ancestorsactually collaborated with colonising the region.These inconvenient aspects are being glossedover, ignored or sought to be completely rewrittentoday.

The Portuguese used a religious justificationfor their colonial adventure. They ironically useda religion that was born out of a protest againstthe Roman Empire to justify their ends, and part

of their regime was a theocracy where Churchand State had a cosy power-sharing arrange-ment. Yet, at the same time, the whole of thePortuguese rule in Goa was definitely not theo-cratic or illiberal and bigoted, as made out tobe now.

Some colonial governments too were virulentlyanti-clerical, and even the powerful Jesuits andother religious orders were banished, while the1910 Republican Revolution stopped discrimina-tion (which is why we have an A J de AlmeidaHigh School in Ponda today). It gave equal rightsto the Hindu population in a Goa where theCatholic majority was just in the process of beingdiluted due to out-migration.

Can we say the same about treating all equallyin liberated Goa today, regardless of religion,caste or ethnic origins? A very scary process isunderway these days, to portray Goas long colo-nial episode into an unending night of religiousbigotry. A tiny fringe is working overtime tojustify this point of view, to make a sense of hurtcontinue, and to justify new wrongs being com-mitted in the name of the past.

You just need to walk into cyberspace to un-derstand this process. Texts written by historiansor prominent journalists have been placed online,sometimes even mixed with pure bigotry andpropaganda, to justify a new communal versionof history.

Such writers have a duty to ensure that theirnames are not used to justify fake articleswhich they didnt author themselves (in entirety)

in the first place. It is today fashionable to seeBritish colonialism as something quite natural.

We take pride in staging the CommonwealthGames, being part of that club of ex-colonials,and legacies like cricket. But Portuguese colo-nialism is seen as something despicable, aphase which got everything quite wrong, wasfilled with Black Legends, and is best forgotten.Such an approach disallows us from a more bal-anced understanding of our own past.

British colonial and even post-colonial histori-ography overtook, and deleted, Portuguese his-tory as somehow not relevant. This has beenpointed out by the Paris-based Croatian originhistorian and scholar Dr Ines Zupanov.

When you call something as not relevant,then you dont study it. From the 19th centuryonwards, historians saw the Portuguese stuff as(related to) just a small piece of land, and dis-missed the Portuguese as fanatics, or pre-modernjust as Indians were also dismissed as pre-mod-ern.

She adds: Pre-modern people dont make sci-ence. They dont think rationally. They were leftin this pre-modern, pre-rational world.

While the British, and Dutch to a certain extent,were the ones who brought science, modernityand tried to improve those Indians who wereseen as medieval.

These are all Orientalist discourses. Yet, Por-tuguese knowledge, Zupanov believes, was rel-evant in many spheres.

For instance, in natural history, the Portuguese

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