log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday MONDAY JANUARY 18, 2021 GOA Miscreant vandalises flower pots in front of Holy Spirit Church Margao Auction of mines led to adverse price effect: FIMI PANAJI: Stating that auction of minerals is not a solution for the development of minerals, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries has once again given a representation to the central government stating that auction of minerals has not resolved the minerals production issue. In fact it has created an adverse effect on the prices of minerals. Steel prices in India are higher than other countries, FIMI managing committee member Haresh Melwani said. IN SHORT >> Mamledar expelled from MGP for 6 yrs PANAJI: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party has expelled general secretary and former MLA Lavoo Mamledar from the party for anti-party activities for six years. “Those who are trying to divide the party have got befitting reply through the party elections and executive committee meeting today”, party president Deepak Dhavlikar said.  >> See pg 3 UK invites Modi for G7 summit NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited by the United Kingdom to attend the G7 summit to be held in the country’s Cornwall region in June. The group that includes the world’s seven leading democratic economies will discuss global issues like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and open trade. Musician Mustafa Khan passes away MUMBAI: Legendary Indian classical musician and Padma Vibhushan awardee Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan died on Sunday afternoon at his residence in Mumbai. He was 89. Ustad Khan’s daughter-inlaw Namrata Gupta Khan said the veteran breathed his last at 12.37 pm. Prepared to protest till May 2024: Farmers NEW DELHI: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said farmers are prepared to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws “till May 2024”, and termed the ongoing agitation as an “ideological revolution”. WEATHER >> Max: 33.4 C Min: 23.1 C Humidity: 86% TIDES Low: High: 07.53 01.50 19.29 13.20 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 8 pages PRICE ` 6 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VI, NO. 209 2 GOA Candlelight march in Canacona in support of Melauli locals 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 NEWS Indian economy may contract 25% in current fiscal: Economist 7 DAY AFTER COVID VACCINE 10 REPORT SIDE EFFECTS NONE HOSPITALISED, OFFICIALS CLOSELY MONITORING CONDITION THE GOAN I NETWORK CAUSE & REACTION MARGAO A day after they received the jab of the Covid vaccine, around 10 health care workers are believed to have reported minor side effects such as fever and body ache. Sources in the know, however, said no one had to be hospitalized so far and these health care workers are managing the flu like symptoms at home. Senior officials, including Covid vaccine programme nodal officer for Hospicio, Dr Ira Almeida are closely monitoring the situation of the health care workers. Sources told The Goan that of the 10 health care workers, who experienced the side effects, only two had major issue of body ache and fever. Of these two health care workers, one, who had a history of allergies, had „„Of the 10 health care workers who experienced side effects, only two had a major issue of body ache & fever „„Of these two, one, who had a history of allergies, had experienced side effect soon after the vac- cination, while the other showed symptoms of body ache on Sunday „„All 10 health care workers managing the flu like symptoms at home „„Significant number of healthcare workers comprised of doctors ICE CREAM TESTS POSITIVE, OVER 1,000 QUARANTINED IN CHINA >> See pg 7 ers were all briefed about the side effects and how to manage them, the workers were better prepared to face the situation. But, we are keeping a close touch with the health care workers”, a senior official informed. Another official pointed out that since a significant number of the healthcare workers who received the jab of the Covid vaccine at Hospicio experienced the side effect soon after the vaccination on Saturday, while the second one had the symptoms of body ache on Sunday. “Since the health care work- Civic polls on party lines: No decision yet, says CM 2.2 LAKH GET COVID SHOT NEW DELHI: A total of 2,24,301 beneficiaries have been inoculated with Covid-19 vaccine so far the Union health ministry said on day two of the nationwide vaccination drive on Sunday. “Today being Sunday, only six states conducted vaccination drive.>> See pg 6 comprised of doctors, they are managing the situation at home. “Of these 10 health care workers, some of them experienced flu like symptoms such as high fever. The health care workers are managing themselves at home. There’s no need for hospitalization”, sources said. Over 400 adverse events reported NEW DELHI: Union health ministry’s Additional Secretary Manohar Agnani has said out of the over two lakh vaccinations so far, 447 adverse events had been reported in the country following immunisation. However, only three of the health workers required hospitalisation.  >> See pg 6 Health officials, including Nodal officer Dr Ira Almeida as well as Hospicio medical Superintendent, Dr Deepa Correia had briefed the health workers on Saturday on the side effects of the Covid vaccine and how they are required to report the cases of side effects at their nearest Health centres. 8 SPORTS Super sub Pandita rescues a point for FC Goa against ATK Mohun Bagan Student tests +ve, Sharada Mandir postpones prelims THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Prominent private city school Sharada Mandir has postponed the preliminary examination for its Class X students after one student tested positive for the dreaded Coronavirus. The examination was scheduled to begin on Monday. According to knowledgeable sources in the school’s establishment, the student experienced “mild symptoms” earlier last week and later test- ed positive for Covid-19. In a message sent to parents of all Class X students on Sunday, the school authorities conveyed the decision to postpone the prelims. “Although the school has taken the utmost safety precautions and protocol, we feel it is safer to postpone the Std X preliminary exams which were to commence from tomorrow, i.e. January 18, 2021 .The prelims will now begin next week onwards, from January 25, 2021. Students will stay at home and prepare for their prellims,” the message said. No Covid deaths reported in State PANAJI: No Covid fatalities were recorded in the mortality bulletin of the Health Department on Sunday. The Covid victim count of Goa remains steady at 756. Sixty new cases of the infection were detected in the 1,232 samples tested in the last 24 hours raising the total confirmed cases to 52,405. Of these, 878 are presently active while 50,771. The recovery rate is 96.88 per cent. SHOW TIME! LOBO FEELS PARTY SHOULD SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the government was yet to take a call on whether to hold the municipal elections on party lines although discussions were going on within the party on the matter. However, some ministers and party leaders were not in favour of holding the polls on the party symbol. “Discussions are still going at various levels. No final decision has been taken on holding the civic elections on party lines or not,” Sawant said. The chief minister was speaking to the media at the sidelines of a meeting of Calangute BJP karyakartas as part of the preparation for the 2022 assembly election. Sawant sidestepped the question whether he personally preferred to hold the elections on party symbol but said an appropriate decision will be taken after holding discussions with ministers, MLAs and the senior party leaders. He said the Director of Municipal Administration and the State Election Commission will decide when to hold the municipal elections in the State. ASSEMBLY POLLS: BJP SETS EYES ON WINNING 30 SEATS MAPUSA: Buoyed by the recent Zilla Panchayat result, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has set an ambitious target of 30 seats in the 2022 assembly elections and urged the karyakartas to reach out to each and every voter and explain to them about various schemes launched by the State and central government. “Our target is to win 30+ seats in the 2022 assembly elections. Each and every one of us will have to work as a team to achieve the goal. We need to explain the achievement of our government to the people,” Sawant said to the karyakartas of the Calangute constituency. He also assured to resolve the festering taxi issue at the earliest when one of the karyakartas raised the ongoing problem of the local taxi drivers. The CM advised the party workers to visit every household and find out if they have a water connection and toilet facility. According to Ports Minister Michael Lobo the civic elections should not be held on party lines and instead the party should support individuals. “This is a ward election and should not be held on party lines. We will give our view. It is for the CM and the party to decide,” Lobo said. He said there are several party workers who have aspirations to contest the ward election and the party cannot afford to displease them. “If from among 10 aspiring karyakartas of BJP, one is given the ticket then all other nine will contest. It’s better the party supports a candidate,” he said. The CM also dismissed the talks of holding an early assembly election in the State and said that assembly polls will be held on schedule in March 2022. International Film Festival of India delegates at the opening of the Indian Panaroma section at Inox, Panaji on Sunday. The inaugural was followed by the screening of ‘Paanchika’ and ‘Saand Ki Aankh’.  Narayan Pissurlenkar MUCB fiasco: Stakeholders seek govt help THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA The shareholders and depositors of the Goa Velha branch of Madgaum Urban Coop Bank have sought government intervention to ensure that the bank returns the hard earned money to the people. At a meeting held at Casa do Povo hall at Goa Velha on Sunday, the shareholders decided to petition the respective MLAs, where the bank’s branches are setup, to take up the issue at the forthcoming Assembly session and give justice to the shareholders and depositors. Speaking at the meeting, Dionosio Sardinha informed that the bank has a total 9 branches in the State with around 66,000 account holders. “We will petition all the MLAs in whose constituencies the branches are setup and ask them to raise the issue in the forthcoming Assembly session beginning January 25, to ensure that the money is returned to the account holders,” Sardinha stated. “I request Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and help get the money back of depositors. If not, initiate a CBI or Enforcement Directorate probe of misappropriation against the bank officials,” Sardinha demanded while alleging irregularities in the bank to favour a few. “We are also demanding that the bank should make >Continued on P5 Unique Indian art kicks off Biden-Harris inaugural This year, walking pilgrimage THE INDIAN CONNECTION AGENCIES WASHINGTON olam, a traditional Indian art form of drawing geometric patterns on the floors as a sign of welcome, was part of the virtual kick-off ceremony of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, who traces her origin to Tamil Nadu where these auspicious designs adore almost every household. In Tamil Nadu, where Harris has roots, women draw Kolams on the ground to invite health and prosperity into houses where they are displayed. Pictures of thousands of Kolam tiles were on Saturday woven into a video to welcome Biden and Harris in the spirit „„Harris has roots in TN where women draw Kolams ground to invite health and prosperity into houses „„More than 1,800 individuals from across US and many from India participated in the online initiative „„Thousands of Kolam designs were created to celebrate the historic event K of “Presidency for All” and to showcase the multi-cultural heritage of America. More than 1,800 individuals from across the US and many from India participated in the online initiative to create thousands of Kolam designs to celebrate the historic event. “Many believe Kolams sym- bolise positive energy and new beginnings. People of all ages from various communities collaborated from their homes to create tiles with eco-friendly materials. What started out as a local project spread way beyond our expectations,” said Shanthi Chandrasekar, an award-winning multimedia and multidisciplinary artist from Maryland who took the initiative along with several others. The initial idea was to have these Kolam patterns from across the country in front of the White House as a symbol of good beginning to the new administration. The Washington DC police gave permission to the organisers to have it near the Capitol Hill around the inauguration venue. However, due to the unprecedented security measures that have been enforced in Washington DC, the permission was cancelled. A date for the installation after the inauguration will be set up after a go-ahead from the local security, said Sowmya Somnath who is part of the Inauguration Kolam 2021 organising team in her volunteer capacity. >Continued on P5 with a change: Archbishop THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrão on Saturday confirmed that the annual Archdiocesan Walking Pilgrimage (Bhavarthachi Yatra) would continue as usual on the first Sunday of lent (February 21), but added that it would have restricted participation due to the Covid pandemic. “The walking pilgrimage, as usual, will be held on the first Sunday of lent. Of course, we have to follow all the SOPs and therefore, we will have limited numbers,” said Archbishop Ferrão. “The walking pilgrimage will not be with such large numbers as we had in the last few years. But the walking pilgrimage will be held on the first Sunday of the Lent here (Sancoale),” Archbishop Ferrão added. The Archdiocesan Walking Pilgrimage (Bhavarthachi Yatra) is a major event being conducted for the third year and the last two years had involved the participation of several thousands of devotees from all over Goa, who walk in the wee hours of Sunday to the Old Sancoale Church. Last year, people assembled at five centres in Goa Velha, Mandur, Verna, Cansaulim and Vasco, from where the faithful began the Walking Pilgrimage at 3 am and reach the destination at the Old Sancoale Church by about 6.15 am, covering nearly 10 kms. The Walking Pilgrimage is organised by the Archdiocese at Sancoale because the son of the soil (Sancoale) St Joseph Vaz, during his Spiritual journey in Sri Lanka, walked and shared the message of Christ to the less fortunate.