log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday THURSDAY APRIL 15, 2021 IN SHORT >> 108-yr-old woman oldest to get vax BICHOLIM: Having lived through two of the world’s deadliest pandemics -- Spanish flu and Covid-19 -- in the last hundred years, 108-yearold Heerabai Naguesh Parab became Goa’s oldest person to receive the Covid vaccine at Mulgao-Bicholim on Wednesday.  >> See pg 3 Margao traders say no to shutdown MARGAO: The Margao Municipal New Market Traders on Wednesday resolved to oppose any proposal to shut down the market or to enforce the white and yellow line system to regulate customers in view of the surge in Covid cases.  >> See pg 2 Bail in Canacona hit & run case CANACONA: The yoga instructor from UP who was arrested at Morjim in connection with the fatal hit and run road mishap at Khola-Canacona was released on bail on Wednesday.  >> See pg 3 CBSE class 12 exam postponed NEW DELHI: The CBSE Class 12 board exams have been postponed and Class 10 exams cancelled, the government said on Wednesday after PM’s meet with top officials of the Education Ministry.>> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 34.3 C Min: 25.4 C Humidity: 78% TIDES Low: High: 6:23 0:08 18:43 13:12 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 8 pages PRICE ` 6 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VI, NO. 295 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday FC Goa earn point on AFC Champions League debut  RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Govt invites taximen for meet GODINHO ASSURES PLACING THEIR GRIEVANCES BEFORE CABINET ON APRIL 21 THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday invited the agitating taximen to a meeting on April 20 to put forth their issues and assured them of placing their grievances against the GoaMiles app-based taxi services before the Cabinet on April 21. “The government has been constantly explaining to the taximen about the inter-departmental issues. Firstly, the taxi counter at the airport which was allotted to the tourism department must be handed over to the transport department, because transportation is within our purview,” said Godinho, while speaking to reporters at a news conference at the Chicalim panchayat. “I have been anxiously awaiting the transfer of the two counters at Goa airport ... Says it can fund app of taximen VASCO: Inviting the agitating taxi operators to set up their own app, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the transport department would be willing to fund the initiative. Godinho said, “We cannot force taxi operators to join GoaMiles, but there have been positive statements by them of willing to go digital in the future and they are aware of apps.” “If taxi operators don’t want GoaMiles, they can have their own app and the transport department is willing to fund it.” STRIKE CONTINUES, FAMILIES OF TAXIMEN ALSO JOIN IN >> See pg 3 to the transport department, after which I can decide to resolve the issues once and for all.” The minister said the issue had been discussed at a high-level meeting with airport authorities, chief secretary and department officials last week. “It was informed that the airport cannot transfer these counters directly to the transport department. The airport director said the tourism department must hand over the two counters used by GoaMiles back to them, after which they will transfer it to the State government and it can then be allotted to the transport department,” said Godinho. He said, “The file for the two counters has been moved and we have to first clear the GoaMiles will not remain at airport: Transport Min VASCO: Stating that GoaMiles had flouted rules and regulations, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday said the app-based taxi service would not remain at Goa airport. “It was wrong to have given counters at the airport to GoaMiles, which is now trying to uproot existing taxi operators. This will not be tolerated. Injustice has been done to taxi operators at the airport,” he told reporters.  >> See pg 3 counter dues amounting to Rs 1.54 crore to the airport authority. The tourism depart- ment will pay Rs 1 crore, while the transport department and airport-based United Taximen Association will pay Rs 27 lakh each.” “Once these two counters are handed over to the transport department, we will meet all taxi associations and take a decision and place it before the cabinet.” “The taximen are well aware that once the transport department does not give the two counters at Goa Airport to GoaMiles, most of their issues will be resolved.” Godinho said the transport department had done its best to assist people, who are dependent on the transport business, by giving tax waivers, penalty waivers, free installation of meters, etc. “GoaMiles was launched before I took over the transport department. I was >Continued on P5 One year on, no sign of freedom for Teltumbde Draconian UAPA ensures Ambedkar’s grandson-in-law completes a year in detention THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI ven as unworthy politicos in Goa and across the nation sang hosannas to pay homage to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Wednesday, in a secluded corner cell of a Mumbai jail Dr Anand Teltumbde, the grandson-in-law of the Dalit icon and the architect of the Indian Constitution, spent the first day of a second year in E detention. A renowned academic and faculty at Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Sanquelim, Teltumbde completed a year in jail after he had surrendered on Ambedkar Jayanti, April 14, last year when a bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Arun Mishra and MR Shah had invoked Section 43D(4) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and denied him anticipatory bail. He is among a dozen of intellectuals, activists and literateurs incriminated under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, after an FIR was registered by the Pune Police in connection with the violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018. Dr Teltumbde has repeatedly stated that he was not even present at the Bhima Koregaon event in 2018, where lakhs of Dalits gathered to commemorate the 1818 victory over the oppressive Peshawa rule. In 2018, the 200th anniversary of the battle, the event was marred by caste clashes instigated by Hindutva goons who have gone scot-free but several activists have since been arrested on charges of inciting the violence and Teltumbde, along with Gautham Navlakha, Varavara Rao and Father Stan Swamy are among them. Hindutva leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote – also accused of instigating the 2018 violence – have not been >Continued on P5 PG8 CM: Centre backed ‘no’ to lockdown THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has supported his government’s decision not to impose another lockdown or night curfews in Goa with the suggestion to ramp up the ongoing Covid vaccination drive. Speaking to the press at Panaji, CM Sawant informed, “PM Modi made a call to enquire about the Covid situation in Goa. He told us to undertake the vaccination drive on a mass scale, to make all the facilities available to the people. There is no need to rush into another lockdown at this very moment and this has been our stand since the beginning. PM told me that he appreciates this stand. He told me not to impose another lockdown or night curfews if that is what we have decided.” Sawant said that the vaccination drive is continuing at full swing and parallelly, all economical activities have restarted. “All these will come to a standstill once again if we impose yet another lockdown and people will starve again,” he insisted. The CM further said that his government’s strategy relies heavily on awareness creation. However, he said that the people should take care of their health and well-being although and the government on its part will make all facilities available. “Even if tourists visit in large numbers, there is no need for Goans to mingle with them. Hospitality and other industries are taking all pre- PM Modi made a call to enquire about the Covid situation in Goa. He told us to undertake the vaccination drive on a mass scale. He told me not to impose another lockdown or night curfews – Pramod Sawant SSC, HSSC exams on schedule PANAJI: The Secondary School and Higher Secondary School Certificate examinations, also known as SSCE and HSSCE, will be conducted by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education on schedule by adhering to SOPs and wearing masks and ensuring social distancing. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that his government has not considered cancelling or deferring any of the Goa Board exams as of now. “Goa Board exams are starting from April 24. The exams will be held as per >Continued on P5 cautions. If we all take similar precautions, we can control Covid to a large extent,” CM said.