log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday MONDAY MARCH 27, 2023 GOA IN SHORT >> Centre notifies `  22 3 as wage rate under MGNREGA for Goa PANAJI: The central government has notified Rs 322 as the per day wage rate for Goa under the rural job guarantee programme (MGNREGA) for financial year 2023-24. This is Rs 7 more as compared to the minimum wages of Rs 315 for the 2022-23. As per the notification Haryana has the highest daily wage rate at Rs 357 per day and Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the lowest at Rs 221. Tension in Corlim over temple deity OLD GOA: Tension was witnessed at Dhulapi-Corlim as one group stalled the attempts of another to install a new idol of Goddess Sateri at Sateri temple on Sunday. Apparently, the installation ceremony of the new statue was scheduled to be held on Monday.  >> See pg 3 40 new Covid cases, caseload crosses 200 PANAJI: Covid continued to give anxious moment to authorities in the State with 40 more testing positive for the virus in the last 24 hours. With this, Goa’s active Covid count crossed 200 mark on Sunday. With 18 recoveries the active Covid caseload presently stands at 212. Siridao locals up ante against mobile tower OLD GOA: Locals of Palem in Siridao have demanded that the mobile tower, being installed near the government school, be shifted out of the village.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 34 C 20 C 74% Low: 08:22 20:43 High: 01:29 15:25 MLAs hold joint meet with Railways, Muslims over Kabrastan issue THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the four-day Budget session of the Goa legislative Assembly begins on Monday, keen tussles between the Opposition and the government are expected to spice up the proceedings even as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will present the State’s budget for the 2023-24 fiscal. The recent forest fires, the Mhadei water diversion dispute with Karnataka, besides some embarrassing happenings like the Anjuna tourist assault and the alleged extortion racket are some issues that the Opposition will latch on to keep the Sawant government Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao claimed that the Opposition MLAs are raring to go and grill the government KEY ISSUES TO WATCH OUT „„Forest fires „„Mhadei water diversion dispute with Karnataka „„Anjuna tourist assault „„Extortion racket during the session on issues important to Goa during the proceedings. Facts and figures related to wasteful expenditure on events and publicity to self-glorify the government will be exposed in the session, he said. Alemao said the govern- H ment will be exposed in the session and it will be proved that it is running away from scrutiny and accountability by holding short-duration sessions. He said, replies to Legislative Assembly Questions (LAQ) will expose the government on issues like employ- PAN-AADHAAR LINK Beware! T ime is running out With the deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking just days away, hundreds of Goans are WHY IT’S still running from pillar to post IMPORTANT to get these two documents „„It is part of KYC linked by March 31. requirements for Although there are several various financial serdemands to extend the vices, investments deadline, there is no word „„Exercise aimed at from authorities yet stopping duplication of PANs „„Can also help in identifying bogus PANs „„In securities markets having a valid PAN is mandatory CHRISTIAN DATA „„Those identified as “Christian” had an older age profile and reported poorer health „„Were most likely to live in households that owned their home outright „„This group had a median (average) age of 51 years, compared with 40 years for the overall population percentage of their population reporting either very ‘good' or ‘good' health (87.8 per cent), compared with 82.0 per cent of the overall population, the ONS finds, adding that the Hindus also reported the lowest THE IMPLICATIONS „„PAN will become inoperative from April 1, 2023 „„You will not be able to file I-T return using inoperative PAN „„Your pending returns will not be processed „„A higher rate of tax will be deducted THE EXEMPTED LIST „„Individuals living Assam, J&K and Meghalaya „„People who are NRIs as per Income-tax Act, 1961 „„Individuals 80 years or above at any time during previous year „„A person who is not a citizen of India Claims Sikhs were most likely to own homes LONDON indus living in the UK are among the healthiest and well-qualified religious groups and Sikhs are most likely to own their homes, according to latest census data for England and Wales. The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been analysing census statistics to release info across various subcategories for the country's population based on the responses of the online census conducted in March 2021. In its latest release entitled Religion by housing, health, employment and education'' this week, the ONS finds that life outcomes for religious groups varied considerably. In 2021, those who identified as ‘Hindu' had the highest RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Diet myths you must never believe if you want to remain healthy! SPORTS Mumbai Indians beats Delhi Capitals to become first WPL champion ALL EYES ON BILL RESTRICTING TRANSFER OF AGRI LAND Hindus are among healthiest, qualified, reveals UK census PTI Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday 3 2 10 Govt, Oppn brace up for tussle; Budget session begins today GOA Fire engulfs dry grass at Fatorda MARGAO: The Margao fire brigade rushed to Fatorda behind the Ravindra Bhavan on Sunday after fire engulfed dry grass. As the fire threatened to spread, the firemen immediately started firefighting operation to douse the fire.  >> See pg 2 The Goan (Playstore) 12 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 278 Waste management: MMC mulls road map for Sonsodo CYBERCRIMINALS CAST THEIR ‘PHISHING’ NETS WIDE OPEN >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday prevalence of disability. People who identified as ‘Hindu' had the highest percentage with a Level 4 or above [certificate-level] qualification (54.8 %), compared with the overall population (33.8 per cent), it noted. People who identified as ‘Sikh' were more likely to live in households that owned their home 77.7% of those who identified as ‘Sikh' lived in households that owned their home, the ONS said. The religion question is voluntary in the census and in 2021, 94 per cent of the overall population in England and Wales of 56 million chose to answer the question. The ONS said that many of the life outcomes discussed in its analysis may be influenced by the differing age and sex profiles of religious groups. 12 Nikhat, Lovlina punch their way to C’ship gold PTI NEW DELHI Nikhat Zareen continued to grow in stature as she added a second world title to her trophy cabinet while Lovlina Borgohain broke her ''bronze jinx'' to claim her maiden gold medal at the marquee event here on Sunday. Nikhat upstaged two-time Asian champion Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam by a 5-0 verdict to take the light flyweight title in front of a packed crowd at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall. Two-time bronze medallist Lovlina, on the other hand, defeated two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Caitlin Parker of Australia 5-2 to win her maiden world title. With the win, Nikhat becomes only the second Indian after the legendary MC Mary Kom to win the title of the prestigious tournament twice. “I am very happy that I have become a world champion for ment generation, failure to fill government vacancies, poor disaster management among others. The government on the other hand has planned to enact some crucial legislations, including a law to restrict sale or transfer of agricultural land to non-farmer residents from outside the State and another which will facilitate acquisition of Comunidade land for public projects. While Sawant is expected to present the 2023-24 Budget either on Tuesday or Wednesday, the ‘general discussion’ on it has been deferred to the monsoon session even as the government will opt for a four-month vote on account to defray expenditure for the first four months of the new financial year from April 1. The last day (Friday) of the session after a one-day break for Ram Navami on Thursday, has been earmarked for private member’s business, which was skipped in the winter session and which turned out to be a flash point for a bitter confrontation between the government and the Opposition. Its brute majority in the House is expected to come in handy for the government as has often been the case in past proceedings. The Sawant-led government enjoys the support of 32 members (27 of the BJP, two of the MGP and the three Independents) while the Opposition has seven -- Congress which has three, two of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one each of the Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans Party. Major space Op, ISRO rocket blasts off with 36 satellites Two lives snuffed out after truck hits bike in Sanguem PTI Locals threaten not to perform final rites of deceased SRIHARIKOTA The Indian Space Research Organisation's heaviest LVM3 rocket on Sunday successfully placed 36 internet satellites of UK-based OneWeb group company into intended orbits. The 43.5 metre tall rocket blasted off at a prefixed time of 9 am on Sunday, from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, about 135 kms from Chennai, at the end of a 24.30 hour countdown. This is the second dedicated mission of NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation. ISRO had signed an agreement with Network Access Associates Ltd, United Kingdom, a OneWeb Group Company, for the launch of 72 satellites into Low-Earth orbits (LEO). The first batch of 36 satellites were launched on October 23, 2022 by ISRO, and the second batch today. OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments and businesses. Nikhat Lovlina the second time, especially in an Olympic category,” Nikhat, who won the 52kg title last year, said after her bout. The first bout of the day between the two Asians was an exciting affair that went down to the wire. “Today''s bout was the toughest for me, she is an Asian champion and my next target is Asian Games and I might meet her, so I will work hard,” Nikhat said. “It was the final so there was stress but I tried to play like the coaches said, I wasn't entirely successful at times but I am happy to win the gold and make India proud,” Lovlina said after the bout.  (Details on pg 12) THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM In a fatal accident reported at Cotarli in Sanguem, two persons lost their lives after a truck hit their two-wheeler killing the rider instantly and seriously injuring the pillion rider. The pillion rider later succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Sanguem PHC. The incident occurred when the truck was proceeding towards Sanguem after unloading gas cylinders at Xelpem Industrial Estate hit the two-wheeler. Manjyot Chari who was riding the vehicle was dragged for about 20 metres after being hit killing him instantly and seriously injuring a migrant labourer who was seated behind. Incidentally, Manjyot’s younger brother Navlesh was killed in an accident in the village some five months back. Immediately after the accident, a large number of villagers gathered at the site and threatened not to take the body for final rites un- The truck involved in the mishap on Sunday. less strict measures are put in place with regard to heavy trailers plying through the village roads. In October last, another accident had taken place and villagers had resorted to road blockade demanding steps to regulate traffic in the village. Later in the evening, Sanguem Mamlatdar Gaurav Gaonkar and the Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai made their presence felt at the place of accident and tried to convince the villagers but to no avail. Even the ambulance which had come to the site had to return as the villagers were in no mood to take the possession of the dead body. However, till late evening the authorities could not convince the villagers who stuck to their demands for a permanent solution in the matter. A joint meeting is now scheduled of the villagers with the company officials and the government authorities on March 28.