log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline >P13 SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2024 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 67 Payouts for crop damage unlikely before Chaturthi AGRI DEPT PROCESSING OVER 2,500 CLAIMS THE GOAN I NETWORK page 6 First Goan lady bus driver in UK Konkan Food Fiesta celebrated in Dubai IN SHORT >> 27 INDIANS KILLED IN NEPAL MISHAP KATHMANDU: At least 27 Indian pilgrims, all from Maharashtra, who arrived in Nepal for a 10-day tour were killed and 16 others injured after their bus veered off the highway and fell into a fast-flowing river in central Nepal on Friday. Police said the bus was from Gorakhpur in UP carrying 43 passengers, including the driver and two helpers.  >> See pg 8 Taximen call on CM, key meeting on Mon PANAJI: The agitating taxi operators from Pernem finally met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday late evening, but another meeting is scheduled on August 26. Observing that there is no headway to the ongoing strike, Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar acted as a mediator between govt and the striking taximen.  >> See pg 3 Restricted water in S Goa on Aug 27, 28 PANAJI: Sanguem, Quepem, Salcete and Mormugao talukas will have restricted water supply on August 27 and 28 due to maintenance and repair works of 160 MLD WTP/ pipeline at Xelpem. There will also be no supply from the water treatment plant at Selaulim, however 100 MLD WTP will remain functional. Massive rush for Ashtami fair stalls PANAJI: The Corporation of the City of Panaji which began giving out the application forms for allotment of stalls at the annual Ashtami fair along the Mandovi river promenade faced a deluge on Friday. Vendors were seen queuing up since early morning to purchase the forms which the CCP sold for Rs 500 each.  >> See pg 3 Maimollem Lake public hearing ends VASCO: The two-day public hearing on the proposed declaration of Maimollem Lake Wetland ended in Vasco on Friday, with 98 registering suggestions and objections on the second and final day. A total of 156 people have filed statements. >> See pg 2 WEATHER >> Max: 30.1 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 91% TIDES Low: High: 07.35 01.57 20.18 13:42 PANAJI Stacked with applications from over 2,500 farmers from across the State seeking compensation for crop damage due to the July rains and flooding, officials of the Agriculture Department are racing against time to process these and meet the Chaturthi deadline for the payouts, which is seemingly unlikely to happen. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had during the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly said that the government would compensate farmers whose crops were damaged due to the extreme rainfall in June. He had also assured the House that the payments would be made to the affected farmers by Ganesh Chaturthi (September 7). CROP DAMAGE: SCRUTINY PROCESS „„Over 2,500 claims for compensation received across all zonal agriculture offices „„Process to assess claims almost complete but applications from more farmers are pouring in „„Applications with reports from ZAO need to be forwarded to Directorate of Accounts where they are scrutinised „„Crop damage assessed so far is valued at approximately Rs 3.5 cr A top officer, meanwhile, told The Goan that thus far over 2,500 claims for compensation have been received across all the zonal agriculture offices (ZAOs). He said, the process to assess these claims, including field assessments of each application by officials of the re- spective ZAOs is almost complete but applications from more farmers affected by the excessive rains are continuing to pour in even today. “Then there are calls our officials get from ministers, MLAs and other political representatives like sarpanchas and panchas that farmers Kerala woos tourists with bold ad campaign in UK INDUSTRY HONCHOS SAY GOA NEEDS TO TAKE NOTE Source: Goa UK FB VIBHA VERMA THE GOAN I PANAJI While Goa continues to rely on its traditional methods of attracting tourists -- think annual road shows and the World Travel Marts including the one in London -- Kerala has taken a bold leap forward. Having launched an aggressive and visually stunning ad campaign, Kerala is outpacing Goa in the race for international tourists, at least in the UK where thousands of Goans reside. For over three months now, Kerala Tourism’s campaign has been everywhere -from the side of London buses to the static displays in tube stations. Its backwaters, sea and sand are the same areas of natural beauty that Goa also boasts. However, lack of marketing with the same finesse has probably put the latter on the back foot. “This isn’t just another travel promotion by one of Goa’s competitors; it’s a masterstroke in global tourism marketing. Goa should be worried,” said one of the trav- in their areas have not sent in their claims and to entertain those,” the official said, adding that these additional claims were hampering the onward procedure which involves getting approvals for the payouts from the Directorate of Accounts. Assessed applications complete with reports from the ZAO are required to be forwarded to the Directorate of Accounts where they are scrutinised and each claim is either approved or rejected. “Only then can the compensation be paid out to the beneficiary farmer by the Agriculture Department,” the officer said, adding that the first bunch of assessed compensation claims will likely be dispatched to the Accounts Department on >Continued on P5 KERALA’S MASTERSTROKE „„Aggressive & visually stunning ad campaign for international tourists in the UK „„Campaign has been everywhere -- from sides of London buses to static displays in tube stations „„May be part of a larger, comprehensive strategy to capture European market el operators. Sources revealed to The Goan that Kerala’s campaign isn’t limited to London. It’s part of a larger, comprehensive strategy to capture the Eu- ropean market which Goa has been complacent about. “It’s a new innovative way of marketing which Goa >Continued on P5 Sky-high veggie prices leave Goans with bitter aftertaste Vendors blame adverse weather conditions CLINTON D’SOUZA THE GOAN I PANAJI Vegetable prices have hit a new high coming at it does in the sacred month of Shravan when Hindus traditionally embrace a vegetarian diet. This has not only impacted shopping lists but has also sparked a wave of concern and curiosity among locals about the factors driving these escalating costs. The Goan spoke to a number of vegetable vendors who blamed the inclement weather. Afzal Shaikh, a vegetable vendor in Mapusa says that vegetable prices have been increasing steadily over the past week. He attributed this to several factors. “Two weeks ago, there was heavy rainfall in Goa and the neighboring States where most of the vegetables come from,” he explained. “Now, there’s a sudden decline in rainfall, along with high humidity and heat, A vegetable vendor waits for customers at the Panaji market on Friday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar which have again affected crop yields. This has also contributed to the price hike.” When asked if the price increase was related to Shravan, Afzal acknowledged that it could be a factor. “Every year, we see a rise in vegetable prices before Ganesh Chaturthi. But this year, the weather has also played a significant role in driving up costs.” Another local vendor, Suchna Palyekar, agreed that the annual price increase during Shravan is not unusual. “The demand for vegetables always goes up during this month, especially in the last week of Shravan,” she noted. “As demand rises, so do the prices. But I’ve also noticed that more people are opting for organic and locally grown >Continued on P5 EXPOSITION: GOVT TO SET UP WEB PORTAL JOINTLY WITH CHURCH 1 A web portal will be jointly launched by the Goa Catholic Church and the State government to facilitate pilgrim registration and also tackle other issues related to the upcoming decennial Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier slated to begin in November. This web portal will have a window to permit pilgrims book accommodations and manage their visits with queue management options, especially for sick and differently-abled persons.  Describing the Exposition as one of the “biggest events” of the country, CM Pramod Sawant said Pilgrim centres will also be established around Old Goa Church complex and an art exhibition featuring 65 Goan artists will be held at the Santa Monica >> See pg 3 Church. 2 A double-decker bus showcasing Kerala tourism in London. NEERAJ FINISHES 2ND IN LAUSANNE WITH SEASON-BEST 89.49M THROW RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 HONOURNG INNOCENCE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky pay homage at the Martyrologist exposition on Children in Kyiv on Friday. Internal assessment to come in handy for weak Std IX students THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Gearing up to set up exam paper for Class IX for the core subjects like languages, mathematics, science and social science, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) said that students failing in one or two core subjects would be declared pass if they manage to score 80 per cent in internal subject assessment.  In a circular issued, the Goa Board said that the Class IX exam will be conducted in two semesters covering 10 subjects — core subjects like the 3 languages, mathematics, science and social science and elective subjects of interdisciplinary approach, art education, vocational and physical >Continued on P5 GMC, dental admission Govt moots ‘desi’ dress for convocation ceremonies process from Aug 26 NO MORE BLACK ROBES AGENCIES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Technical Education will finally commence the process of admissions to degree programmes at the Goa  Medical College and Goa Dental College on August 26 after much delay due to the controversy surrounding the NEET exam this year. The merit list based on NEET scores of some 3,500 students was earlier this week finalised and released by DTE and the first round of counselling for admission to the 153 MBBS seats and 41 BDS seats at GMC and GDC respectively will commence on Monday. For other courses where NEET scores will be counted -Pharmacy and Nursing -- the admission counselling process will be held later. On Monday, the counseling round for students seeking admissions to MBBS and BDS courses will commence at 9.30 am, according to a DTE official who added that students have been divided into batches based on courses opted. On day one (Monday) itself the process for the medical and dental courses is expected to be complete with letters issued to them for these 153 MBBS and 41 BDS seats.  NEW DELHI n a significant shift from colonial traditions, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Friday that the black robe and cap, a vestige of British colonial practice, will be phased out from convocation ceremonies. In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Panch Pran’ (five resolutions), the Ministry is championing the modernisation of ceremonial attire. The Union health ministry has asked all its institutes to design an appropriate Indian dress code for convocation ceremonies based on the tra- „„Union health ministry has asked all institutes to design appropriate Indian dress code for convocation ceremonies „„Dress should be based on traditions of State „„It said the current prac- I ditions of the State where they are located. The current practice of wearing the black robe and cap is a “colonial legacy”, which needs to be changed. “It has been observed that various institutes under the tice of wearing the black robe and cap is a “colonial legacy”, which needs to be changed „„Institutions must submit proposals for new ceremonial dress to Ministry for approval by the Secretary Ministry currently use the black robe and cap during convocation ceremonies. This attire, which originated in medieval Europe, was introduced by the British in all their colonies. This tradition, being a colonial legacy, needs to be changed,” the Ministry stated in an official order. The new directive mandates that medical institutions create and implement dress codes for their convocation ceremonies that reflect local traditions and cultural herit- age. This change seeks to honour and celebrate India’s rich cultural diversity, moving away from traditional European attire. Institutions must now submit their proposals for new ceremonial dress to the Ministry, through their respective divisions, for approval by the Secretary (Health). “Accordingly, it has been decided by the Ministry that various institutes, including AIIMS and INIs engaged in imparting medical education, will design an appropriate Indian dress code for their convocation ceremonies, based on the local traditions of the state in which the institute is located,” the official order stated.