log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 100 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Lewandowski nets winner as Barca maintain unbeaten run RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Child artistes at film shootings will now need Collector’s nod GOVT NOTIFIES NEW RULES FOR PRODUCERS, COMPANIES THE GOAN I NETWORK page 6 Is Honda City losing its power and can it steer back to the top? REVIEW: Mercedes EQS580 electric SUV: Excellence in every charge IN SHORT >> No new Bal Raths for aided schools PANAJI: Acknowledging the fact that Bal Raths could be one factor that is driving the students away from the government run schools, Directorate of Education has announced not to grant any further Bal Rath facility to the government-run aided schools. Currently, there are 410 Bal Raths operational for these aided schools.  >> See pg 3 Trawler capsizes, 4 aboard rescued MAPUSA: A fishing boat carrying four persons capsized in the Chapora river on Thursday morning, but all aboard were fortunately rescued. The boat, which had been returning from a fishing expedition, met with the mishap around 1.5 kms from the Chapora jetty.  >> See pg 3 Stock trading scam busted PANAJI: The Cyber Crime Cell busted a stock trading scam with the arrest of two Maharashtra natives Noman Tamboli and Abhay Dandage. The youth, in their early 20s, are charged with allegedly defrauding a victim of Rs 11.60 lakh by persuading him to transfer funds into various bank accounts. >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 28.2 C Min: 24.3C Humidity: 95% TIDES Low: High: 00:11 07:59 14:14 19:05 PANAJI In a bid to make it safer for children, the Goa government has made it mandatory for producers and production companies to get the nod of the district collector if their work involves child artistes. If the producer or production company wants to work with child actors in films, ad films, serials and any other audio-visual media production they will have to take prior permission from the Collector, according to changes notified in the rules under the Goa Child Labour Prevention Act. Additionally, information related to the person who will be responsible for the safety of the child artistes while on the sets will also have to be furnished to the Collector, the new rules mandate. The Department of Labour Welfare, had published these changes in the rules of the law for preventing exploitation of Child can ‘assist’ in family ventures child labour back in early June and sought objections and feedback from the public. These new rules have now been notified and those who require child artistes to work in various media productions including movies, advertisements, serials, reality shows, quiz shows, anchoring of events as well as programs sanctioned by the government will have to follow them. Other rules notified mandate a maximum of five hours a day of work for child artistes, will have to compulsorily be given a break for rest after three hours. Also, arrangements will have to be made to ensure academics and school related activity of the child is not hampered due to their work in the production. As for designating a responsible person for the child artistes' safety on the sets, there must be at least one such person for every five child artistes and no child right is violated in the duration of their associa- Proposal for Pvt varsity at Tivim sparks outrage ALLEGATIONS OF MASSIVE LAND SCAM SURFACE NARVEKAR, KANDOLKAR VOW TO FIGHT PROJECT THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The State government's proposal to allocate 2 lakh square metres of land to a private university has sparked widespread criticism, especially amid growing concerns over the State's limited land resources. Many fear that the plan to set up a private university is a façade for what could become a large-scale land scam. Former deputy chief minister and ex-Tivim MLA Dayanand Narvekar has expressed alarm at the massive size of the land being earmarked for the project. According to Narvekar, no university requires such a vast expanse of land, pointing out that many universities across India function from much smaller premises. He drew parallels to pre- Rethink before opposing educational institutions, says Sawant in defence PANAJI: Amidst growing movement against the proposed establishment of private university at Tivim, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant criticised opposition to the educational establishment urging protestors to “rethink”. Addressing a World Tourism Day event, Sawant said the State government has granted permissions to set up four private universities in Goa that include MIT University, Parul University, National Forensic Science and International School of Law. Sawant said that more private universities have shown interest to set up their institute in Goa and we welcome them.  >> See pg 3 vious land deals, calling the scale of this proposal unnecessary and suspect. "The land given to Zuari Agro has turned into one of the biggest scams in Goa. If industries had developed there, Goans would have benefited from jobs. This mistake must not be repeated," Narvekar cautioned. "In Zuari, the intentions were good. In Tivim, it seems the intention is to grab land. Goa University itself did not come up on such a large plot of land," he added. Narvekar further highlighted the growing pressure on land in Goa, warning that several recent projects are consuming vast tracts of land, >Continued on P8 PG15 PANAJI: The rules of the Child Labour Prevention law amended and notified have a provision which permits children to “assist” in businesses owned by their families. However, the family has to ensure that this association of the child in their businesses does not affect their education in any way. Also in family businesses the Child cannot be engaged in hazardous activity or related to direct production or sales. 20% FEES AS FD: The production company will have to deposit at least 20 percent of the total remuneration being paid to a child actor in a fixed deposit scheme of a nationalised bank favouring the artiste which can be used by the beneficiary child on becoming major of age. tion with the production. Meanwhile, the notification of the amended Child Labour-related rules was welcomed by Peter S Borges, former chairperson the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Borges who is currently assistant professor at the Goa University said the GSCPCR had taken suo motu cognizance of Tragedy in Bihar, 46 drown while taking holy dip during festival 1 At least 46 people, including 37 children, drowned while taking holy dip in rivers and ponds in several Bihar districts during the ''Jivitputrika'' festival, officials said on Thursday. 2 The incidents occurred in 15 districts of the state during the festival held on Wednesday. During the three-day ''Jivitputrika'' festival, women fast for the well-being of their children and take holy dips. 3 Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. The process of providing the compensation has begun, and family members of eight deceased have already received it, an official statement said. >> See pg 8 this issue in January 2022, after observing the gaps in the existing child labour regulations and rigorously pursued the matter. "With the new rules in place, it is crucial that we now focus on stricter vigilance, especially along the coastal belt, which requires focused monitoring to ensure that children are not exploited," Borges said. Sunburn sets sight on Camurlim for its year-end event COMUNIDADE MEET ON OCTOBER 6 THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The organisers of Sunburn, Asia’s biggest electronic dance music (EDM) festival, have proposed hosting their annual year-end event on a large plateau in Camurlim, a quaint village located in the Tivim constituency of Bardez. The Camurlim comunidade has received a formal request from the festival promoters, and the matter will be discussed in a general body meeting of the Gaunkars on October 6. "We have received a proposal from a private company to hold the Sunburn festival on comunidade land. The decision will be put before the general body of Gaunkars for their approval," said Vassudev Gaonkar, President of the Camurlim Comunidade. Camurlim, located about 9 kms from Mapusa town, is known for its peaceful ambiance and narrow roads. The village has a unique identi- We have received a proposal from a private company to hold the Sunburn festival on comunidade land… The decision will be put before the general body of Gaunkars for their approval,” —Vassudev Gaonkar ty, historically recognised for sand extraction. The potential arrival of the Sunburn festival, however, is raising questions among locals, many of whom are concerned about the impact such a large-scale event could have on the village’s character. “We are firmly opposed to an event like Sunburn, which has become infamous for various illegal activities. In the past, we've successfully >Continued on P8 Vishwajit’s jobs comment puts BJP in awkward spot TANAVADE SAYS SOME MAY TAKE TIME TO IMBIBE BJP’S DISCIPLINE ETHICS, WILL TALK TO RANE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane's take on jobs in which he suggested that people may have to opt for a political alternative if the government is unable to create employment left the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership red-faced with Rajya Sabha MP and BJP State president Sadanand Tanavade saying it should not have been made and that he will definitely seek a clarification from the Minister. Tanavade said, it has to be acknowledged that some of the ministers and MLAs are not from the cadre and some of them may take time to imbibe the party's disciplinary ethics. "I will speak to Rane but such statements should not be made,” Tanavade told the TANAVADE’S RETORT „„I will speak to Rane but such statements should not be made „„MLAs and MPs have been making some "concerning statements" „„I have instructed them not to make statements „„One has to understand that not all MLAs and Ministers are originally media, a day after the Minister, at an event in Sattari suggested to the audience to look for a "political alternative" if the current government is unable to create at least 22,000 jobs. Rane had said on Wednesday at Sattari that it is the government's responsibility to create jobs and that he will from the BJP and it will take time for some of them to understand the party’s discipline WHAT RANE SAID Vishwajit had told an audience in Sattari to look for a "political alternative" if the current government is unable to create at least 22,000 jobs request Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to provide employment opportunities for unemployed youth in Goa. He had said that at least 22,000 jobs should be created and given to youth, at least 1,000 in each constituency. Tanavade, meanwhile said >Continued on P8 Geo-mapping, Google images to Kids at risk: Child protection bodies left defunct NO CHILD’S PLAY THIS tackle illegal mineral extraction THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has decided to explore the possibility of using geo-mapping or Google images in a bid to detect and crack down on the unauthorized extraction of minor minerals in the State. Following directions from the High Court, the State government, in consultation with the heads of various concerned departments, has drafted an Action Plan noting down the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for monitoring, detection, prevention and to act upon unauthorized The govt, in collaboration with department heads, has created an Action Plan outlining SoPs for monitoring, detecting, preventing, and addressing unauthorized extraction of minor minerals. Mamlatdar-Talathi office, Police, and Captain of Ports are involved in implementing this SoP extraction of minor minerals. The departments like Mamlatdar- Talathi office, Police, Captain of Ports and others have been roped in to imple- ment the SoP. As per the SoP, the Geologist/Junior Geologist in his allotted jurisdiction will conduct surprise inspections at regular intervals and initiate suitable action while the survey team from DMG will explore possibilities of utilizing geo-mapping/Google Images/ other technologies in detection of visible unauthorized extraction and report to the Flying Squad in-charge. While the Police Inspector will be responsible to maintain a vigil and take action in cases of illegal extraction of minor minerals in his >Continued on P8 PANAJI n what appears to be a glaring failure of child protection mechanisms, three crucial statutory bodies responsible for the welfare of juveniles within the State are currently defunct. The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) are non-functional. While the JJB across both the districts do have Magistrates, it is unable to pass orders in absence of members whereas the Commission is without a Chairperson and members for four months. The absence of these bodies is being felt acutely as I „„Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee non-functional „„JJB across both districts do have Magistrates, but is unable to pass orders in absence of members „„GSCPCR without Chairperson and members for four months „„CASE IN POINT: An outstation police team, which arrived in Goa to take custody of a runaway child was left in limbo as there was no CWC, and the officers were not permitted to meet the child or take him back to his hometown. three recent incidents have raised alarm. In the first instance, an outstation police team, which arrived in Goa to take custody of a runaway child, has been left in limbo. With no CWC, the officers have not been permitted to meet the child or take him back to his hometown. “The team sought the assistance of Goa police but there’s no alternate solution without the CWC’s intervention. It’s a legal risk,” the officer revealed to The Goan. In a separate case, an underage Goan girl who ran away to another State was rescued and brought to Goa on Sunday, September 22. Official sources stated that she is admitted to Apna Ghar under the interim provision of Form 42 -- used in the absence of the CWC. However, the Juvenile Justice Act mandates that a child must be produced before the CWC within 24 hours of admission. For more than three days she remains in the shelter home without further legal procedures. Another family from a northern state is en route to Goa to take custody of their runaway child. However, it remains uncertain if the child can be released without the CWC. Sources revealed that the term of the Commission’s Chairperson Peter Borges ended on May 19 and the members’ tenure ended subsequently in the same month. The term of the JJB lapsed in the third week of August whereas the CWC, granted a three-month extension in June, is defunct since the expiry of its term on September 21. Officials of the Department of Women & Child Department remained unavailable even as sources stated that the file for >Continued on P8