log on to thegoan.net SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2026 at a GLANCE @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 257 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Goa Engineering College to undertake iron ore grade assessment study Sarkar Tumchya Dari -- All services will now be at your door step TCP focus to be on sustainable devpt with environmental protection `251 crore earmarked for sports; new Eklavya scheme for ST sportspersons Colonial-era records to be retrieved from Portugal archives, to be digitised Day care centres for chemotherapy at both district hospitals STRATEGIC POWERPLAY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday presented the 2026-27 budget that pegs government spending for the year at Rs 30,195 crore. Sawant, who began his over twoand-a-half-hour speech by warning that the global turmoil in West Asia could hurt Goa’s economy, had dozens of populist initiatives including new schemes and enhancing payouts to beneficiaries of existing ones. According to the 2025-26 Economic Survey report which Sawant had tabled in the House, hours before he presented the budget, pegged Goa’s public debt at Rs 30,945.32 crore (estimate) as of March 31, 2026. DETAILED COVERAGE ON PAGES 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 Sawant while presenting the budget projected the receipts for the 2026-27 fiscal at Rs 29,181 crore and claimed a revenue surplus of Rs 1,666 crore. 'Double-engine boon' Sawant stressed that Goa got Rs 2,078 crore in "special central assistance" for infrastructure, the highest ever that the State has received, insisting that this was possible only because of the 'double-engine' governments, referring to the politically aligned Central government. Sectoral allocations Sawant's budget allocates Rs 1,897 for the Public Works Department (PWD). This includes Rs 1,300 crore for ongoing and new infrastructure projects with each constituency will see Rs 100 crore worth of works cleared as per priorities set by local MLAs. Sawant also said roads and bridges will see Rs 1,237 crore for upgrades and maintenance, with utility ducts mandated in all new roads. The Department of Drinking Water (DDW) has been allocated Rs 1,009 crore, a nearly 25 percent increase in allocations over the current year. Sawant said the money will be utilized to replace old pipelines in phases, with automation of supply systems. He said, major projects will be taken up in Bicholim, Canacona and Cuncolim in addition to laying a dedicated pipeline from Verna to Bambolim to address shortages in Tiswadi taluka. `30,195cr TOTAL EXPENDITURE The proposed Integrated College complex at Dona Paula to house six institutions, including colleges of Pharmacy, Home Science, Fine Art, Music, Architecture and Education found mention in Sawant's speech. New ITIs will also be commissioned at Sanguem and Dharbandora, >Continued on P10 `1,666cr REVENUE SURPLUS New hope for orphans; govt unveils job, education quota PANAJI In a major announcement in the State Budget, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday proposed reservation in government jobs for orphaned persons and the creation of a special quota for them in the education sector from the upcoming financial year. Sawant also said that advertisement to fill up 2500 vacancies in the government sector would be released this year through the Goa Staff Selection Commission and that as per the government’s Recruitment Rules, Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC) employees will be provided with reservation in entry-level posts in various government departments based on requirement. “From this financial year, my government proposes to provide reservation in government jobs for eligible orphaned persons and to create a special quota for them in educational institutions,” CM said in the Budget while an- FOR KUSHAVATI „„Funds aimed at strengthening welfare delivery, infra in tribal & rural areas „„Govt to draft ‘Vision Kushavati’ blueprint for long-term development planning „„ST Finance & Development Corporation branch to open, easing loans under key schemes „„Vigilance Directorate branch offices proposed „„Plans afoot for paperless e-office, record digitisation and ISO certification EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES „„Govt to introduce Employment Subsidy Scheme via GHRDC to boost private sector jobs for Goans „„State will provide salary gap funding for three years to encourage companies to hire local youth „„Initiative aims to motivate industries to recruit more Goan candidates by easing salary cost nouncing to implement the policy to regularise all contractual employees who have rendered 10 years or more of service in government departments. A special cell in GHRDC has been proposed to train and upskill youths from the State to employment opportunities abroad. “To create employment opportunities for Goan youth abroad, I pro- differences „„Social Security for Workers: Full implementation of the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 to extend welfare benefits to workers in the unorganised sector „„Govt to launch single unified e-marketplace for unorganised sector to create new economic and employment opportunities pose to establish a special cell in GHRDC. This cell will train and upskill youth from the State and coordinate with various international organisations and companies across the world to facilitate placement of skilled manpower,” he said. CM also proposed to enhance the honorarium >Continued on P10 PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced a collective allocation of Rs 2,217 crore for the health ministry including DHS (Rs 963 crore), Goa Medical College and Hospital (Rs 1,063 crore), IPHB (Rs 82 crore), Goa Dental College (Rs 80 crore) and Food and Drugs Administration (Rs 29 crore). Among the new initiatives that Sawant announced in the sector was free vaccines for an estimated 50,000 senior citizens and creation of a new AYUSH department. Sawant also said that of the Rs 1,063 crore allocated for GMC&H, Rs 143 crore will be spent on ongoing construction work at the premier tertiary healthcare institution. The Chief Minister also announced a proposal to increase the student intake from the current 200 to 250 and added that approval for the same is expected in the current year from the National Medical Commission. Sawant also said that the construction work on an additional 100-bedded hospital is expected to be completed by December this year at the IPHB even as a Rs 45 crore day-care centre there is expected to be commissioned in April. He emphasized that the investments aim to strengthen public healthcare access, modernize infrastructure and improve preventive care services statewide sustainably. `500 CR LIFELINE CONTRACTUAL STAFF WITH OVER A DECADE OF SERVICE TO GET PERMANENT JOBS THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK `29,181cr TOTAL RECEIPTS Education `2,217 CRORE FOR HEALTH SECTOR; SENIOR CITIZENS TO GET FREE VACCINES  See report on pg 3 FROM HEALTH TO HANDHOLDING… Another one for the people: Social support soars THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday unveiled a string of enhanced welfare benefits across key social sectors in the State Budget for 2026–27, promising higher financial support to vulnerable groups, women and tribal communities while expanding health coverage under its flagship scheme. Presenting the budget -the last before the upcoming general assembly elections -- A H ELP I N G H A N D I N N UM B E RS „„Rs 5 crore for welfare schemes for OBC community „„One-time financial aid for traditional workers such as carpenters, blacksmiths, florists and potters „„Griha Aadhar Scheme monthly honorarium for homemakers to be increased „„Atal Asra Scheme: House repair aid raised from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh; construction/reconstruction aid hiked from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh „„DDSSY scheme: Claim limits to be hiked to Rs 4 lakh and Rs 6 lakh; package rates to be reviewed; cover extended to govt staff for treatment at empanelled hospitals in Goa Sawant said the government will review and enhance benefits under the Dayanand So- cial Security Scheme (DSSS), a flagship welfare initiative launched about 25 years ago by former CM late Manohar Parrikar to support the elderly, persons with disabilities, widows and other needy citizens. Citing the rising cost of living and the need to strengthen social security, Sawant said the scheme’s financial assistance would be increased from this financial year after a review. A provision of Rs 479 crore has been earmarked for the scheme. He also announced Rs 5 crore provision to implement welfare schemes for the OBC community and proposed >Continued on P10 Surprise bandhara protest in Assembly sparks chaos Eco Survey rings alarm bells THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA A dramatic protest over the proposed Mirabag bandhara erupted inside the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday after four persons seated in the visitors’ gallery suddenly stood up and displayed placards demanding “justice” and declaring “amkam naka bandhara” (we do not want the bandhara), triggering uproar and sharp reactions from the treasury benches. The protest sent shockwaves through the House and led to nearly 15 minutes of chaos as Opposition members rushed to the well of the House while ministers condemned the breach of Assem- Four arrested for raising slogans PORVORIM: Porvorim police on Friday arrested four persons after they raised slogans and displayed placards -- demanding “justice” and declaring ‘amkam naka bandhara’ -- in the visitors’ gallery of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The accused -- Appa Naik, Upendra Naik, Sagar Naik and Umesh Naik have been booked under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following their arrest, the four were sent to the Calangute Primary Health Centre for medical examination. They will later be produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class. bly decorum. An enraged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant repeatedly demanded the immediate arrest of the protesters and warned that the sanctity of the Assembly had been compromised. He urged the Speaker to order their arrest and initiate action against those responsible for allowing them to enter the House with posters. “Arrest them. Throw them behind bars. They have no right to enter the Assembly. This is terrorist-minded activity,” Sawant thundered, alleging that the Opposition had instigated the protest. “Tomorrow they will come with firearms inside. You will ask them to shoot. Arrest them first,” the chief minister said amid loud protests from the Opposition benches. Assembly security personnel promptly escorted the protestors out of the House, following which they were taken into custody and detained. The incident unfolded soon after Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party raised the Mirabag bandhara issue in the House, pointing out that villagers had been protesting against the project for nearly three weeks and accusing the government of maintaining silence. Within moments, four persons seated in the visitors’ gallery rose and displayed placards opposing the project, sparking pandemonium in the Assembly. Backing the chief minister, senior minister Sudin Dhavalikar said that in his 27 years as a legislator he had never witnessed such an incident inside the Assembly and described it as a serious breach of ethics and legislative norms. >Continued on P10 over rise in Goa’s public debt THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa’s public debt is projected to rise to Rs 30,945.32 cr by March 31 up from Rs 26,605.28 cr a year earlier, according to the Economic Survey 2025–26 tabled in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday. The Survey states that the State’s public debt comprises central loans and liabilities under the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF), market borrowings, and loans from institutions such as LIC, NCDC, NABARD, PFC, HUDCO, EDC and SIDBI. ON PAGE 2 Goa tourism lease revenue jumps nearly nine-fold in six years 10 concrete floating jetties planned on Mandovi, Zuari to boost river tourism The Economic Survey also noted that the State government has estimated its internal debt at Rs 3,872.52 cr for the financial year 2025–26. As per the Budget Estimates for 2025–26, Goa’s revenue receipts are projected at Rs 2,703.26 cr, marking an increase of 6.68 per cent compared to the revised estimates of 2024–25. The State is expected to post a revenue surplus of Rs 2,403.72 cr, while the fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 2,826.45 cr. Capital receipts for the year are projected at Rs 5,664.65 cr. Also, the Revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 20,299.54 crore in 2025–26, >Continued on P10