6 July 2013

PORVORIM: Sandeep Falari was on Friday elected unopposed as chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC). The post had fallen vacant after Sudhir Kandolker resigned as chief last week. The Director of Municipal Administration convened a special meeting on Friday in the municipal hall to elect a new chairperson.

 The meeting was presided over by Deputy Collector Sabaji Shetye, who, after scrutinizing the nomination papers, announced the names of three candidates ~ Sandeep Falari, Michael Carasco and Gurudas Vaiganker. However, after commencement of the proceedings, Carasco and Vaiganker withdrew their nominations and the deputy collector declared Falari elected unopposed as MMC chairperson.

PANJIM: The town police station has booked two persons on charges of stalking, trespassing into a house and for making inappropriate gestures towards the woman living in the house. Sunny Murgaonkar and Deepak Murgaonkar, both residents of Kevane, Taleigao, are charged under sections 354 D, 509 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code. 

Panjim police said the complainant alleged that both men would constantly harass her by constantly looking at her house. They created an atmosphere of fear in mine and my family’s mind, the woman stated in the complaint. She alleged that the accused would loiter near the gate of her house all throughout the day and many a time at night. 

Stalking has recently been added as an offence under the IPC Section 354D punishable by a term of up to three years in jail and fine.

CALANGUTE: Burglars made an abortive bid to steal cash from an ATM of a bank at Arpora on Thursday. According to Anjuna Police, the bank manager complained that some persons entered the ATM centre room of the bank and removed CCTV camera, thereby attempting to commit theft. The complainant further stated that the burglars also caused damaged to the tune of Rs 5,000. PSI R G Shinde is investigating the case.

PANJIM: Vision Multi-specialty Hospital in association with Dr Seetaram Korgaonkar, a pain specialist, is holding a free camp on chronic pain management on July 21 at its premises at Duler, Mapusa, from 9 am to 2 pm. 

The main focus of the camp will be pain disorders like headache, backache, neck pain, cancer pain, neuralgia (nerve pain), fibromyalgia (muscle pain), post herpetic pain, sympathetic dystrophy, neuropathy, arthritis, pain following surgery and knee pain. 

The treatment involves counseling, behavioural therapy, physical exercises, pharmacological therapy, physiotherapy, interventions like nerve blocks under X-ray or CT guidance, surgery and specific therapy. For appointments, contact 2266188/2266788 or Minette Lobo on 8380078488.

PANJIM: The department of gynaecology at Apollo Victor Hospitals conducted a complicated caesarean operation on a 26-year-old woman, who was 36 weeks pregnant. The patient was brought in with convulsions and hematuria. Clinical examination revealed restricted growth of the baby. It was found that the mother had developed a rare condition ~ disseminated intravascular coagulopathy ~ in which the liver enzymes are elevated and platelet count becomes low. The operation was performed by Dr Ana Vas, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and Dr Uday Nagarsekar. The carefully planned post operation treatment plan ensured that the mother and baby did well.    

PANJIM: Agnel Institute of Technology and Design recently celebrated one year of its existence. Principal Dr V Mariappan, while addressing the gathering on the occasion, said although the institute was new with not-so-bright students it had managed to bag the second rank at the Goa University Semester I examination conducted during November-December 2012. 

He attributed this success to the hard work and dedication of the teaching and non-teaching staff. Also present on the occasion were Director Fr Tony Fernandes (SFX) and CEO Prof J M Noronha. The CEO said a college of this nature was possible in North Goa due to the sheer perseverance, dedication, hard work and motivation of the entire team of Agnel Charities. 

The function concluded with distribution of certificates and awards to meritorious faculty members. 

PANJIM: Dattaguru L Amonkar, Programme and Development Officer at Kala Academy, has been conferred with the degree of doctorate (PhD) in Cultural History by Shivaji University, Kolhapur. His doctoral thesis entitled ‘Cultural History of Bicholim Taluka - North Goa Since 1510 AD’ was accepted for an award.

Amonkar earlier completed double post graduation (MA) in Economics and in History separately, and also holds M Phil degree in History. He was guided by Prof Dr Arun Bhosale, former head of the Dept of History at Shivaji University. 

PANJIM: The government has notified that the Grant of Award for marriage with a disabled person has been increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 25,000. In another notification, the government has extended the validity of the Goa Subsidy for Yellow, Black Motor Cycles, Auto rickshaws and Taxis Scheme 2003 for a further period of five years.

PANJIM: Central Tourism Ministry has constituted the National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC) under the Minister of State for Tourism. Babi Bagkar Secretary of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee has been appointed as a member on this council.  He is the only member from Goa. The council consists of 14 members from across India and all are experts in travel and tourism field. 

PANJIM: YHAI Mapusa unit is organizing its maiden monsoon trek on July 7 at Maan, a village 2 kms from Surla on the Goa-Belgaum route but situated in Maharashtra. Chorla Ghat has lush green hills and Maan has forests and the village is transformed into a green carpet by the streams during monsoons. The Talatri waterfall water flows through Maan and joins the Tillari river, a main feeder of River Colval. The trek will be of 4 kms through the jungle pathway from Chorla-Chowki. Participants should carry their food and drinking water. Bus will leave from Maruti temple, Mapusa, at 8 am. Those interested may contact Ajay Sawant at India Tours and Travels, opposite  Municipal Garden, Mapusa on 9326123828 and Narayan Shinde on 9420688808. 

PANJIM: Fr Agnel High School, Pilar celebrates 60 years of ‘Growing towards Excellence.’ The year-long celebration was ushered in with an Eucharistic celebration by Dr Fr Allan Tavares, Fr Reduzinho Lopes, Fr Carlos Fernandes and Fr Andrew Silveira. Fr Allan exhorted the parents to understand and encourage their children and to be committed and connected with the children.

Fr Silveira welcomed the guests, parents and students. He spoke about the journey of Fr Agnel High School, established in 1953. The highlight of the programme was the unrolling of the scroll with the logo and theme for the year by Fr Allan. The theme is ‘Growing towards Excellence.’ Meritorious students of SSC exam April 2013 were felicitated. This was followed by the general body meeting of the PTA where Fr Silveira urged the parents to give their children substantial and nutritious snacks or meals. He thanked the outgoing children, Xavier Gracias and the executive committee for the cooperation given by them. Later, the new Executive members were elected. Xavier Gracias was elected Chairperson. The other executive members are Selma Cardozo, Sanjay Naik, Somnath Naik, Anna Nunes, Maria Mergulhao, Sanita Fernandes, Sanjay Verlekar, Maria Mendes, Nancy Palha, Paulina Nunes. The programme was compered by Rohini Carvalho.

PANJIM: The Youth Hostels Association of India, Margao Unit will organize overnight monsoon trekking prorgamme to Chorla Ghat, Surla Ghat and Sada waterfall in Sayadhri mountain ranges on July 13 and 14. Special bus will leave from Margao KTC bus stand on July 13 at 3 pm and will return on July 14 evening. The participant will trek to Sada village in Karnataka from Chowki through dense forest and visit the Sada waterfall, ruins of Sada Fort from where one can view the green-capped Mangeli village of Maharashtra.

The programme is open to all YHAI members, non-members and students. Those interested may contact Hemant on 7798604188, Mangeshker on 9822484874 and Rajesh on 9822985151 by July 10.

VALPOI: Phoenix Socio Cultural Association (PSCA), Valpoi, will felicitate SSC toppers at Forest Training Hall, Valpoi, on Saturday at 3 pm. PSCA President Narhari Shirodkar stated that besides the annual felicitation function, the PSCA will also organise ‘Valpoi’s Best Dramebaaz’ monologue competition, for pre-primary students. Valpoi MLA Vishwajeet Rane will felicitate the SSC toppers, while Valpoi Municipal Council Chairperson Ramdas Shirodkar and councillors will be present for the function.

VASCO: The General Body Meeting (AGM) of the All Goa Higher Secondary Physical Education Teachers Association (PETA) will take place at Ponda Education Society Higher Secondary School, Farmagudi-Ponda, on July 7 at 9.45 am.

The issues that will be discussed at the meeting include reports of the activities held, accounts, plan of action and any other business. PE teachers from various higher secondary schools are requested to attend the AGM.