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Petrol pumps go dry in Goa: Here’s what is causing the crisis

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The petrol pump owners across the state have decided not to purchase fuel on two consecutive days – November 3 and 4 from the oil companies as a mark of protest over their long pending demands, including increase in margins on fuel sale.

This decision of the petrol pump owners is expected to create fuel shortage, thereby affecting a large number of motorists in the state.
According to sources from the Goa Petrol Dealers Association (GPDA), all the petrol pumps in the state, as a mark of protest over unfulfilled demands, would not purchase fuel on November 3 and 4 as per the call given by the All India Petrol Dealers Association.
Speaking to this daily, GPDA president Paresh Joshi said that the decision on whether to purchase fuel from petroleum companies or not will be taken during a meeting, which has been convened on October 21 by the association members.
“We would inform the media about the plans – whether we will be purchasing fuel or not, following the meeting, ”Joshi added.
Even if we decide to go ahead with the scheduled protest, as per the All India Petrol Dealers Association, by not purchasing the fuel on November 3 and 4, we would see that the consumers are not be affected severely on the respective dates, by purchasing available fuel stock ahead of the protest, he added.
The petrol pump owners across the state have decided to operate the fuel stations in a single shift between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on November 5.
The GPDA has also decided to observe blackout as a part of nationwide strike on October 19 and 26 from 7 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. for 15 minutes.
Speaking to the media, Joshi said that the petrol pump owners from Goa have decided to participate in the nationwide protest as per the call given by All India Petrol Dealers Association in order to draw the attention of the oil companies and the government to a long pending demand of increase in margins.
He informed about issues including lack of toilet facility, transportation charges and others which are being faced by the dealers, and added that these issued have been sidelined for a long time now.
He said that the cost of electricity and labour has increased to a great extent and it is not affordable for the petrol pump owners or the dealers to continue with the old margins.
“The margins on the sale of petrol and diesel are very low – around 10 paise and 8 paise respectively,”he said and further added that the association is demanding Rs 1 margin on sale of petrol and diesel.
“The protest made by the GPDA will be a symbolic and phase-wise,” he said and maintained that the GPDA was supposed to put up posters as a mark of protest across the state few days back, but in view of the BRICS Summit, it was decided to postpone the same.
Joshi, however, assured that the protest would not cause any inconvenience to the motorists.
“We would see that the protest would not cause much inconvenience to the consumers across the state,” he added.(NT)

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Broke Swiggy guy walks 3 km to deliver food, Social media helps him find better job. Heartwarming story is viral

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Social media can be a wondrous place at times. While on most days, its ugly face is on display, on days like today, it sets examples of the power of kindness. In a social media post, a LinkedIn user shared how a delivery executive, in need of money and a better job, bagged one after the users on the platform came together to help the person out.

Priyanshi Chandel, Marketing Manager at tech company Flash, shared an incident about a Swiggy delivery agent who had come to deliver food at her residence. When she asked the late and out-of-breath delivery person, identified by her as Sahil Singh, about what happened, he told her that he had no transport and had to walk 3 km to deliver the order.

He also said that he was out of money and had nothing left to pay his landlord too. Singh told her that he was not looking for money from her but requested her to help him bag a job. He said that he had a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering, and had worked with Byju’s and Ninjacart before. He had to move back to Jammu during the pandemic.

“I have not eaten for a week, just drinking water and tea to get by. I am not asking for anything, please if you can find me a job, I used to make 25k before, I am 30 years old, my parents are getting old and I can’t keep asking for money from them (sic),” Chandel quoted saying.

She also shared his marksheets and contact number for people to help. His details shared show that he is a 2018 BTech graduate from Mewar University, and completed his schooling from the Jammu and Kashmir state board.

After she shared the details, the comments section was filled with people who stepped up to help. While someone recharged his Yulu account so that he did not have to walk around to deliver food, someone offered a place to stay. Many offered to help him with his applications, while some offered jobs too.

Chandel, later on put an update on the post, and said that he received a job.

However, so far it is unclear what job he has received.

2023 has so far been a year of job losses, an eventual outcome of the pandemic and increased hiring by tech companies. For instance, the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam that took place in Uttar Pradesh in May saw over 55 lakh applications for Group D jobs. Numerous candidates who applied for positions such as peon, watchman, gardener had educational backgrounds like BTech, MBA, and Master’s degrees.

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Goa CM, NRI Commissioner writes to MoEF for help in safe return of Goans from Ukraine

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Panaji: Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to help in safe return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

Sawant tweeted “we are concerned about the Goans in Ukraine who are considering to return to India in the light of ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. I request Union Minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji for help in the safe return of Goans. I am keeping track of the situation.”

The chief minister’s tweet comes hours after Goa’s NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar wrote to the Union External Affairs ministry seeking help in return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

“Many Goans are currently residing in Ukraine due to various purposes including higher studies and due to the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, I have started receiving requests for help and assistance from them to return back to India,” Sawaikar wrote.

The Commissioner further wrote in the letter that advisories have already been issued by the Ministery of External Affairs to Indians currently in Ukraine and our Indian Mission in Kyiy is currently handling the matter.

“Striking note of urgency, the Government of India has recently asked the family members of Embassy officials in Ukraine as well as students and citizens whose stay is not vital , to leave the Eastern European nation amid it’s raising tensions with Russia,” the letter reads.

Sawaikar wrote that the Goans in Ukraine are in touch with this office as they are anxious to temporarily return till the situation normalizes.

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Election Commission announces polling dates and counting days for Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 states

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On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 States, namely, Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

While briefing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra informed that the elections in the poll-bound States will commence from February 10, 2022, to March 7, 2022. Elections in the State of Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in 7 phases, followed by Manipur with 2 phases. Elections in Goa, Uttarkhand and Punjab will be conducted in a single phase.

According to the Election Commission of India, the votes will be counted on March 10, 2022. ECI informed that all physical campaigning will be ceased until January 15, 2022, in light of the rising cases of Coronavirus.

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