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As Delhi cases spike, Vishwajit Rane for testing at Goa entry points | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: Even as Delhi sees an unprecedented spike in Covid-19 cases, state health minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday called for a revision of the state’s standard operating procedure (SOP) to re-introduce testing at its entry points.
He also wrote to health secretary Amit Satija on Saturday, asking him to consult his counterparts in Maharashtra and neighbouring states to explore what steps can be taken to screen people arriving from Delhi.
However, while Maharashtra is considering suspending flights and trains from Delhi in view of the spike there, Rane said he isn’t in favour of such “harsh” measures.
The resumption of Goa’s tourism industry has coincided with a fresh surge of Covid-19 cases in Delhi. Tourists from across the country, including those wishing to escape Delhi’s heavy pollution and Covid, have flocked to Goa.
The health minister said the spike in the national capital, as well as the return of migrant workers from North India, could lead to a fresh outbreak in Goa.
“It is important to see that Covid cases are under control,” he said. “SOPs have to be in place, or we will be caught on the wrong foot and can’t afford that at this stage.”
As tourists continue to stream into Goa and photos of crowded beaches and non-compliance with Covid norms become commonplace, Rane warned the state could see a second wave.
Rane is also worried about the migrant workers who are expected to return to the state from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other northern states. “We need to have SOPs in place for the migrant workers who will arrive,” he said. “We need to check them, otherwise there will be a spike (in Goa) which I have always been predicting.”
Rane said that while screening and testing can quickly be introduced at Goa International Airport, the government is still “clueless” as to how to keep check on travellers arriving by trains.
Goa stopped testing visitors at its entry points from September 1, but Rane has now suggested that antigen testing should resume.
“How do we handle the people coming in by train from Delhi? This has to be thought of and should be workable. It should be something that can be smoothly monitored. This must be done, and the state cannot take it lying down,” Rane said.
However, speaking on condition of anonymity, a bureaucrat said that any revision in the SOP would require a policy decision from the chief minister. “It has to be a policy decision, for which a proposal will have to be put up before the government so that the chief minister can take a call. In any case, it is the revenue department which will issue fresh SOPs, if any,” said the bureaucrat.

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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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