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Centre gives Goa Rs 300 crore for 60 years of liberation | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: Goa, which is in its diamond jubilee year of liberation from Portuguese rule, got an unexpected bonanza from the Union Budget with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing a grant of Rs 300 crore for the celebrations. CM Pramod Sawant, who had sought Rs 100 crore from the Centre for the year-long festivities, was quick to thank Sitharaman and Union home minister Amit Shah for the grant.
While Sitharaman mentioned Goa’s liberation struggle twice in her speech, the state did not find mention in the schemes and projects outlined for other states.
“2021 is the year of many important milestones for our history. I mention a few of these: It is the 75th year of Independence, 60 years of Goa’s accession to India,” said Sitharaman. “Goa is celebrating the diamond jubilee year of its liberation from Portuguese rule. From the government of India’s side, I propose a grant of Rs 300 crore to the government of Goa for the celebrations.”
The speech did not offer clarity on when the funds would be disbursed and if they would come for any specific purpose.
Though Goa’s mining and tourism sector were given a miss, the state’s private sector welcomed the finance minister’s speech. Investments in infrastructure development and the promotion of MSMEs is expected to have a trickle-down effect on Goa’s industrial sector.
While welcoming the grant of Rs 300 crore, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said the state’s economy depends on tourism and it would have benefited if the Budget had made some provisions to encourage the tourism sector along with fisheries.
“Unprecedented allocations on sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, financial sector, education and skilling etc may upset the fiscal prudence that the government has been observing thus far. But the government has preferred growth over fiscal prudence,” GCCI vice-president Ralph de Sousa, said.
The state government has already begun working on the year-long events to mark 60 years of Goa’s liberation from colonisation. It plans to organise at least one programme in the capitals of various states and Union Territories to showcase Goa’s culture and tourism as part of the festivities, which commenced on December 19.
Goa was liberated on December 19, 1961 after being under at least 450 years of Portuguese rule. With the state set to complete 60 years of freedom, the BJP government will be keen to use the occasion to its advantage ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections.
While a series of exhibitions, seminars and cultural events have been planned to highlight Goa’s identity, Sawant had also said the state would renovate all historic monuments and preserve historic places that will serve as study centres for the younger generations.
“Sixty years of Goa’s liberation is a significant milestone in India’s rich history. I thank the Union finance minister for the special mention in her budget speech,” Sawant tweeted on Monday. “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the allocation of Rs 300 crore in the Budget to mark 60 years of Goa’s liberation. I also thank the Union home minister Amit Shah for his continued guidance and support,” he said in a subsequent tweet.

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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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