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Goa CM gives nod for FIR in Covid-related labour scam 2 months after Lokayukta order | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant has accepted the Lokayukta’s recommendations and directed the anti-corruption branch (ACB) of the directorate of vigilance to register a first information report (FIR) and conduct inquiry into the labour scam.

Speaking to TOI, Sawant said, “I have cleared the file to conduct the inquiry. The file will be sent to ACB for the registeration of FIR.”
While most other recommendations by the Lokayukta were not acted upon, Sawant had hinted some time ago that the state would order an inquiry in this case in which there were allegations of misue of Covid relief scheme for Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW),
On September 15, a day ahead of his retirement as Goa Lokayukta, justice (retd) P K Misra had directed the ACB to investigate the Covid relief scheme for BOCW, and to file an FIR against those who siphoned off funds meant for labourers.
Misra had stated that if politicians and high-ranking officials were found to be involved, the investigation should be handed over to CBI.
“An FIR shall be filed by the ACB against unknown persons for conspiracy to siphon out money from the Goa BOCW welfare fund…, with a view to distributing largesse by stuffing the beneficiary register of the fund with beneficiaries who are not BOCWs,” Misra’s order had stated.
The Lokayukta had recommended that the CAG look into the functioning of the labour welfare fund, specifically the payments made to beneficiaries under Covid-19 schemes.
The case follows a complaint by Goa Forward Party (GFP), which alleged that the state government had misused the scheme to channel the funds to BJP functionaries, including some sarpanchs and panchayat members.
The order stated that investigating agencies should conduct random checks of all beneficiaries of the scheme to determine how many of them are genuine and what motivated them to register as labourers.
“Labour inspectors may be queried on a similar basis on incomplete forms, how and why they had verified them, whether they were coerced to do so, and their involvement in checking training programmes…,” the order read.
Misra had recommended that in order to get a complete picture, the ACB should speak to current and former bureaucrats of the labour and employment department, to see if they had any doubts about the beneficiaries, and why 3,500 persons who registered between 2012 and 2019 were left out.

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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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