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Goa: Not just cinema, Iffi inaugural celebrates vaccination drive | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: Cinema and the Covid-19 vaccine found common ground at the opening ceremony of the 51st International Film Festival of India in Goa, as the event became a celebratory occasion for the launch of the historic inoculation drive.
Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said that while January 2020 saw the first Covid-19 case reported in India, January 2021 marks the beginning of the end of the pandemic in the country.
“See the talent, intelligence, and determination of the human race,” Javadekar said. “There was faith that any challenge can be overcome. India will win and Covid-19 will lose. I am already inviting you for the 52nd Iffi in November this year, where you will see the stadium filled to the brim with people, and there will be unending applause ringing through the stadium.”
The muted opener had only 300 persons due to guidelines associated with the pandemic.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, I&B additional secretary Neerja Sekhar and festival director Chaitanya Prasad were among others to acknowledge the beginning of the vaccination programme in India.
We are starting this year on a very positive note,” Sawant said in his address.
“We have received the first batch of vaccines for our frontline workers. From the grand stage of Iffi, I extend my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the tremendous efforts to bring India out of the grip of the pandemic and its socio-economic impact. Even as many countries are looking at another lockdown as the only option, our PM has taken up (this) massive vaccination drive.”
He added that health and hygiene would receive priority at Iffi 2021 to ensure the safety of participating guests and delegates.
Javadekar later announced that from the next edition of Iffi, in November, the entire event would be held with joint investment from the government and the private sector.
“Iffi is being organised every year with funding from the government of India and the Goa government. Why is it so?” he asked. “There should be participation from the film industry and other industries as well. The government funds it because it wants to promote art and culture. But it does not mean this is the sole responsibility of the government. That is why I invite private participation, and we will see this from the 52nd Iffi itself.”
As Iffi is being held this year in a hybrid format, with films being screened in both physical and online formats, Javadekar opened the virtual ‘Film Bazaar’ this year.
While the Union minister urged filmmakers to take up more film shootings within India, stating that the country has 500 sights to delight cinematographers as against Switzerland’s 50, the Goa CM asked the film fraternity to invest in Goa, assuring single-window clearance for projects.
As ‘International Jury’ head for the 51nd Iffi, Pablo Caesar, and this year’s lifetime achievement awardee, Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, among others, participated virtually at the festival, the opening ceremony too ended up a combination of the physical and the virtual.
“We are going to set the standard for other festivals on how a physical and online festival can be held simultaneously,” said festival director Prasad, as many international film festivals have faced postponement due to the pandemic.
At this festival, which will close on January 24 as per its delayed schedule, there will be over 200 films screened — 119 in the physical format and the rest through Iffi’s own OTT platform. Of these movies, 85 are premieres.
“Even as the pandemic has dimmed lights on many events worldwide, Iffi shines bright,” said Sekhar, the additional secretary.
Kannada film star and chief guest for opening ceremony, Sudeep, after inaugurating the festival, said, “Let cinema be the new pandemic and let the show go on.”
As the neighbouring country of Bangladesh is this Iffi’s ‘country in focus’, Javadekar told the country’s high commissioner to India, Muhammad Imran, who was present as guest for the opening event, that a joint film by India and Bangladesh will be launched soon on the father of the friendly nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Veteran Indian film actor Bishwajit Chatterjee will be given the Indian film personality of the year award this year, which will be presented later around March and not as usual at the Iffi closing ceremony due to the pandemic, Javadekar announced.
This year, only 2,200 delegates will participate in Iffi’s physical form due to pandemic restrictions, Sawant said.

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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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