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No testing or curbs for visitors to Goa: Pramod Sawant | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: Putting to rest all speculations that mandatory testing or strict SOPs for tourists entering Goa may return, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said there will neither be any compulsory testing for visitors nor is the government considering another lockdown.
“There will be no compulsory testing as of now and whoever is coming in and has any symptoms, should get themselves tested willingly,” Sawant said.
With cases on the rise again in the neighbhouring states and curbs on visitors, including from Goa, health minister Vishwajit Rane had suggested that the state may also consider strict SOPs for those entering Goa.
Goa Medical College dean and in-charge of Covid hospitals in the state, Dr S M Bandekar, had also said his personal view was that people entering the state should be allowed only with a Covid negative RT-PCR certificate.
But Sawant, who had asked the health department for details about the cases in the neighbhouring states, said the state is taking all necessary precautions.
“Precautions are our biggest weapon. Our economic activities have just begun normalising and there is no point in having a lockdown at present. We are alerting those who are coming into Goa. It is equally important for those in Goa to also take precautions,” he said.
Sawant said the number of new Covid-19 cases reported in Goa are fluctuating and are not on a steady rise. On Wednesday, Goa reported 70 new cases, while there were no deaths.
“Some days ago, there were 100 new cases reported, later it was again down to 45. Though the vaccination has begun, people should keep in mind that maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising has to be mandatorily adhered to,” he said.
“Also, anyone who finds any symptoms should get tested as soon as possible and home-isolate themselves. This is important,” the chief minister said.
Sawant, who took the first jab of the vaccine on Wednesday morning at the Sakhali health centre near his private residence, asked all those who are eligible to take the vaccine.
“My father, too, took the jab today (Wednesday) and the vaccine is safe. Prime Minister has himself taken the jab to promote vaccination. Being a doctor by profession and a frontline worker, I had registered and had decided that I will wait for my turn for the vaccination. Doctors called me up yesterday (Tuesday) and accordingly, I took the vaccination,” Sawant said.
The chief minister said he wants to lead by example and was hopeful that people would gain confidence to go for vaccination.
“There was no pain while taking the vaccine and there was no reaction in the following half an hour. If we want to make Goa free of Covid-19, it is important that we all take the vaccination. After taking the vaccination, there can be side-effects like fever and body ache in the first 24 hours. In Goa, no such case has been reported so far,” he said.
At present there is some crowding only at urban health centres, but the directorate of health services has been instructed to give prior appointments to up to 100 persons and call them for vaccination, Sawant said.
“Presently, there is no need to increase the number of vaccination centres. Vaccination in government hospitals is free of cost and private hospitals will charge Rs 250,” he 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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