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Sawant says health minister will issue new SOPs | Goa News – Times of India

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PORVORIM: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday that he would ask health minister Vishwajit Rane to issue a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for Covid-19 in the state. The CM’s statement came on the floor of the House after MLAs raised concerns over the spread of the disease. He said the new SOP would be “implemented strictly”.
Rane, meawhile, said that the government would shift the 30-odd casino staffers who tested positive to the South Goa district hospital immediately, and denotify the micro-containment zone at a housing complex in Porvorim after people from the area became apprehensive. Rane also said that casino operators would be asked to conduct Covid-19 tests on all staffers.
“SOPs on preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state, imposing restrictions on movement, and other (measures) are being examined by the government,” Rane said.
The opposition demanded that the government declares the offshore casino on the Mandovi a micro-containment zone.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said that till date, the government has not declared the casino as a micro-containment zone. He said that the casino staffers should have been shifted to the Covid centre. Khaunte also said that nightlife is continuing in the state as usual. “Where is the use of face masks and social distancing? The CM should assure the House that he will shut casinos,” Khaunte said.
“There is fear and anxiety in the minds of the people due to the absence of Covid protocols in the state,” Khaunte said in his calling attention motion. “Goa was among the first few states in the country to be declared Covid-free, but due to the lack of restrictions on outsiders entering the state, despite foresight of its repercussions, Goa was stripped of its ‘green zone’ title.”
Khaunte said that once again, on the arrival of the second wave, the state government stands unguarded welcoming outsiders. “Our neighboring states like Maharashtra have imposed strict Covid-testing protocols on arrival, to prohibit all possible suspects from entering the state,” he said. “The (Goa) government needs to take similar steps at this preliminary stage to prevent community transmission of the virus.”
He further said that while Covid is fast spreading in the state, the government is permitting exhibitions.
Replying to the motion, Rane said that Goa is a tourist destination, and that the government needs to manage Covid as well as ensure no panic in the minds of the people. “The flexibility of testing and other measures we’re providing are as per the video-conference held with the PM,” he said. “It was very clearly mentioned to take precautions but not to unnecessarily create panic.”
Speaking on the issue of asking for a Covid-negative certificate from those entering Goa, Rane said that he also suggested the same. “A Covid-19 negative certificate can be also purchased, and I want to bring it to the notice of MLAs that we are doing everything possible,” Rane said, adding, “At the same time, we have to co-exist with business. There is no 100% guarantee that with a Covid-negative certificate, a person will be Covid-free.”
Khaunte said that the death of over 800 people due to Covid is also a big number. Meanwhile, Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane said that the government should strictly enforce mask-use in the state. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that asking for a Covid-19 negative certificate is not to stop tourism, but that there should be a balance between life and livelihood.

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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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