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Stung by criticism, Goa govt eyes PR exercise | Goa News – Times of India

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MARGAO: The state government has embarked on a damage control exercise after it has been criticised for its handling of the pandemic.
As per the directions of chief minister Pramod Sawant, the department of information and publicity has organised a workshop exclusively for public relation officers (PROs) of the government departments and corporations and for officers of special duty (OSDs) to cabinet ministers on June 1 to train them in countering the adverse publicity.
“The workshop is aimed at enlightening the PROs/OSDs about their role and responsibilities and to act forthwith on the critical reports appearing in the mainstream media and to counter the adverse publicity against the government by disseminating factual info to the print/electronic media and social media platforms on day-to-day basis,” reads the circular issued by director of information and publicity Dipak Bandekar.
The state government has been on the receiving end of severe criticism from various quarters.
The high court of Bombay at Goa has also criticised the government over what is perceived to be its imprudent management of the pandemic leading to deaths of number of patients in hospitals largely owing to non-availability of oxygen beds and ventilators, besides fluctuations in oxygen supply at Goa Medical College.
Significantly, the government had also come under criticism from the state core committee of the BJP recently with the members expressing their displeasure over the way the government handled the pandemic.
With state assembly elections hardly a few months away, sources said BJP is obviously concerned over the beating the image of the party and that of the chief minister has taken over the issue.
Following persistent demands from the Opposition, the state government recently formed a 15-member special task force under the chairmanship of the chief minister to prepare for the third Covid wave, comprising both private and government doctors.
Besides the task force, an expert committee headed by GMC dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar has been formed to review the second and third waves and accordingly advise the state government.
After the high court came down heavily on the state government, it hurriedly commissioned the super-speciality block of the GMC and transformed into a Covid hospital, thereby reducing to some extent the burden on the existing infrastructure of the GMC.
“We do not want to read any report in the newspaper that yesterday these many people died due to lack of oxygen. Let’s focus on tonight and ensure that no one should die. If any Covid-19 positive patient dies due to lack of oxygen, then it is an infringement of the right to live under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It is the duty and the responsibility of every state to protect the lives of the citizens,” the high court, hearing a raft of PILs on Covid mismanagement, had said on May 12.



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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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