29 APR 2003: GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS

****************************************
For more information/links, see http://goanet.netfirms.com
****************************************


GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS
April 29, 2003

TO CURB DROP OUT RATE: The State government is making serious efforts to
make education student-friendly and attractive enough to reduce the rate of
school drop outs, said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday. Having
found that the drop out rate is higher amongst students studying in English
medium schools, as compared to those studying in schools imparting
education in regional languages, the government will encourage henceforth
teaching in vernacular languages at primary level. (GT)

LAW TO TACKLE CHILD ABUSE: In a bid to make Goa a child-friendly state, a
new legislation, which seeks to tackle child sexual abuse, employment of
children below 14 in various trades, and protect their rights and interests
in general, has been mooted by the State government. (GT)

VAT BILL: In an unanimous decision of the Goa Assembly, Goa Value Added Tax
Bill, 2003, has been referred to a Select Committee with an objective of
eliciting more views on the proposed change is the existing sales tax
system. (GT)

HUMAN ORGAN DONATION: Santa Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes stressed the need
to frame rules facilitating donation of human organs, mostly eyes, at Goa
Medical College Bambolim. She said during Zero Hour yesterday that many
people who wish to donate human organs are unable to fulfill their last
wish in the absence of proper legislation in this context. She cited the
example of the wish made by late editor of Gomantak Times Mohan Rao, who
desired to donate his eyes. His wish, she said, could not materialise in
the absence of Rules. (GT)

WATER SMELLS OF BEER: Initial findings of the water samples collected from
the Bondki pond at Raia-Manora indicated lack of oxygen while the water
smelt of beer, the health officials maintained. (H)

PLASTIC COLLECTION CENTRES: Environment Minister Atanasio alias Babush
Monserrate told the House that the government had planned six more plastic
collection centres, in addition to the present one in Panjim. Monserrate
further stated a plan for compacting plastic would also be set up at
Sancoale, which would enable proper disposal of plastic. (H)

MIRAMAR OCEANARIUM: An ambitious project to set up an oceanarium at Miramar
is set to be revived while a plasma-pyrolysis incinerator is likely to be
commissioned later this year at GMC Complex, Bambolim. (GT)

GOVT TO RETAIN HERITAGE BUILDING: The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar
informed that the main heritage building at the old Goa Medical College
complex, in Panaji, and another structure of heritage value in the
precincts would be retained, maintained and preserved by the government.
"However, rest of the structures would be demolished to construct a
multiplex building, housing fashion malls," he pointed out, adding that the
proposal was still in the planning stage. Earlier the Saligao MLA, Dr
Wilfred de Sousa, came out with the observation that the old GMC complex
was in a dilapidated condition and needed immediate face-lift. (NT)

ONE KILLED, TWO HURT: A 32-year-old mason, Dnyaneshwar Savlaram Bhishi of
Kudchirem, died on the spot, while two others (who were pillion riders on
the motorcycle) were seriously injured, in a road mishap at
Kudchirem-Bicholim in the wee hours of Monday morning. When they reached a
sharp bend, Dnyaneshwar lost control of the vehicle and the riders were
flung off the motorcycle. Dynaneshwar hit a rock and died on the spot. (H)

ONE SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES: Krishna Satarkar of Shellig-Canacona, who
sustained multiple fractures on both legs in a road mishap, succumbed at
the Goa Medical College Hospital on Sunday. (H)

ONE COMMITS SUICIDE: Mr Shivaji Tukaram Gawas, a 32-year-old resident of
Morlem, Sattari, committed suicide by hanging himself to the rafter of his
shop using a nylon rope. (NT)

RESCUED FROM A WELL: A 50-year-old man, Anil Shrinivas Prabhudessai,
believed to be mentally retarded, was rescued by the fire services, after
he fell into a 15-metre deep dry well at Shiroti-Khola on Monday. 

TODDY TAPPING HAS NO BUYERS: Figures shown there were around 12,000
registered toddy tappers and around 22 lakh coconut trees at the time of
Goa's liberation. A little over forty years now and the figure of toddy
tappers has today slumped to just 3000. The number of coconut trees
utilized for tapping has come down to around three lakh. Salcete, which
once had the highest concentration of toddy tappers, today has only 600 of
them. The rest are spread in the two border talukas of Pernem and Canacona
and other areas of the state. (Guilherme Almeida in Herald)

CANOE OPERATOR AT CANACONA: After ferrying people between Galgibaga and
Mashem for over 30 years, Gokuldas Naik, a canoe operator, is all set to
lay down his oars for good from May 1. Gokuldas does not intend to retire,
but his decision to stop the activity is a mark of protest, if the
Poinguinim panchayat fails to pay him Rs.1,500 as remuneration per month. (H)

2000-LINE VELIM TELEPHONE EXCHANGE: After a long wait, the dream of Velim
people came true yesterday with the commissioning of the telecom exchange
at Velim in the Salcete taluka. With the commissioning of the Velim
exchange the total number of exchanges in Goa has gone upto 140. The new
exchange, which is connected to the Margao main exchange, will be catering
to Assolna, Betul and Velim village areas. (NT)

CHANDOR LOCAL MISSING: A resident of Cota-Chandor, Manuel Santiago Dias,
has gone missing since April 4, in Kerala, where he had gone to attend a
retreat. Manuel is said to have informed his family that he was not feeling
well and was mentally upset from April 10. (H)

BEST OF LORNA: Goa's Nightingale Lorna gave a scintillating live
performance at the Municipal Square, Vasco, on Easter Sunday sending the
5000 plus audience into raptures. The Lorna Live Show with Status 4 was
held under the auspices of the Vasco Carnival Committee with the Millennium
Entertainers. (GT)

S P O R T S

SALGAOCAR, VASCO, CHURCHILL WIN: Salgaocar played like true professionals
and humbled champions East Bengal 2-0 to finish runners-up at the National
Football League at Fatorda yesterday. In Mumbai, Vasco Sports Club overcame
Mahindra United, Mumbai, 2-1 in an exciting concluding fixture of the
National Football League, while in Bangalore, Ghanian striker Yusuf Yakubu
scored three goals as Churchill Brothers whipped Indian Telephone
Industries 5-1 in the National Football League in Bangalore. (NT)

YAKUBU EMERGES HIGHEST SCORER: Churchill Brothers striker Yakubu Yusif
emerged as the top scorer with 22 goals to his credit at the conclusion of
the Oil SU National Football League yesterday. Though East Bengal being
crowned the soccer kings of India, Yakubu received Rs.50,000. Mike Okoro of
East Bengal with 17 goals to his credit is the second highest scorer. East
Bengal received a cash award of Rs.40 lakh while Salgaocar, who finished
second, had to be satisfied with Rs.20 lakh. Vasco Club received Rs.16 lakh
for securing the third spot. (GT)

GOAN VETERANS BAG FIVE GOLD: The Goan veteran athletic squad won five gold
medals at the 24th national veterans championship held at Manipur recently.
Anita Rodrigues led the gold medal winners winning three-shot put, discuss
throw and hammer throw in the 55 plus group. The other golds were won by
Norma Cardozo in 100 m in 60 plus group and Regina Dourado in 200 m in 35
plus section. (GT)

G O A   W E A T H E R
  Max temp: 44.5 deg C; Min temp: 25.4 deg C (yesterday)
  Weather outlook: It is bright, sunny and quite hot in Goa this morning.
And imagine what the situation will be without electricity for a whole
morning, as in Assagao today. Hence this issue of the Clippings has been
posted from Siolim.

Joel D'Souza,
Assagao, Goa, India.
www.goacom.com
www.goacom.com/news