More than 3 years after the present government took charge, there is a regular flow of good initiatives which was rare in the past. Here is a list of news items from the print media across administrative areas. We Goans should be smart enough to compare the present government with the past.

Education

2 educational hubs to come up in Goa
Bursary scheme to pursue higher education in Goa
PhDs in pharmacy, engineering likely in Goa from 2014
Govt floats new scheme to boost literature in local languages
Textbooks to come alive as Goa board plans video-lectures
Forty Goa engineering students to be trained in developing structural concrete using plastic waste
Goa gets higher council under Rusa
Next year on, pay fees from home for any course at GU

Environment

Goa implements scheme to encourage renewable energy
Goa to have waste-to-fuel plant
Goa pollution board to inspect jetties stacking iron ore
Dustbins every 100m on beaches, promises campaign
Govt okays setting up of two plants to turn city plastic waste into fuel
Project to develop replacement for sand to be launched today
Govt to sign MoU with TERI for green initiative
Govt to clean up all nullahs in Goa
GSPCB to hold meet over industrial waste

Agriculture

Big boost for protection of Goan vegetables
Cage-farmed chonok sells like hot cakes in Navelim
Target Goa : Govt's push for open sea cage cultured fish is a complete success,says Shamila Monteiro
'Goa recorded high fish production of 88K tonnes last year'
Agri dept aims at promoting soil-less technology in state
New paddy varieties promise hope for Goa
Sikeri-Mayem hybrid variety paddy cultivation bears fruit
Govt to launch 10cr caged fish farming project
Target Goa : Cage fish farming to be introduced into North Goa

Public Works

Work starts on Keri-Tiracol bridge
Loliem farmers heave a sigh of relief as Peddem water tank completed
Panaji water pipeline replacement under way
After Zuari bridge, Centre to fund 5 more infra works in state
PWD takes up Rs 2-cr works in Pilerne

Tourism

Goa tourism development corporation leases 53,000 sq m on Vagator shores
Ropeway over River Mandovi to connect Panaji with Reis Magos
Green tourism projects on anvil for Panaji
Govt decides to introduce computerised billing system for taxis at Dabolim airport
Climb a 45m tower for a view of Panaji soon
Government on mission to promote green tourism
Target Goa : Bravo Parrikar - Baga Promenade is Goa's step towards a family tourism destination
Visa on arrival to start at Dabolim from next month
With record profits, GTDC gears up for bigger things
About TIME Goa tourism goes online
Travel Biz Monitor :: GTDC unveils ‘Clean Goa Beautiful Goa’ campaign
Govt chalks out plan for garbage-free tourist spots
Women Trained in Martial Arts to Run Goa Taxis
GTDC plans to slash women taxi service prices
Hot air ballooning, amphibious tours in Goa soon
Navy agrees to charters parking planes at Dabolim
Goa star performer in tourism sector: global firm report

Industry

LNG supply to Verna, Kundaim industries in the pipeline
Google offers to put Goa on its 3D map
Govt aims to make Goa aviation hub
Portuguese entrepreneurs keen to set up shop in Goa
Merck inaugurates Biomass Plant in Goa, India | Deccan Chronicle
Goa govt seeks five year tax holiday for new industrial investments
CM Parsekar invites diaspora to invest in Goa
Goa revokes ban on mining
Goa to manufacture amphibious vehicles
Goa govt to rebrand state as IT destination
IFB Industries starts production from Goa factory

Infrastructure

Relief for Vascoites as 34-yr-old sewage pipe replaced at Maimollem
Govt-to-build-rly-bridge-at-Chandor
Mapusa to have state-of-the-art bus stand
Foundation stone laid for 4-laning of Panaji-Old Goa NH4A
Goa floats global RFQ for Mopa airport
GSIDC school repair works underway
Gadkari agreed to concretize NHs in Goa
Gaundalim-Cumbarjua bridge to be inaugurated by May-end

Law and order

Coastal police stations to get technical, executive staff
Online crime data to boost efficiency of Goa police
Goa Police do an Iranian Job, bust inter-state gang
CCTV cameras to be installed at 250 locations across Goa
Goa installs gate at border bridge
Govt tightens rules on massage parlours, spas
Misconduct to cost cops their career prospects
Evening courts on the horizon in Goa
Policemen trained in taking fingerprints

Power

Power outages in Mormugao to ease
New electronic meters for South Goa water consumers
Power dept to replace 75,000 faulty meters
High-tech meters
Now, power cuts to be rare in Calangute

Administration

Goa government sets up its own administrative training institute
Online water bill payment service launched for S Goa
Chicolna-Bogmalo villagers flock to administration at doorstep prog
Govt bans foreign tours, new posts to cut expenditure
Govt in process of working on common service model
New system to manage employee database

Healthcare

Goa launches measles programme for total elimination
Cuchorem Health Center to be rebuilt
Rs. 150 cr GMC upgradation approved: Union Minister
Now, Goans can have kidney transplant free of cost at GMC
Malaria cases down by 46%
Ayurveda ceentre mooted on Goa-Karnataka border

Welfare

State may get Rs 150 crore from Centre to set up disaster mitigation system
Goans registered in Portugal before 1961 to be Indians

Transport

KTC launches airport bus service
Free shuttle bus service for tourists at Calangute
Goa safest

Sports

25 kilometre ride to give cycling in Goa a boost

Art

State govt gives shot in the arm to Goan film producers
Government promotes photography among youth

Finance

CM: Goa will now get 120 crore per month from Centre
Get excise permits, renew licences online
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About 2 years after the present government took charge, there is a regular flow of good news which was relatively rare in the past. Here is a list of news items from the print media across administrative areas. We Goans should be smart enough to compare the present government with the past. Read more . . .

Here is a common Goenkar's view regarding whether Goa needs a new airport, though experts in the field of aviation and economics are better placed for such analysis. Read more . . .

At the end of one complete year in power, the government in Goa has reformed several areas of governance to the point that the positive effects are visible to the common man. We bring you a list of news items that reflect the things achieved or set in motion by the present government and the effect it is having on Goa. Read more . . .

The performance of the present govt in Goa is for all to see. It will be interesting to refresh our memory and compare it with salient projects of the BJP govt that administered the state for 4 years.
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Aam Aadmi...What are his basic needs?

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In Goa, since liberation, we have seen various agitations in public interest by the electorate against the govt. of the day. The issues for all these agitations have been different but the crux of all the agitations were anti-common man decisions of the ruling set-up.

However one wonders if these agitations actually benefit the ruling dispensations. Going by the past records of these agitations where people are brought to the streets to get the govt. to understand the fallacy of their decisions, the govt against which the people have revolted and agitated have been re-elected by the same crowd whose interest was not taken into account in the first place.
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Imagine a scenario. A close relative, may be, somebody in the family, has been diagnosed of Cancer and doctor says it is all over and its a matter of time before he/she leaves for d heavenly abode. "Let him die, I did my best" is what we will never say. Our question will rather be "Doctor, can we save d patient in some way? May be some chemotherapy, some transplant, etc. There must be some way out." And often, we end up trying till the person breathes his last. We cannot fight d inevitable, but at the end of it, we at least have d satisfaction of doing whatever 'Best' we could. But I wonder, will we show the same urgency / care / concern for our motherland as well? Or are we going to leave her at d mercy of some fools, who are not bothered about anything but looting it?

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Dear Manoharbab,

I am writing this open letter to you because of my love for Goa, my deep concern for her future and fervent hope that you , along with your colleague, the ever so gentlemanly Shripadbhau Naik , will be my motherland’s best stewards in her journey ahead. I and very many like thinking Goenkars fromevery community , irrespective of their religion , caste , socioeconomic statusor political clout , believe that while there has been significant progress inGoa in some areas since we got the opportunity to govern ourselves after the first democratic general elections in December 1963, many things have become worse. To the great dismay and discomfort of the people of Goa, the circumstances in which they find themselves are on a downhill slide today.
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Whether one has money or not the feast has to be celebrated. Beg borrow or steal...and that is the Konkani proverb "FULU KHUSTAAR FOZNE!" Fozne referrs to a big resounding fire work on the day of feast and FULU is a third person who pays for the feast! Our chief minister Digambar Kamat submitted a wishlist to the central government asking for 15 thousand crores as a 50th Golden jubilee gift for Goa. There is nothing wrong in accepting a gift but asking for a gift smells a rat. But then we had the odacity to ask for a gift citing three reasons:

• The first reason being Goa got liberated after India's freedom and hence we missed first two 5 year plans. Now in the family if you are born 10 years later you will not ask your parents for the share of rice, sugar and cake which your elder brothers have already eaten earlier.
  
• The second reason is that Goa is a small state. So if we are a small state, does it mean that we should get a big birthday gift? The amount asked for comes to Rs. 1 lac per Goan.
  
• Reason three: Goa was ruled by Portuguese for 450 years. So what? India was also ruled by British for 150 years. Out of guilt the British queen has been funding "sarwa shiksha abhiyaan" in our country inspite of the economic hardships they are facing at present in Britan. Hope we do not go to Portugal asking for a similar gift!!
  

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