Incredible Goa November 2022 Issue

A mass communication graduate from Jabalpur University, Shruti has come a long way to become one of the most prominent wedding plannersinthecountry Shestartedherjourneyasajournalist...

IG HOSPITALITY

Rajeev Kumar needs no introduction as the Hospitality industry of Goa is very well acquainted with this name. Holding the position of theGeneralManagerofFernKadambaHotel&Spaforalmosthalf..

Born

a small

called Deulwada situated in the Arambol, Pernem in North Goa, Krunal is a differently-abled youth whodefiedalltheoddstobecomeawinner Heisalawgraduate...

TALENT

Rachael Dsouza is a budding freelance mural artist from Goa. Born and raised in the beautiful village of Moira, she has done her schoolingatStThomasConventSchoolinAldonalatershejoined...

The ICAI MSME Yatra which is to cover 75 cities in 75 days, reached Panaji Goa on Friday, 11th November 2022. President of GoaChamberofCommerceandIndustryMrRalphDeSouza...

DR PRAMOD SAWANT

Season of Festivities

Editor & Publisher

Rajesh Ghadge rajesh@rajeshghadge.com

Finance &Admin Rajeshree Naik Ghadge admin@incrediblegoa.org

Copy Editor

As we are heading towards the tourism season when the crowd start growing across the state and with IFFI this year in full physical format, with no threat of Covid, it looks like great times await us!

any hurdles.

Our interaction with the CEO of ESG was fruitful and we gained many valuable and informative inputs from her and you can read them in our In Focus section which will put light on the IFFI delegations, norms, safety measures and interactions.

Layouts & Design

Creative Concepts Media creativeconceptsgoa@gmail.com

Sales & Marketing

Team Incredible Goa sales@incrediblegoa.org

Contributors

Norbert D’Souza

CAGaurav Kenkre Dr. Schuyler Pereira Aditi Malhotra

AnitaAthi write@incrediblegoa.org

Goa is back in the game in full force with a number of festivals on the calendar this yearend starting with the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and followed by Christmas parties, EDM festivals and finally the New Year's Eve celebrations. It's been forecast that some 4 million people will be visiting Goa this season.

Coming back to the 53rd IFFI, this time the festival is planned on a much grander scale compared to previous years, and according to the CEO of the festival, this IFFI will even top the 50th one and I can feel the difference looking at the kind of preparations that are taking place.

Circulations Manager Photography

Aakash Ghadge

subscribe@incrediblegoa.org ghadge.aakash96@gmail.com incrediblegoamedia@gmail.com

This time ESG does not have a Vice Chairman and hence the Chief Minister of Goa has taken the whole responsibility of handling it himself. To find out more, I met the CM, Dr Pramod Sawant Ji, and the cover story of this issue all about his plans for IFFI, other ongoing developments and ones that are in the pipeline.

Before the season ends, one more mega event will be witnessed by Goa and Goans and it is their own Incredible Goa Awards which is scheduled to take place at Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts, Goa in mid December These awards are specially crafted to honour the incredible people of Goa. More details on this will be revealed soon on our digital media platforms. We always strive to bring the very best content to you every month and make sure that the design of the magazine also matches the same hence we keep modifying and experimenting to make it exciting and catchy. I would love to provide recognition to the genuine talent on this platform and w o u l d b e h a p p y t o r e c e i v e recommendations and suggestions from you.

Team Incredible Goa

Our CM is really working very hard to shoulder all these responsibilities and I really felt that when I met him in person this time. He has many plans for the development of the tourism industry in Goa and he wants the people of Goa to support him and his government to carry out the same without

Our readers are our strength and that keeps inspiring us to create better content every time hence your recommendations will be taken into consideration on a priority basis. If you want to get in touch with me, please drop me a mail at rajesh@rajeshghadge.com and be a part of this media platform to make it more valuable for the readers. Till next time happy reading…

Printed,

Cover Page Credits - CMO GOA

Aiden Vagator by Best Western, Your Address for the Next Goa Vacation!

just 950 m away f r o m Va g a t o r Beach, bringing a touch of global hospitality to Goa, Aiden Vagator is a boutique hotel that combines luxury, comfort, thoughtfulness and service like no other.

With its central location and close v i c i n i t y t o beaches, popular restaurants, clubs and marketplaces, Aiden is all set to b e c o m e a preferred choice for travellers.

With free WiFi and a fitness centre at t h e g u e s t s ’ disposal, guests would never miss out on their routine activities be it #WorkfromGoa goals or #FitnessGoals.There is also a swimming pool that the

guests can dip into a n d s w i m t h e i r worries away. Aiden V a g a t o r a l s o f e a t u r e s a multicuisine café, a restaurant with a full fledged bar offering crafted c o c k t a i l s a n d contemporary Indian cuisine.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Irene Almeida, General M a n a g e r , B e s t W e s t e r n A i d e n Vagator said, “with world class service, a wide range of modern amenities and a tourist-friendly location, the Aiden Vagator, is much more than the finest i n t e r n a t i o n a l hospitality stopover in Goa”. Aiden’s launch was attended by many well known celebrities including famous music director Sajid Khan of Sajid-Wajid fame,

Holiday Inn Goa Candolim Celebrated Cake Mixing With El Shaddai Children

candied fruits, assorted nuts, raisins, spices and spirits were arranged in an exquisite style to soak the dry fruits in and were mixed joyfully for exotic dough preparation to mature beautifully in time for Christmas. Post cake mixing guests enjoyed their evening with Chef's special hitea, serenade's singings beautiful Goan songs and Christmas carols and shared well-wishes with the Holiday Inn Goa Candolim team and welcomed festivities in the city together.

Holiday Inn Goa Candolim welcomed the 2022 festive season with the spectacular Cake Mixing Ceremony held this week. This year the annual ritual was done as part of a specially curated Drunch a unique concept of hand-crafted drinks + lunch at the Viva All Day Dining restaurant to elevate the guest e x p e r i e n c e a n d o f f i c i a l l y

announce the start of festivities at the hotel.

The event was a fun filled celebration where kids from El Shaddai Charitable Trust and kids from the in-house guest initiated the ceremony by mixing spices and juices thereafter elite guests and hotel colleagues joined together and bonded over the joy of the ceremony A variety of

O n t h i s o c c a s i o n , S u r a j i t Chatterjee, General Manager, Holiday Inn Goa Candolim said “The timeless tradition of cake mixing sets the mood for C h r i s t m a s a n d N e w y e a r celebrations. This is one annual event the team at the hotel looks forward to and this year ' s ceremony is even more special as it is being celebrated with the children from the El Shaddai Charitable Trust. The cake mixing

ceremony is symbolic of all the good times ahead and starting the season of giving on a happy note and cherishing the bond each team member shares with the other.” The hotel concluded the beautiful evening by giving all the kids a special festive gift hamper.

Aiden Vagator Goa is amongst the first Aidens in India by the Best Western Chain of Hotels. Situated

Bollywood actors Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Gulshan Grover, Sohail Khan, Mahima Chaudhary were also present amongst others.

Blue Iris opens at Benaulim Beach Goa

classics, prepare to b e w o w e d b y cocktails that are high on technical ingenuity. Blue Iris is best known for its B B Q d i s h e s , sundowners and of course for hosting Goa's first Beach Brunch!

Spice Studio Celebrates The Kodava Trail with Chef Anjali Ganapathy

South Goa's iconic destination for beach dining is now open for the season. Located next to Azaya Beach Resort on Benaulim Beach, this sea facing restaurant and bar offers live seafood, artisanal cuisines and delectable cocktails amidst an impressive lineup of v i b r a n t a r t i s t s a n d l i v e l y entertainment.

Embark on a gastronomic journey with a widespread selection ranging from a dedicated section for vegan preparations to exotic meats like A5 Wagyu, live crabs and fish. From coconut cocktails to molecular mixology and from clear cocktails to re routed

During the day, Blue Iris has a mellower feel, with shades of blue accentuating the natural beauty of this venue, but as night falls and the lights dim, it transforms into a sultry hideaway. Romantic cabanas with flowing fabric and seashell curtains lend a dreamy silhouette for an intimate setting while beachbeds and floor cushions set the mood for a casual reverie or a boisterous catchup with friends and family. The unique sunken sand dining experience is ideal for marking special occasions or memorable celebrations.

FC Goa Beats ATK Mohun Bagan 3-0

Gama, respectively. The return of the Spaniard bolstered the Gaurs' defence.

Spice Studio, homestyle coastal restaurant at Alila Diwa Goa invites you to come and explore the land of the Kodavas, with a b e s p o k e d i n i n g experience, featuring a meal curated by Chef A n j a l i G a n a p a t h y , Founder – Pigout A Coorg Kitchen Story and Chef Pradeep Rao, Executive Chef at Alila Diwa Goa. The menu offers delectable options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarian dishes with the rich authentic flavors of Coorg. Some of the must-tries are Koli Nallamallu Barthad (chicken in roasted spices) and Kaime Unde (mince cutlets), in appetizers followed by mains that include Kakkada Njende Curry (mud crab), Erachi Curry (mutton) and the classic Pandi Curry (pork), paired with accompaniments Akki otti, Kadambutt, and Paaputtu.

No meal is complete without the luxurious Kodava Erachi pulao and desserts, which include Khus Khus Payasa, Koovale Puttu or Bale Nuruk.

Chef Anjali Ganapathy and Chef Pradeep Rao,with the team of Spice Studio, bring you flavours from a Coorg kitchen. With fresh sea food, meats, roasted spices and kachampulli,, coming together seamlessly on a plate, we invite you to unique dining experience.

Goals in the second half by Aibanbha Dohling and super-subs Fares Arnaout and Noah Sadaoui helped FC Goa register an emphatic 3-0 win over ATK Mohun Bagan at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday.

The victory also resulted in the end of the Mariners' unbeaten run over the Gaurs, which had lasted for two seasons since the former's inception.

Earlier in the day, FC Goa Head Coach Carlos Pena rang in two changes to the playing XI that started in the defeat against Kerala Blasters, as Redeem Tlang and Marc Valiente replaced Noah Sadaoui and the injured Saviour

The first half saw the hosts dominate most stat charts with Pena's boys maintaining 58% of the ball possession, playing nearly double the number of accurate passes as their opponents, with four shots on target during the period.

It all began in the 2nd minute itself, when a sumptuous long ball forward from Edu Bedia in the midfield found Alvaro Vazquez, who advanced into the ATKMB box and pulled the trigger, forcing Vishal Kaith to make an equally brilliant diving save.

Three minutes later, both Iker Guarrotxena and Bedia tested t h e 2 6 y e a r o l d i n q u i c k succession, but the opening goal continued to remain elusive.

In the 22nd minute, when FC Goa finally managed to put the ball into their opponents' net courtesy of a tap-in by Vazquez, the goal

was ruled out because of an offside call by the referee. This did not deter the Men in Orange as they continued to create chances at will, and ultimately ended the first half on a promising note.

Following the change of ends, it took only five minutes for the Gaurs to get the much-awaited lead It was orchestrated by Anwar Ali, who spotted Aibanbha Dohling's run on the left wing and put a diagonal long ball into his path, only for the latter to outrun the defender, go towards the goal and squeeze a shot into the top right corner of the net from the tightest of angles.

The goal put ATK Mohun Bagan further on the back foot, and that they could not win the ball back from FC Goa did not help their cause either.

Soon afterwards, Pena brought Fares Arnaout and Noah Sadaoui on from the bench, in what eventually proved to be a tactical masterstroke. Both players found

the back of the net in a space of six minutes and put the game to bed.

Arnaout's strike came first, in the 76th minute Edu Bedia found himself in the thick of things once again, as he launched a cornerkick on to the near post, and the Syrian international in turn escaped his marker before nodding the ball home.

The final nail on the Mariners' coffin was driven in by Sadaoui in the 82nd minute, when he caught their goalkeeper Kaith out of position and drilled one in from over 30 yards out.

Special mention must go to FC Goa's defence, whose astuteness was rewarded with a clean-sheet, their third of the season The victory, meanwhile, puts the Men in Orange at third place with 12 points from six matches.

Up next for Carlos Pena's boys is yet another assignment at home, a g a i n s t B e n g a l u r u F C o n Saturday, November 26.

Planet Hollywood Announces Its Second Hotel in Asia

u l t i m a t e h o l i d a y destination to discover the perfect b l e n d o f e x q u i s i t e luxury and p r e m i u m hospitality, w h e r e e f f i c i e n t service and great value c o m e f l a w l e s s l y together for b u s i n e s s and leisure t r a v e l l e r s around the world.

Pan-Asian lounge & speciality restaurant and a rooftop Mediterranean restaurant. The all-inclusive hotel will also feature a Pink Room by Senses and Elements Wellness Spa, Trance fitness gym, a ballroom and 2 meeting rooms will be part of the hotel’s amenities. Facilities such as mood lighting, high speed internet, and a minibar, among many more room services will be offered The hotel is ideal for families, c o u p l e s , a n d b u s i n e s s professionals looking for a getaway like no other. Unwind and rediscover yourself right here in the City of Lakes!

Each room has been given a t o u c h o f H o l l y w o o d a n d contemporary interiors that give a timeless neutral style The copper finish highlights running across the hotel give a rich and aesthetic appeal.

Planet Hollywood rolls out the red carpet once again with an exciting addition to the brand’s p o r t f o l i o i n A s i a P l a n e t Hollywood, Thane City is the second hotel in Asia after Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, Goa. Set amidst the breathtaking city of Thane, Planet Hollywood is your

Owned by promoters of SJJ Realty, JMJ Group promoters Mr J M Joshi and Mr Sachiin Joshi, the hotel will feature 118 rooms, 7 suites, a rooftop swimming pool and an array of dining options including a stylish multi-cuisine restaurant, a patisserie and delicatessen, a

Planet Hollywood, Thane City is located in the metropolitan city of Thane, just outside Mumbai city.

The hotel is a vacationers’ delight for its breathtaking architecture, landscapes, dramatic sculptures, and artwork. As you enter the hotel, the neoclassical facade will take you back to ancient Italy and France.

The restaurants, bars, ballroom, and lobby sport a vibrant and energetic look with different dramatic patterns, lighting, and artwork The hotel like other Planet Hollywood Hotels and Resorts takes pride in being ecofriendly and sustainable. Planet H o l l y w o o d , T h a n e C i t y i s committed to providing a memorable, celebrity style worthy experience to each and every guest.

F o r m o r e d e t a i l s a n d Reservations you can contact –Planet Hollywood Thane City, you m a y e i t h e r w r i t e t o : reservations@planethollywoodth ane com or call on +91 22 68221000. For more information, v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t www.planethollywoodthane.com

Goa Marriott Resort and Spa Celebrated Their Annual Cake Mixing Ceremony

Goa Marriott Resort and Spa, one of the city's most sought-after 5star destination, hosted a spectacular Cake Mixing Soiree on October 15, 2022. This was followed by High Tea spreads, a variety of house wines, and a lot more The grand event saw residence guests, prominent

social ites in Goa, a n d hotel assoc iates thoro ughly enjoyi n g t h i s elega n t event . Gues t s celeb rated t h e

season by donning aprons, gloves, and chef hats. Raisins, glazed red cherries, mixed fruits, black currants, dried apricots, walnuts, and cashews were soaked in a variety of delectable beverages. Executive Chef Amit Dash and his team showcased high end

cuisine, decadent appetizers, and intoxicating drinks that kept the spirits high throughout the evening. The desserts served were petite and in keeping with the exciting occasion, thanks to the talented team of culinary experts. On this occasion, Gaurav Apte, General Manager, Goa Marriott Resort and Spa expressed “The resort is known for creating an ideal atmosphere for an uplifting evening of up-scale hospitality with delicious food and drinks; it gives us immense pleasure to have our guests participate in the a n n u a l r i t u a l a n d c r e a t e unforgettable memories” Our Executive Chef Amit Dash further added and explained 'The proportion of dry fruits and the alcohol used into the sumptuous mix. The alcohol preserves the dry fruit mixture which is eventually used to make Xmas cakes a month later,”

With an elaborate set up, the breath-taking ambiance of the hotel, festive décor, and cuisines

to match the festivities, it was a perfect blend of an evening filled with panache, excitement, and cheer.

GOA
HAS
THE
POTENTIAL
TO
BECOME THE
CAPITAL
OF
TOURISM

DR PRAMOD SAWANT

BY RAJESH GHADGE

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is one of the busiest men in the state of Goa. Juggling so many responsibilities at once and this year, due to the absence of the Vice Chairman, he will be looking at the day to day activities of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) as the Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).

Image Credits-Dattaram Gawade

On Monday, the CM inspected the infrastructure that is being set up at various venues like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, the area near youth hostel next to the Marriott where Country and State pavilions would be set up, the Inox Courtyard area and ESG premises to host the upcoming International Film Festival of India in the city of Panaji. Our editor Rajesh Ghadge called on CM Sawant ji to find out more about the festival this year and despite his busy schedule, the Honourable Minister allowed some of his v a l u a b l e t i m e f o r t h e interview Here are the excerpts:

As I mentioned earlier that as the Chairman of ESG, CM Dr Pramod Sawant will be s h o u l d e r i n g t h e e n t i r e responsibility of IFFI this year in the absence of Vice Chairman (VC) and when I asked him about the same he said that the delay took place in

appointing Vice Chairman due to a late decision. “There were many new MLAs who were interested in the post of VC but by the time we made the decision, IFFI was on the doorstep. The only advantage of having a VC was the overseeing of day to day activities to ensure things ran smoothly, but now since there is no VC present, I myself sit in the ESG almost every day and I have to keep juggling between my CM duties and ESG.”

The CM is now playing a double role handling his cabinet as well as ESG at the same time. “But that did not hamper the work of IFFI in any manner. I have been taking stock of progress on a daily basis and we have almost completed all our work right on time this year,” he said.

“We have the CEO and General Manager who are taking care of all routine work by keeping on top of any

p r o g r e s s m a d e a n d communicating with the NFDC to make sure everything goes smoothly Even the visit of union minsters in Goa was personally monitored by me. This has become by second o f f i c e a s i d e f r o m t h e secretariat.”

Speaking about the taking over of the festival by the NFDC (National Film Division C o r p o r a t i o n ) f r o m D F F (Director of Film Festival), CM said that it was completely the decision of the central government. “We have no say in the decision of the central government on replacing the DFF with the NFDC but I think it's a good decision and will definitely make a difference as the decision must have been taken keeping in mind the betterment of the film festival.”

S p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e participation of the local m e d i a a n d e x c l u s i v e broadcast rights, CM said that

the NFDC has taken the decision of giving these to private players and hence it is out of the purview of ESG. “We will not be able to allow to film the opening and closing ceremony since the rights have already given by the NFDC to a private television channel but local media can do photography without any issue. Although the rights will remain with the private channel, the recordings can be used by local media channels later on.

From the time Dr Sawant has taken over as a CM of Goa, he has always tried his best to support local vendors and artists by giving them more opportunities in the IFFI. “We try our best to provide a platform to local vendors as much as possible but while doing this, we cannot ignore the other vendors who may well be providing a better price and quality. According to my experience, we have

never had an issue with the local vendors and they have given the best possible service from the time we have brought them on the board.”

“The local vendors and artisans provide good sets, art and decor at a reasonable cost and that give us more reason to provide them the platform they deserve. It helps the local talent and revival of the economy in the state”. The tourism industry in Goa is one of the biggest revenue g e n e r a t o r s f o r t h e stakeholders and being a touristic state, Goa's economy has been dependent on tourism activities but due to wrong or even lack of a policy in place, this industry suffers, which directly results in a loss of revenue. When I asked CM about the same, he said he is aware of the situation and he also wants this industry to g r o w a n d f o r t h a t , h i s government has already implemented the New Tourism

Policy.

“The New Tourism Policy has been designed to provide the maximum opportunities to the people of Goa and the entire idea behind it is to make stakeholders a part of the

working on regularising coastal tourism and the major idea behind this is to put end all sorts of illegalities that are going on in this sector and once things get regularised, t h e i l l e g a l i t i e s w i l l

grow, it cannot happen without the support of every stakeholder in the state.”

“To eradicate the illegalities and allow the free flow of tourism, it is necessary for all stakeholders to come on board, thereby helping us to eradicate all illegal activities and irregularities in this sector. This entire exercise is to allow and ensure the flow of quality tourists into the state,” he added.

policy and provide them more opportunities We have s t a r t e d r e g u l a r i s i n g homestays, which is a new concept for economical stays in the state and is getting popular by day. We are also

a u t o m a t i c a l l y s t o p B y regularising businesses, it will be in the favour of locals only as they will get the maximum benefits of it. There is a need for locals to understand that if the tourism industry needs to

According to CM, to uplift the tourism status of the state, there is a need for a marina and a focus on cruise tourism in the state of Goa. “It is only when we will be able to attract these tourism activities in Goa that there will be full use of the resources that our beautiful state has to give. We have the waterways but we need to make the right use of them. There is a possibility of traveling from north to south Goa via waterways which will cut down traffic significantly.

There were a few hurdles in the way of the policy but most of them have already got resolved and things will move in a positive direction soon,” he said.

When CM spoke about the tourism policy my first question was why the implementation of the same is getting delayed s o m u c h , t o w h i c h h e responded “Implementation always takes time. The policy was passed in 2021 and the new tourism minster is working on it and may, in another one or two years, be implemented fully,” he said.

Development is good and it is the need of the day The infrastructure in our state is getting better by the day, but when the development comes with rampant construction, the state loses its charm and that is the reason behind tourists moving away to south Goa from the north. When I questioned the CM about this, he said that as the flow of

tourists grows, to sustain that growth, the infrastructure will also grow and that's perfectly normal If you want more tourists to visit the state, the population will grow and so should the infrastructure but those who need a calm atmosphere are moving towards the south since it is less populated and the reason behind majority of tourists getting attracted towards the north is due to night life and casinos.”

The CM believes that festivals and events help in the growth of the state's economy. “Soon after the IFFI there will be a World Ayurvedic Congress and this will increase the flow of the tourists which will lead to increase in revenue, hence we want to welcome more such events in Goa and we need t h e s u p p o r t o f a l l t h e stakeholders in this.”

The CM firmly advises against the fleecing of tourists who visit Goa. “It is only when we

will treat our guests as God, “Athiti Devo Bhava,” that t o u r i s m w i l l f l o u r i s h exponentially We have already created the required infrastructure and that process will continue.”

The CM touched on the transformation of Aguada Jail into a heritage museum and it is one of the best projects that government has implemented thus far. “But only with the support of the Goan people can our state become the capital of tourism in the country. We have so much potential, and on one side we have the Sahyadri mountains and on the other, a beautiful coastline and we need to make maximum use of these resources if we want to grow tourism in the state.”

The CM is of the opinion that Goa is not only about sun, sand and sea “There is spiritual tourism, wellness t o u r i s m a n d h i n t e r l a n d tourism. There is sports tourism

and the recently held Ironman 70.3 was a live example of this. There is lot to do still and we just need to utilise the available resources and opportunities that are present. Goa needs to be on the tourism map of the world,” he said.

A GRANDER IFFI THAN EVER!

By Rajesh Ghadge

Although it is often stressful, the creative part makes it worth it.. In fact, I have been donning many hats, starting my career as a revenue officer followed by the Collector and it was only when I came to Goa that I was given the responsibility of Industries, Trade and Commerce which was again a new field for me. I am very adaptable to any environment so it is not difficult to get adjusted new roles.”

Speaking on the entry of the NFDC into the film festival, she said the ministry was in the process of a merger between the DFF and NFDC and the idea behind this was to bring a l l m e d i a u n d e r o n e organisation. “This way the organisation becomes more efficient and the tasks can be handled better. It was the call of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to bring them under one banner. Now all the officers of the DFF are working under NFDC hence it w i l l p r o v i d e b e t t e r performances. We have the same resources and talent from the DFF in the NFDC so we have not lost any of them.”

Swetika dons many hats. She started her career as a revenue officer followed by a collector for four years until she landed in Goa where she i s a t t h e h e l m o f t h e Directorate of Industries, Trade & Commerce and she's involved in the Investment Promotions Board as a CEO while holding additional

responsibilities as CEO of ESG. Handling so many posts at the same time really takes a toll on Swetika Sachan, IAS cadre officer but she thrives off it Our editor Rajesh Ghadge met her to find out more about her new role as the CEO of the Entertainment Society of Goa and the way forward.

“ I h a d a l r e a d y b e e n s h o u l d e r i n g h u g e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e I n d u s t r i e s , Tr a d e a n d C o m m e r c e a n d t h e Investment Promotions Board and then I was given this new responsibility of ESG! IFFI is an interesting event in Goa that happens once in a year and I'm really happy to be involved

“The reason behind the merger w a s t o h a v e a m o r e professional and independent body. DFF used to work under the IB as its branch and now they are independent of the NFDC which has its own staffing and it is a much bigger organisation having their expertise in films and media. The idea of having an independent body is that it works professionally with more efficiency,” she added.

Speaking at the Film Festival this year she said that the core content will be screenings of the films and the master classes “This year the screening will be of films from 79 countries showcasing more than 80 films. We have also introduced the concept of the

Image Credits -

Asavari Kulkarni

Swetika Sachan

Gala Red Carpet, wherein lots of Hindi and South Indian movies will be premiering at the festival and this has been done to avoid disappointment amongst the audience, who were not so happy in previous years because of this missing section. IFFI will also witness a lot of stars on the red carpet. The 'watch with the stars' concept will be implemented this time in the 53rd IFFI and I am sure this will be really exciting for the audience.”

She also spoke about the return of the Film Bazaar. “The film bazaar is returning this year in a physical manner this year which will be a major attraction of the 53rd IFFI. The idea of the Film Bazaar is to

the festival an A-grade look and this also reduces any criticism.”

Speaking on the setting up of the promenade she said that the location of it has been strategically designed to give it a Cannes festival look “Even though the promenade was slightly delayed, we pushed it to get it done in time,” she said.

Regarding the entry of national media to cover the o p e n i n g a n d c l o s i n g ceremony of the IFFI, she said, “ yes, there was a bit of confusion last year as to what the local media can do, but this time we have already made it clear what they can and cannot cover. We do not

spend money from their pocket to do this event every year so that burden will be reduced by bringing a private broadcaster on-board. Even paying the huge amount celebrities demand to appear will be undertaken by the private broadcasters since they have taken the rights. This time the situation is different in that it is a 'reverse tender' wherein they give us money and take care of the entire event. The reason behind this is that they earn money from the prime-time broadcasting and the government saves money. We are trying our best to give whatever relaxation is possible for the local media but currently all the media is allowed on the red carpet and they can conduct interviews or t a k e b y t e s f r o m celebrities and we have already updated the media about the same to avoid the lastminute confusions.”

affair than even the 50th anniversary “We will do everything that we had done during the 50th IFFI and more. Another attraction that will be added to the IFFI is the Carnival and Shigmotsav which people from outside Goa can come and enjoy Normally, Carnival and Shigmotsav takes place in February and March but it is not possible for everyone to travel and visit the Carnival during that time so by having them during IFFI will showcase this festival to a far wider audience. It won't be done on such a large scale as per February celebrations but it'll be just as enjoyable even if as just glimpse of the same.” she added.

bring the buyers and sellers of films onto a single platform. It is a B2B platform and is meant only for a specific audience where the businesses dealing with film banners, production houses and film enthusiasts will meet each other.I In short, it's a bazaar where they will buy and sell films. The Film Bazaar has a separate registration process and the fees are charged according to their norms. The idea behind charging the fees is to bring only the serious buyers and sellers on the board. This year, we also have a country pavilion introduced at the IFFI wherein we will be inviting lots of international media to give

mind still photography being conducted by the local media but any videography will be restricted to the contracted media house only. Besides that, DD (Door Darshan) will be recording the event live and sharing it with the local media hence anyone who needs any video footage of the event can be procured it from the DD.”

DD will be covering the inauguration ceremony of the IFFI but they will not be covering the performance part “The idea behind bringing the broadcast partner was to reduce the burden on the government exchequer as they used to

Due to reconstruction and refurbishment, the Kala Academy is not functioning and there are limited seats in the 4 auditoriums at the Inox. Swetika said that the Kala Academy will be ready by next year only. “I can understand that with the Kala A c a d e m y w e h a d a n advantage of the locations and a wider scope of capacity but now that we have the P o r v o r i m I n o x w i t h a n additional four screens, it will mean movie lovers can enjoy the screenings there as well. Last year there were some hiccups in transportation between venues but that has been sorted out this time. We have deployed a number of buses to ferry the delegates to the Porvorim auditoriums and back and should run smoothly to schedule.”

This IFFI will be a grander

”"Finally, I'd like to appeal to all the delegates and fans visiting the festival to adhere to the Covid norms by taking precautions in crowded p l a c e s T h e d e l e g a t e d registration has reached the 6000 mark, and by the time festival begins it will cross 8000 so taking care of yourself is in your hands. I like to welcome all to Goa and to IFFI,” she concluded.

A mass communication graduate from Jabalpur University, Shruti has come a long way to become one of the most prominent wedding planners in the country. She started her journey as a journalist at Samay AAJ TAK until one day she realised that her passion lies somewhere else and she commenced her new journey towards becoming a wedding planner. The Incredible Goa magazine team met Shruti to find out more about her journey and here is the excerpt from the interview.

THE LEADING DESTINATION WEDDING PLANNER OF GOA

By IG Team

IG Team - Hello Shruti, please tell us about your background and how you entered into the field of wedding planning.

Shruti I did my mass communication course from Jabalpur University and then did an internship in Sahara Samay and AAJ TAK but I was destined to be in weddings. I realised my passion for PR got me into events and weddings! It's amazing how every wedding project is just not a project: we become part of the most important event of the couple's lives, and being part of that is what keeps us going and motivated.

IG Team Have you done any formal education in the field of wedding planning?

Shruti I haven't done any formal education in Event Management but I was lucky to be trained by the best in the industry from the basics of event planning and decor management, which made it quite smooth for me to adapt my knowledge in the subject.

IG Team What was the reason you chose this field?

Shruti I was extremely clear about not joining the media in Goa and that gave me a clearer picture of what exactly I wanted to pursue, due to my interest in events and decor, I chose to be in this field.

IG Team What are the hurdles you faced while pursuing your dreams and how did you overcome them?

Shruti I worked in an event company with an in house production house which means there were no office hours, and I wanted to learn the basics. I had to devote time and I started working when my son was only 6 years old, so I had to manage my role as a mom and an event manager. Honestly, time flew by and when I look back I feel s o p r o u d o f w h a t I ' v e achieved.

IG Team What are the USPs of your wedding planning company and how do you deal with the competition?

Shruti - USP I feel is 'Honesty'! I cannot make a commitment to a client and not deliver. And

with honesty comes a huge responsibility to deliver! I feel proud of my team which has b e e n m y s t r e n g t h ! Competition is now cutthroat: I have seen a beautiful change in the market in the past few y e a r s , a n d a l o t o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n s a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g h a v e developed amongst the competitors. I personally work very closely with a few of the leading event managers and p l a n n e r s w h o a r e m y competitors in Goa.

IG Team Tell us more about the types of destination weddings that you manage and what are your unique traits.

Shruti VLW Global works c l o s e l y f o r d e s t i n a t i o n weddings in Goa & Rajasthan, but because we are Goa based, we end up being chosen for Goa weddings by most of our clients and we manage end-to-end wedding planning and decor execution for our clients Our major clientele base is through referral and word of mouth.

IG Team The wedding planning industry is big in Goa but as per our knowledge you concentrate more on national a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l destinations. What do you want to say about that?

Shruti We are Goa-based and we end up doing 90% b u s i n e s s f o r G o a a s a destination, but as I personally love palaces and hawelis, I will take up any opportunity to plan weddings in Rajasthan too. International projects are managed by my UK partner and my involvement is very limited in the same.

IG Team How do you manage your finances to sustain your business in this highly competitive space?

Shruti As a company, we charge fees for our creativity and time: we do not get into cost of items as due to extreme competition, the financials of events are kept extremely transparent.

IG Team Tell us about any unforgettable moments that you came across while dealing with your clients.

Shruti I have a lot of such beautiful unforgettable moments but one the most memorable is when one of my clients contacted me after 9 y e a r s f o r h e r s e c o n d daughter's wedding through Instagram as she lost my number. Some clients become

part of your life and I am so thankful and grateful to God for helping us achieve what we have as a company.

IG Team What are your future plans?

Shruti - I love the space I am in right now. I manifest being best in what I do and work on

myself as an artist. VLW Global is all set to execute and plan some great projects in the coming season The future seems to be quite promising for us.

IG Team Do you have any message for the readers? Shruti - As an entrepreneur in

the business of weddings I would like to just give one message Be Honest in whatever work we are in, in the long run it's only honesty and dedication which helps you win your client.

EDGE - A TROPICAL BAR & KITCHEN AT ALILA DIWA GOA

Escape into the enriching 'Susegaad' luxury as the recently upgraded Edge –Tropical Bar & Kitchen at the lifestyle Hyatt resort, Alila Diwa Goa, opens its doors to a new look, new vibe, and an allnew experience A family friendly tropical paradise, Edge features a lively bar and a s h o w k i t c h e n w i t h unforgettable views of the Infinity Pool and the natural Goan landscape of swaying palms and paddy fields.

Tropical Design Conceptualised by the wellknown design studio, The Busride and led by none other than Ayaz Basrai, Edge takes a departure from the earlier dark tones to create a bright, day-washed tropical space to synergize with the stunning location overlooking the cool tones of the gorgeous Infinity Pool and the sweeping paddy fields that is a unique offering at Alila Diwa Goa.

Inspired by the intimacy of verandahs and patios at the resort, guests are nestled within tiny cocoons of plants that open to the stunning Goan landscape surrounding Edge The tropical bar is designed to be an all day space, a hop-off from the pool and its deck, seamlessly transitioning into a lovely sundowner spot to enjoy a

drink or two with some groovy edgy music for company

Edge exudes a relaxed vibe with warm, natural materials, cement, and terrazzo that blends aesthetically with the ongoing material and design philosophy of the Alila Diwa Goa.

Tropical Bar Curated by well known Bar Consultants, Arijit Bose & Pankaj Balachandran from Countertop, Edge offers a familiar yet fascinating journey of fantastic libations. While some are curated exclusively for Edge like the Q u e e n ' s P a r k S w i z z l e , Northlander, Edgy Negroni, and Corpse Reviver Number Blue, others are inspired by the breathtaking beaches from the world's edges that have withstood the test of time. One such example is our take on Miami Vice which swishes out of a slush machine and makes for the best drink to cool with by the pool. You can go tropical with drinks l i k e G i n M i c h a l d a a n d Caribbean Flair among others or have fun with popsicles and slush cups with varied flavours. Some are tropical and some enchanting, while some are r e m i n i s c e n t o f t h e buccaneers, pirates, and explorers, their travels and discoveries make your time

here adventurous, and fun yet relaxing. Tropical Kitchen Food at Edge is a celebration of senses with a unique blend of flavours, aromas, and design that offers an array of experiences in a one of a kind destination. The menu at Edge is designed for comfort, shared dining, and a fun experience, making it an ideal venue for lunches by the pool. T h e i n g r e d i e n t s a r e thoughtfully sourced locally and carefully served in custom-made crockery from a Goa-based potter. Get started with healthy and fresh salads or small plates like a 'Stay Fit' Salad with quinoa and beans, Som Tam Salad, Varuval Tart, Button Idli Chaat, Edge Egg Florentine, and Rawa Fried Fish among others. Move on to a variety of stuffed and wrapped delicacies like Dimsums, wraps, and Poee Sliders giving you the taste of Goan flavours in the bread sourced from a local Poder. Be sure to pick on the charcoal grilled sticks and skewers or f r e s h f r o m t h e o v e n flatbreads. Call for your wholesome 'meal in a bowl with our creative take dishes like Malaysian Laksa, Thai Green Curry, Ramen Bowl, Punjabi Chhole, and Goan Fish Curry, and

indulge in some sweet endings like a Mango Panacotta, Classic Tiramisu, or a Feni Crème Brulee.

With a welcoming, exciting, innovative, and passionate personality, Edge-Tropical Bar & Kitchen is all set to become the most sought-after venue for lunch and sundowners in Goa.

“While at Edge, we want you to forget that you are in a fivestar hotel and lose yourself in the sheer beauty of Goa's gorgeous tropical landscape overlooking the paddy fields.

W e h a v e c o n s c i o u s l y positioned and priced Edge like a stand-alone restaurant with its own unique identity where guests can unwind with great drinks, food and music” Suveer Sodhi, General Manager, Alila Diwa Goa

Edge Timings: 11 am to 8 pm For Reservation, call on + 9 1 8 3 2 2 7 4 6 8 0 0 diwagoa@alilahotels.com

RAJEEV KUMAR ELEVATED TO THE POSITION OF AREA GENERAL MANAGER OF FERN HOTELS & RESORTS IN GOA

Rajeev Kumar needs no introduction as the Hospitality industry of Goa is very well acquainted with this name. Holding the position of the General Manager of Fern Kadamba Hotel & Spa for almost half a decade now he has been promoted to the position of area General Manager of Fern Hotels & Resorts in Goa.

Rajeev Kumar comes from the land of industrial revolutions in India but chose to settle with

his family in the land of Sun, Sand & Surf and seek a career here. After finishing his studies in Hotel Management in Rourkela, Orissa, in 2000 he landed in Goa, the hub of the hospitality industry in India and has been here ever since scaling new heights in his chosen career.

His professional journey into the hospitality industry of Goa began in the year 2000 after he joined the Majorda Beach Resort, situated in south Goa

a s a t r a i n e e supervisor, and f r o m t h e r e h e moved to Holiday Inn Resorts as an Assistant Manager and Club Mahindra Holidays as Food & B e v e r a g e M a n a g e r . T h e journey continued a s h e k e p t exploring more properties from the point of growth prospects in India and abroad till finally, he decided to join Fern Hotels and Resorts as a General Manager in 2017 and since then he has been associated with Fern Hotels. The Fern Kadamba situated on the new Old Goa Panaji H i g h w a y i s a n u p s c a l e 5 s t a r business hotel that is also known as Goa's first eco sensitive property and it is rightly l o c a t e d i n t h e Heritage Centre of Goa. The property is owned by Milroc Goodearth and Property Developers LLP and m a n a g e d b y C o n c e p t Hospitality Private Limited. The Fern Kadamba is an ecofriendly boutique hotel having all the rooms in hotel come fitted with an energy saver panel The hotel offers 31 Winter Green Rooms, 11 Winter Green Premium Rooms, 4 Fern Club Rooms, and 2 Hazel Suites with contemporary and heritage views. Goa's rich heritage pays tribute to the hotel's furnishing, art, and

cuisine, set amidst the lush greenery of a sprawling property. Currently, Fern H o t e l s h a v e t o t a l o f 5 properties across Goa and soon they will be opening their 6th property in the north Goa beach belt of Candolim. According to Rajeev Kumar, he is very excited to shoulder this additional responsibility a l l o t t e d t o h i m b y h i s organization “I have been associated with the Fern Hotels for almost six years now and I feel honoured that the management has considered me for this responsible position,” he said, adding that he has many plans in the pipeline that he will be e x e c u t e d s o o n “ I w a s handling just one unit earlier and now I will be taking care of 6 properties situated across Goa. I am going to work on enhancing the brand value of the company by developing a new brand strategy and providing the best guest experience across all the 6 properties.”

“We are coming up with the 82 rooms property in Candolim which will be known as The Fern Habitat and it will be based on the concept of the Apartment Hotels which is in high demand nowadays,” he said.

According to Rajeev, he will be working hard and give his best efforts to prove his capability and give justice to the role bestowed on him by his organization. “I always have exceeded the expectations of the senior management and I will keep it that way and will enhance the Quality of product brand standard and take the organisation to the next level,” he concluded.

Born and raised in a small village called Deulwada situated in the Arambol, Pernem in North Goa, Krunal is a differently-abled youth who defied all the odds to become a winner. He is a law graduate and is working towards the well-being of the society in which he lives and he also wanted to help others by getting into politics soon. Our team has covered this inspiring story for you.

NEVER GIVE UP!

By IG Team

IG Team Please tell us a little bit about yourself & your background.

Krunal Let me formally introduce myself: I am Krunal Kiran Thakur, residing at Deulwada, Arambol, Pernem, Goa. I am the first child of Kiran & Karishma Thakur, born specially-abled on 09th June 2001

I am 21 now and though I was born in Goa, due to the service of my father, who was a military man, I had spent the first 2 years of my life in Gujarat During the first 2 years of my life, I grew up in a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t atmosphere/environment. I used to interact in the Hindi language with others & my entire environment was completely different from our home-state.

IG Team Talk us through your childhood, how you dealt with your disabilities and what you did to ensure they didn't affect you too much.

Krunal After spending two years in Gujarat, when I returned to Goa, I found it

really tough to cope with the first-ever change in life, as I couldn't speak or understand Konkani & therefore, I literally became dumb. But I slowly overcame my problems & learned Konkani to interact with others.

When my mother took me to Harmal Panchakroshi School for primary admission, the then principal, Mr Dabholkar sir was kind enough to welcome me with open arms. He took a test to assess my knowledge & was pleased after realizing that I am mentally sound. He was very supportive, instructed all his staff to cooperate with my parents & also very alert to solve any difficulty which c r e a t e d h u r d l e s i n m y education.

Let me make one thing very clear here, though I am a disabled person, I was never treated separately/differently b y m y s c h o o l / c o l l e g e teachers-staff, my friends & their parents, or my relatives.

IG Team What are the challenges you faced during your childhood while growing

up & how did you manage them?

Krunal My life is full of challenges, so you can't differentiate challenges in c h i l d h o o d o r a t o t h e r p a r t i c u l a r a g e s I s t i l l remember how my parents, particularly my mother, used to carry me & run from one place to another to take me to school, to the doctor's clinic etc. As a disabled person, I personally went through a lot of physical stress as coping with a hectic schedule is not very easy & often difficult for abled people also.

Apart from that, I witnessed two radical changes in my body, i.e., after 9 years & after 16 years Both these bodily changes were difficult to cope with & made a strong physical impact on me but I managed to survive anyhow. I am involved in a number of activities, like social work, my business, education, and politics & therefore my mind is working more than my body. Due to my hectic schedule, I need to travel a lot & have met

a number of prominent personalities, like toll leaders

i n p o l i t i c s , e m i n e n t personalities in the medical field & other prominent wakes of life.

IG Team How challenging was it to getting admission into Law College?

Krunal God has not given me a fully functional body but he has given me will power abundantly. I have strong willpower & therefore I never hesitate to accept any challenge. From the beginning becoming a lawyer was my dream. So, after completing my H.S.S.C. I applied for the B.A. L.L.B. at V.M. Salgaocar College of Law. The principal was kind & more willing to accept me as a law student. But still I went through the e n t r a n c e e x a m t o g e t admission for B.A. L.L.B. & I cracked the top 20 in that, so you can understand that I got admission to Law college on sheer merit.

IG Team Has your physical condition become a hurdle in your journey at any time? If so,

TREND SETTERS

then how do you manage to deal with them?

Krunal Though my body has changed as per my growth, I n e v e r f e l t m y p h y s i c a l conditions become a hurdle in my journey. Yes, these bodily changes presented some problems before me, but due to my strong willpower, I often overcame them. When I was 9years-old, due to a change in my body posture and weight, I w a s f o r c e d t o u s e a wheelchair but I quickly adjusted to it & therefore I was successful in completing my High School level, College level education. Even now while pursuing my B.A.L.L.B. education, wheelchairs help m e t o a c q u i r e knowledge/education with more comfort, and more smoothly.

IG Team When & how do you get the title of a “Wheelchair person” & how do you feel about it?

Krunal As I narrated earlier,

when I was nine years old, my parents found it difficult to carry me due to the growth of my body, my weight and the posture of my body. So, they decided to use a wheelchair to carry me to school & other places. Though the wheelchair is another burden for them, it helped them to carry me easily & thus I got the title of a ”wheelchair person”.

IG Team You are perhaps the first person from Goa to file a nomination for the panchayat elections Do you have any plans to enter into politics? And how will you be able to manage yourself in this field?

Krunal Yes, I am the first disabled person in Pernem Taluka, more precisely the first wheelchaired person in Pernem Taluka who filed nomination for recently held p a n c h a y a t e l e c t i o n s . I presented work done by me, a n d m y v i s i o n f o r t h e development of my ward to my voters.

IG Team What are the future plans you have if politics isn't so successful?

K r u n a l I e n j o y e v e r y opportunity presented by life hence even if I don't succeed in politics, I will not feel bad. In fact, my decision to enter politics is completely based on a broad aim, to do something better for my disabled community through politics. As politics is associated with decision making, framing policies, I decided to try my luck in politics If I fail in politics, I will try some other option to pursue my goals, but will never leave my quest for social work, and social responsibility.

IG Team Do you have a m e s s a g e f o r a l l t h o s e differently-abled people? Krunal I don't think I have achieved anything significant yet nor am I old enough to give wise messages. But still, whatever I have gone through in life, I would like to advise my

disabled brethren that don't get nervous due to hurdles presented by life & perceive t h e i r d i s a b i l i t i e s Yo u r shortcomings as a challenge before you & try to overcome them. I am stuck in one place from birth but it never deters me from thinking big and achieving big. I have enjoyed life & still moving ahead without any grudge, or any ill feelings & have achieved at least something in life. So, my advice is just to move ahead, decide your goals & you will get a way to achieve your goals in life. Life is beautiful & try to enjoy it without any prejudice.

COLOUR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF ME

explains you'd

By IG Team

always see me scribbling, doodling, and making things.

At that time, I had no clue that

I'd be doing this for a living. My school had an amazing art teacher and I'm still in awe of her work and personality. I joined college with a very different career perspective as I wanted to teach,” says Racheal.

Over the years in college, w h i l e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n extracurricular activities and w i n n i n g c o m p e t i t i o n s , Rachael found her calling. “I even started selling a few small paintings then, and that gave my confidence a boost. I was the deco head for a national level inter college event called 'Wordsup'. This was mostly when I realised 'oh damn, I'm good at this'. That's when I realised that my art is something more than just a hobby. My family and friends had my back and appreciated my work throughout. I took on mural paintings soon after that and I painted quite a few walls even before I graduated. I joined the Pyde Pyper Art Academy for weekly classes and here I learned a lot more about the art field and how

things work. Not having an art degree did make me a bit nervous initially However, I totally believe this is how my journey had to be and I love it.”

Rachael tells us that unlike before, artists are now getting t h e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d appreciation that they most definitely deserve. “Over the years, social media has helped me immensely to get my work to people. It gave me a platform needed to showcase my art. I feel at my best when I'm painting. It's an escape I love and there is something very therapeutic about it. While I love doing all kinds of painting, murals have a special place in my heart. All the hard work and effort are totally worth it when you see your stunning painting up on the wall,” she added. However, painting something on such a big scale is no small feat. There's a lot of planning and design work that goes into it. And that only comes with practice. It's physically quite hectic too climbing up ladders and scaffolds to paint

Rachael Dsouza is a budding freelance mural artist from Goa. Born and raised in the beautiful village of Moira, she has done her schooling at St Thomas Convent School in Aldona, later she joined St Xavier's Higher Secondary School Mapusa and pursued her Bachelor's degree in literature and graduated in 2019 as an English major.

is an added task. But signing your work at the end makes all that pain worth it. When she started painting, R a c h a e l d i d n ' t h a v e a particular goal in mind. And it took some time for her to get steady. “I was, in fact, very sceptical of how things would work out for me in my art career Praying kept me rooted and hard work got me here. The only goal I think I had when I started was to have fun and do my best with it,” she added.

Rachael believes that the moto “having no plan is a good plan” has always worked well for her. “I think it sort of opened up options for me along the way. While I'm proud of whatever I've achieved so far, I'm looking forward to taking my art outside the state a n d w o r k i n g w i t h n e w mediums. I'm particularly keen

on setting up my art studio and I'm getting there slowly but surely. Grow and help grow. There is so much art around that one tends to doubt one's own work but as they rightly say - art is beautiful and so very unique, it's almost like a voice or a means to convey or just exist.

If you have it in you to create, don't let anything get in your way. Practice putting in the work and showcase. We were created to create.”

Born in Hyderabad, the IT hub of India, and having grown up in Goa, Divya Balivada comes from a family background in business. Divya did her preliminary studies in Goa and later on, she moved to Mumbai for further studies in dentistry but after graduating she realised that was not her field. She felt she is made to be in the business that her father had set up (Cheers group) after a lot of hard work and dedication.

HEADING TOWARDS BECOMING A LIQUOR BARON

By IG Team

Today, she helps to run that business effectively and she is also the global creative director in the company founded by her father Dr Mohan Krishna, the “World's f i r s t l i q u o r m a r k e t i n g Doctorate” who has been l i s t e d i n t h e l e a d i n g international liquor magazines as one of the most influential personalities in the global liquor arena.

The Goa based Cheers Group is internationally acclaimed highly innovative beverage alcohol conglomerate having stunning portfolio spread across wine, spirits and Ready to Drink ( R T D ) . T h e g r o u p i s manufacturer and exporter of a v a r i e t y o f n e w a g e beverages and has presence in India and International markets with its award winning brands.

“ A l t h o u g h w a s b o r n i n Hyderabad and did my g r a d u a t i o n a n d p o s t graduation from outside Goa, I have always been attached

to Goa more than any other place. I was very young when m y f a t h e r s t a r t e d t h i s company in 2009: probably in 9th grade and I have seen all the struggles and hardships that he had endured. Even my own struggle started from an early age as my mom and dad would be busy with their work and I would be alone doing my studies and getting good marks in spite of their absence, but I managed through it.”

After finishing her primary education, she decided to take up science for her secondary school “I was always good in maths and science so decided to take up science in 11th and 12th and later on I went to become a dentist for which I joined the dental school in Belgaum and completed my dentistry in 5 years. It just wasn't for me and not something I aspired to do. It does not mean I was bad at it or anything, in fact, I had always scored the top ranking in my college, but I decided

not to practice and instead join the business with my father.”

When Divya joined her father in the business, she did not go for any specific department but instead decided to get first-hand experience with all the departments before narrowing it down to the one that caught her interest “I c o u l d h a v e j o i n e d a n y department as head but instead I decided to learn the basics of each department which helped me in gaining insights into each of them and that helped me to identify what I am good at and where my interest lies,” she said. After learning the basics of each department Divya finally decided to join the product development department “I realised that my strength lies in creativity and design and I started my journey into that in 2016 and now I am the global creative director of the company Currently, I look after the entire process of product development right

from the time of the distillation of the whisky to the design of the bottle, box and creativity. Right from the manufacturing to the design, packaging and launch of the product is taken care of by me. The process begins with understanding the customer segment and their mindset and ability to spend based on which we design and spend a certain amount for the packaging.”

Divya explains that her work does not end with the design and packaging she also takes a call on how and where to position the products and their price tag. Here the most interesting part is that in every segment, the customer demographic is different, for example, someone who drinks Deluxe segment whisky, for them scotch is what they might really fancy, which means they will drink the Deluxe segment whisky more often but will take out the Scotch whisky only on special o c c a s i o n s a s i t ' s m o r e expensive. It is interesting to

study the customer mindset in each segment which changes with geography. For example, someone who drinks Deluxe segment whisky in Mumbai and when he comes to Goa he will be able to drink Scotch whisky spending the same amount of money. Hence, Liquor Brand positioning varies across India and is very critical.” Besides taking care of the

business, Divya also likes to write and paint, and when I asked her a b o u t h e r passion she said, “I love to write, and I read a lot. In fact, I was the e d i t o r o f m y c o l l e g e magazine where I learned how to get sponsors to p u t t i n g t h e content into the design but now I write for myself and I also paint. When I want to express myself through art, I start writing. The painting comes to me from my dad as he used to paint and I grew up painting with him. He stopped but I kept going on. It w a s d u r i n g t h e c o v i d lockdown that I started taking this art very seriously and spent a lot of time painting.” Soon Divya will be exhibiting her paintings for the first time, in December. “From 2nd to

4th December I will be exhibiting my paintings to the public for the first time. I am currently training under the famous Goan artist, Wilson D'Souza. Art helps me in escalating my creativity and it also helps in my work as this way I can add more creativity to my designs and it also i n c r e a s e s m y t h i n k i n g capacity. Of course, besides that, I also want to continue in the field of art and creativity. It is no longer just a hobby - I am very passionate about it and this is something I will carry f o r w a r d a l o n g w i t h m y business.”

Speaking about her future plans with the company Divya said that she wants to expand t h e b u s i n e s s g l o b a l l y especially Three Monkeys Single Malt, the company flagship brand. “We are in process of setting up a distillery in Scotland and we will be the first Asian to do so. The very reason I went to do my MBA in Edinburgh, which is the capital of Scotland, was so that I could get acquainted

with the people there and build a network that will help us to grow in a Scotch society. Scotland is a whisky flagship Country and we want to be there along with the big honchos of the global liquor industry.”

Divya believes that one must explore and find out what it is that he or she wants to do in their life before they decide to settle for anything. “You also need to be very patient. It took many years for me to get where I am right now but it takes time, and sometimes you may start wondering, what you are doing with your life. I am in a very male dominated industry, where 95% of our consumers are male Many asked me why I have entered the alcohol industry when I am a doctor, but my outlook was different. I wanted to take a risk. There will be people who will criticise you and there are people who will support you. According to me take them as inputs, use them as your strengths and grow out of them. Cheers!

There is Nothing that Cannot be Done If You JUST DO IT

By IG Team

The initial days were quite normal as any student with full hopes and dreams along with great expectations in life which quietly started to turn into an academic session with a lot of theory classes. The department had a lab which we called the UAV lab where we could do some hands-on models It mainly entertains anyone who is excited about Doing It Yourself (DIY).

All of them after completing their Higher Secondary from the respective places came t o g e t h e r a t R a j a d h a n i Institute of Engineering and Technology in the year 2016 where they met their staff advisor and mentor Mr Nivin Francis.

According Balachandran, Vinayan who already had hands-on skills started utilizing the lab way before the rest of them gathered along. “Once we came together, then the talks related to different techs a n d t h e i r i m p a c t g o t started.The influence and talks about startups and their ecosystem made us attracted towards it and we started taking part in programs, discussions and seminars related to it. We presented our first pitch deck presentation in an idea pitch competition h o s t e d b y t h e M B A department while we were in the third year where we

brought out a concept in early natural disaster alert, bagging the second place in the competition,” he said. “Our journey to the project where we are right now, started in the cafeteria of our college which being in an uphill and had a wonderful breeze mostly around,” said Balachandran adding that with a cup of coffee in their hands, they discussed ways to utilize wind energy for the benefit of the college itself. “It led to discussions, planning, making a vertical windmill model and testing it in the college wind tunnel. It was at this point in time our mentor put forward the applications where we could incorporate the tech and then strikes the utilization of it in moving vehicles especially heavy vehicles. Our research on the subjects, analysis of the cad models and testing of the forces acting on our college bus made way for us to finalize a concept for increasing the efficiency of these vehicles. It was during the last days of our

college when COVID hit and everything had to be shut down. But we continued to work on this and reached that point where we applied for the patent of our concept and started looking for challenges and funding to build the prototype. This is when we came across FIIRE and the NIDHI EIR Getting selected for this program was a great s t e p a h e a d i n o u r entrepreneurship journey. FIIRE has helped us with mentorship and connections and is still helping us be where our concept belongs.”

Accordignt to Balachandran, the journey from the start itself was not easy. “Testing results that show errors from time to time making the person a n n o y e d t o ‘ l a g ’ t h a t happened in building and testing of the scaled down models all come under this. The level of frustration and questions we had among us about our concept going forward was a special season. One of the challenges we faced was in relation to the

Yaguar Raptors is a team of Aeronautical engineering graduates who aim to accelerate the adoption of fuel-efficient transportation while also delivering sustainable solutions. The team consists of six bright minds, Advaith S Sudil from Kasaragod, Balachandran S Elayath a n d V i n a y a n V i k r a m a n f r o m Thiruvananthapuram, Mary Afeena K F from Kochi and Silpa S G from Kollam.

complete filing of our patent where we had to test the model before filing and this was before we got into FIIRE.

A r r a n g i n g w o r k s h o p s , borrowing money and making a model just hoping it to provide us with the result we wanted even though the guarantee of it was hanging. But we didn’t give up and the

results came pleasing to our theoretical values,” he added.

“Our interest in engineering and innovation grew along with time. Attending startup sessions, presenting our first pitch deck in front of a panel and taking part in science exhibitions attending Aero India 2019 in Bangalore, being delegates at the Bangalore

Space Expo 2022 and the Defence Expo 2022 are all the key events we were able to be part of. The journey w a s q u i t e different and exciting for each of us. Even with all t h e s e hardships, we have moved f o r w a r d t o make what we thought happened. It gave us a lot of insights not only look at the business field but also into each of our life. The main goal is to see efficient heavy vehicles running on the roads w i t h o u r p r o t o t y p e incorporated into them,” explained Balachandran.

According to Balachandran, the energy solutions and sustainability is something that is very much in demand. “We plan to bring out solutions to the problems in the said field and bring out energy efficiency in whatever we can. I hope we could make it happen.”

“There is nothing that could stop any of you if you have the will to do it. So I would like to just say to the aspiring ones that even though the field isn’t a risk-free one, “Just do it”,” he concluded.

ICAI–MSME Yatra Reaches Goa

The ICAI–MSME Yatra which is to cover 75 cities in 75 days, reached Panaji Goa on Friday, 11th November 2022. President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Ralph DeSouza and Hon Secretary of Goa State Industries Association Mr Kiran Sirsat flagged off the yatra vehicle in an event organised by the Goa branch of WIRC of

I n s t i t u t e o f C h a r t e r e d Accountants of India (ICAI). Chairperson of the Goa Branch of WIRC of ICAI CA Gaurav Kenkre said that the yatra has been conducted to recognise the role p l a y e d b y t h e c h a r t e r e d accountants in strengthening the MSMEs as the backbone of the I n d i a n e c o n o m y “ T o commemorate the celebrations,

the Goa branch of WIRC of ICAI has organised a series of events. We will focus on local needs of MSMEs and popularising the MSME schemes,” he said.

President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Ralph DeSouza acknowledged the efforts of ICAI in supporting MSMEs in Goa. "ICAI and GCCI routinely have joint knowledge-

The World's Tallest Flying Restaurant Kicks Off The Season

good fortune for all the guests, and d e l i c i o u s delights to e n s u r e a d i n i n g experience l i k e n e v e r before.

W i t h a

Hyatt has curated a special Asian menu as part of the Dragon Festival where you can enjoy speciality dishes like Sushi, and Nasi Goreng, 160 feet up in the sky while enjoying the mesmerizing views all over.

based events for the benefit of trade and commerce at large. This provides much needed fillip to micro and small enterprises".

Secretary of Goa State Industries Association Mr Kiran Sirsat appreciated the gesture of ICAI of compiling, publishing and free d i s t r i b u t i o n o f b o o k s o n Compendium of MSME Policies in the state of Goa.

The dignitaries also inaugurated SIX helpdesks set up for the facilitation of MSMEs The helpdesks were manned by experts who provided free Udhyam registration, guidance on schemes of financers like SIDBI and State Bank of India, and guidance on incentives of entities like NSIC, DFO MSME and Invoice discounting Technical sessions were also held wherein the experts guided the MSMEs present on the various support schemes available to them A s p e c i a l s e s s i o n w a s a l s o conducted by CA Yogesh Kulkarni, on Financial excellence for MSMEs.

Fly Dining- An Adventure Dining Experience in the Sky by Vindev Adventure Hospitality started the season with a bang, bringing the Dragon Festival in collaboration with Grand Hyatt to tingle your taste buds with Asian flavours like never before.

Dragons are considered omens of luck and good fortune Many civilizations believe them to be harbingers of wealth and abundance in life, and they are also omens of power, bravery, transformation, and sky to many.

Believing in the sentiment, Fly Dining is bringing the Dragon Festival to symbolize abundance,

unique floating sky restaurant 160 feet high, offering exquisite views of the state's stunning coastal landscape and the reputed gastronomical endeavours of this well-awarded five-star resort. Fly Dining is an Initiative of Vindev Adventure Hospitality co founded by Devi Prasad and Vinay Kasetty.

Fly Dining offers three course meals and is open for breakfast, high tea, sundowners and dinner with food curated by the expert team of Grand Hyatt Goa. Taking the culinary experience to another level, the team at Grand

With a maximum capacity of 24 seats, the experience also features live music performances along with a service team of four ensuring a safe and memorable affair.

Vinay Kasetty, partner at Vindev Adventure Hospitality added, “Fly Dining was conceived to provide thrill seekers with a 'Top of the world feeling' with the highest quality food, service and atmosphere in a fun, enjoyable and rewarding experience. We are probably the most Instagramfriendly experience We have worked very closely with the Grand Hyatt Goa team to design a memorable dining experience and we are sure that the joy of enjoying sushi 160 feet in the sky will be unmatched.”

Devi Prasad, Director and Managing Partner at Vindev Adventure Hospitality, added, Along with witnessing gorgeous sunsets, and views of the beautiful sea, guests can now enjoy Asian culinary delights especially curated by the Grand Hyatt team and get a wholesome dining experience.”

Jaco La Roux, General Manager Grand Hyatt Goa, said, “Grand Hyatt Goa is known for its wonderful experiences for both a d u l t s a n d c h i l d r e n T h e association with Fly Dining b a c k e d w i t h o u r c u l i n a r y expertise brings an edge to the Dragon Festival, offering guests a unique dining experience.”

M a v i l l e D a w s o n , G e n e r a l Manager Fly Dining Goa, added, “We are super excited & charged up for the new season and we are sure that the dragon festival will bring all of us a lot of good fortune. The guests will definitely enjoy this newly curated menu.”

SIMPLIFYING INPUT TAX CREDITS – PART 4

By Gaurav Kenkre

T h e s e s i t u a t i o n s were broadly those cases w h e r e t h e m o t o r vehicles/aircr aft/vessels, were essential f o r t h e business (egs b u s i n e s s o f selling motor vehicles etc) Thus, one may take a general broad view, t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t had deemed that most of the purchases or expenses r e l a t e d t o motor vehicles, are basically

of the conditions given at the bottom of this article

2 . B e a u t y t r e a t m e n t , c o s m e t i c a n d p l a s t i c surgery

This entry is self-explanatory. Expenses at parlours etc or e v e n i f s o m e m e d i c a l p r o c e d u r e s f a l l u n d e r “cosmetic” surgery, then the GST input tax credit cannot be claimed on such items. The only way to claim the credit on these expenses is if the satisfy some of the conditions given at the bottom of this article

3. Health services, life i n s u r a n c e a n d h e a l t h insurance

whose purchase you could not claim GST input tax credit, are barred from GST input tax credit, even if they are l e a s e d / r e n t e d / h i r e d Consequently, purchase of those motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft, which were eligible for input tax credit, continue to be eligible even if the same are rented/leased or hired.

To avoid the blockage of GST input tax credits for all the 4 above categories, either of the below conditions needs to be satisfied:

In the previous edition, we had c o v e r e d s o m e o f t h e conditions prescribed in law in respect of claimed Input tax Credit We will continue to cover some more conditions in this respect Question: Can I claimed input tax credits on ANY purchases of goods or services?

Answer: No, there are few restricted categories of purchases on which input tax credit cannot be claimed. In the last edition we saw that most of the input tax credit, in relation to purchase or expenses, which relate to m o t o r vehicles/aircraft/vessels, was blocked under GST. The only cases where the input tax credits were available, were the situations as specified in law.

“personal expenses” in nature, and have little or nothing related to business.

The next basket of expenses on which GST input tax credit is not available, follows the similar theme, i.e. most of the times, such expenses are more “personal” in nature than business expenses.

The below categories of expenses are on which input tax credit is not allowed:

1. Food and beverages, outdoor catering.

This entry basically covers all k i n d s o f p u r c h a s e s o f foods/drinks etc. May it be staff lunches, dinners hosted for customers or even water served to guests at the shop, the law states that no GST input tax credit is available on such purchases. The only way to claim the credit on these expenses is if the satisfy some

The term “Health services” is not defined but one can assume it to mean any services availed in respect of health and fitness of a person. Life i n s u r a n c e a n d h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e a r e s e l f explanatory. The only way to claim the credit on these expenses is if the satisfy some of the conditions given at the bottom of this article

4. Leasing, renting or hiring of specified motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft

This entry is basically to prevent clever structuring. In the previous edition we had seen that there is no GST input tax credit available on “purchase” of some motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft Thus, only “purchase” was blocked but not “leasing or hiring”. Therefore, someone c o u l d a v o i d t h e e n t i r e blockage of GST input tax credit, merely by not “buying” the above assets, and by simply “renting” them. Hence, this entry says that the motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft, on

a. If any of the above items are used as a whole or part, in making further taxable GST supplies, then GST input tax credit is available. Egs: If an event manager purchases food/beverages or catering s e r v i c e s , n o t f o r h i s consumption, but to further sell/supply to his customers, and if he charges GST on such s a l e s , t h e n s u c h e v e n t manager can claim GST input tax credit of such food and beverages purchased b. If it is obligatory for an employer to provide any of the a b o v e s e r v i c e s t o i t s employees under any law for the time being in force, then such employer can claim input tax credit of the same. For egs: During peak COVID 19, the Government had made it m a n d a t o r y f o r c e r t a i n employers to provide certain kind of medical insurance to its employees. Thus, for this period, such employers could claim GST input credit of such i n s u r a n c e s i n c e i t w a s mandated by law.

In the next edition, we shall s e e s o m e m o r e conditions/restrictions.

CA Gaurav Kenkre is a CA in practice for the last 11 years. He is a regular speaker at various professional organizations, trade bodies, MNCs and Government bodies. He also writes regularly in local as well as national publications. Besides this he holds various positions in bodies such as ICAI, GCCI, College bodies, Rotary etc.

TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE DO STRENGTH TRAINING

By Norbert D’Souza

Strength training also known as weight or resistance training — is physical activity designed to improve muscular strength and fitness by exercising a specific muscle or muscle group against external resistance, including free weights, weight machines, or your own body weight, according to the American Heart Association. And what's important for everyone to know is that strength training is not just about body builders lifting weights in a gym Regular strength or resistance training is good for people of all ages and fitness levels to help prevent the natural loss of lean muscle mass that comes with aging (the medical term for this loss is sarcopenia). It can also benefit people with chronic health conditions, like obesity, arthritis, or a heart condition.

WORKING OUT

At its heart, strength training is b a s e d o n f u n c t i o n a l movements — lifting, pushing, pulling in order to build muscle and coordination n e e d e d f o r e v e r y d a y activities, For some people, the phrase strength training is i n t i m i d a t i n g , b u t i t ' s

enhanci ng your ability to m o v e s a f e l y a n d effectiv e l y i n your life F o r example : Yo u r ability to l i f t somethi

ng and put it on a shelf, carry your groceries in the door, b e n d d o w n a n d p i c k something up, or get up after you've fallen down. “Getting up off the floor requires you to recruit muscles in your upper body, abs, legs, and glutes REST AND RECOVERY

“You don't get better during workouts; you get better in between, you should give yourself a day in between strength training to allow your body to recover and rebuild the muscle tissue from the s t i m u l u s o f l i f t i n g o r resistance.”

HOW STRENGTH TRAINING HELPS YOUR HEALTH

Besides benefit of adding tone and definition to your muscles, Strength helps in many ways:

percent of lean muscle mass per decade According to a study published in October 2017 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research in USA, just 30 minutes twice a week of high intensity resistance and impact training was shown to improve functional performance, as well as bone d e n s i t y , s t r u c t u r e , a n d strength in postmenopausal women with low bone mass — and it had no negative effects. Likewise, for everyone, muscle strengthening activities help preserve or increase muscle mass, strength, and power, which are essential for bone, joint, and muscle health as we age.

3. Strength Training Helps Your Body Burn Calories Efficiently

All exercise helps boost your metabolism (the rate your resting body burns calories throughout the day).

With both aerobic activity and strength training, your body continues to burn calories after strength training as it returns to its more restful state (in terms of energy exerted). It's a process called "excess p o s t e x e r c i s e o x y g e n consumption,” according to the American Council on Exercise.

during the workout, and more calories burned after the workout, too, while your body is recovering to a resting state.

4. Strength Training Helps Keep the Weight off for Good

Because strength training boosts excess post exercise oxygen consumption, it can also help exercisers boost weight loss more than if you were to just do aerobic exercise alone, Resistance or strengthening exercise keeps your metabolism active after exercising, much longer than after an aerobic workout.

5. Strength Training Helps You Develop Better Body Mechanics

1.

Strength Training Makes You Stronger and Fitter

Muscle strength is crucial in making it easier to do the things you need to do on a day-to-day basis- especially as we get older and naturally start to lose muscle.

2 . S t r e n g t h Tr a i n i n g Protects

Bone Health and Muscle Mass

At around age 30 we start losing as much as 3 to 5

But when you do strength, weight, or resistance training, your body demands more energy based on how much e n e r g y y o u ' r e e x e r t i n g (meaning the tougher you're working, the more energy is demanded) So you can amplify this effect depending on the amount of energy you put into the workout. That means more calories burned

Strength training also benefits your balance, coordination, and posture, according to past research One review, published in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research in November 2017( in USA), concluded that doing at least one resistance training session per week — performed alone or in a program with multiple different types of workouts — produced up to a 37 percent increase in muscle strength, a 7.5 percent increase in muscle mass, and a 58 percent increase in functional capacity (linked to risk of falls) in frail, elderly adults.

6. Strength Training Has Cardiovascular Health Benefits

Along with aerobic exercise, m u s c l e s t r e n g t h e n i n g activities helps improve blood pressure and reduce risk of hypertension and heart disease

Regular exercise strengthens your heart and lungs and it can strengthen bones, slowing down the process of osteoporosis. It can help you move easily by keeping your joints, tendons and ligaments more flexible. Can help you lose weight when combined with good eating habits or maintain ideal weight by burning excess calories and promote sense of well being.

INVISIBLE BRACES- THE NEW TREND

By Dr. Schuyler Pereira

still enjoy all your favourite foods while still undergoing braces treatment. Do I need to see a dentist for it?

Absolutely yes! Although many aligners are available today that also offer treatment facilities from home, they are not endorsed by dentists due to lack of research. It is very important to have a qualified o r t h o d o n t i s t w h o h a s undergone further Invisalign Certification treat you to ensure the desired result and no harm to your teeth.

A r e t h e y a n y f o o d restrictions with invisible braces?

Many of us would have been told by our dentist that we require teeth braces but few of us muster the courage to get it done due to various

reasons primarily the uncomfortable feeling associated with it and the food restrictions. However , there is a solution to many of the d r a w b a c k s o f conventional braces and the answer is simple! Clear aligners or Invisalign. What is invisible braces?

Invisible braces, also known as aligners is t h e l a t e s t t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e m e n t i n braces and aims at achieving the same results with lesser h a s s l e s a n d disadvantages as compared to conventional braces.

How do they work?

Aligners such as Invisalign utilise specialised material to

make 3D printed trays that you have to wear Each tray is programmed to cause a certain degree of tooth movement, after which you have to move on to the next tray. Eventually at the end of the treatment the desired result and alignment is achieved.

H o w l o n g d o e s t h e treatment take? It varies depending upon case severity and the kind of result that you are looking to achieve Treatment duration can vary anywhere between 6 Months to 2 years. What are the advantages versus conventional braces?

Invisalign or aligners are significantly more aesthetic and comfortable compared to conventional braces as they are custom made. Further, they can be removed while eating which enables you to

One of the best advantages of invisible braces is that they can be removed while eating food enabling you to enjoy all your favourite food stuff.

Why Invisalign?

Because Invisalign are the pioneers of this technology and are backed all over the globe by dentists.Smile Craft is one of the few clinics in Goa that has an Invisalign certified orthodontist and has excellent patient feedback.

Smilecraft is one of the top rated dental clinic’s in Goa. Dr Schuyler Pereira completed his dental studies from the renowned New York University in USA. He maintains state of the art dental practices at Goa and Bangalore. At Smilecraft a holistic treatment approach is taken when it comes to dental health. We offer a wide range of dental services ranging from teeth cleaning to cosmetic dentistry and implant. We indeed craft smiles that will last you miles!