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Sports: Djokovic, Wozniacki clinch Indian Wells titles Pg 19 The world belongs to the Enthusiast who keeps cool.

— William McFee

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World: Saudi protests simmer as Bahrain conflict rages Pg 8

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Goa’s Heartbeat: Preity is back in shape Pg 12

CALL FOR ENGLISH ECHOES LOUD Parents, ministers, MLAs join rally supporting medium of instruction HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Govt may hike DA by 6 p.c.

The Centre is likely to increase dearness allowance (DA) by 6 per cent to 51 per cent, benefiting over 50 lakh employees and 38 lakh pensioners.

The decision to hike DA is likely to be taken by the Union Cabinet at its meeting scheduled tomorrow, sources said.

The new DA, which will be effective from January 1, is provided to Government staff and pensioners to compensate them for rising prices. — (PTI)

Batcha’s doc quits, to contest polls The doctor, who conducted autopsy on the body of former Telecom Minister A Raja’s aide Sadiq Batcha, has resigned from Government saying he wants to contest the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, giving a new twist to the mysterious manner of the death.

Though reports of his resignation came days after the alleged suicide of Batcha on Wednesday last, Dr V Dekal said he had put in his papers in the first week of March as he had intended to contest the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. – (PTI)

TIDES TODAY High Tide: 0029; 1344 Low Tide: 0707; 1926

‘

We are not opposing English medium schools. It was Goa Government’s conspiracy to destabilise Archdiocesan Board of Education. Infact, English language as the medium of instruction will help enhance Konkani.

— Tomazinho Cardozo

‘

An evacuated family receives "beef bowls" - rice and beef - for emergency food aid distributed by a beef bowl restaurant voluntarily at a shelter in Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture.

The call for making English as the medium of instruction is gaining momentum as around 15,000 parents gathered in the city demanding a change from the forthcoming academic year.

The parents under banner of ‘Forum for Rights of Children’s Education’ (FORCE) had called for a massive rally on Monday at Azad Maidan to unite the cross section of people over the

issue and demanded that by March 25 the Government convey its decision.

Speaking at the public meeting, former headmaster Tomazinho Cardozo said, that while English should be allowed in aided primary schools, Marathi and Konkani should continue as one of the compulsory subjects.

In 1990, Goa Government made Konkani as compulsory medium of instruction with a provision not to grant permission for new primary English schools in the State. Flouting its own provision, the Government has authorised 120 new primary English schools in the last two decades.

“We are not opposing English medium schools. It was Goa Government’s conspiracy to destabilise Archdiocesan Board of Education. Infact, English language as the medium of instruction will help enhance Konkani”, Cardozo said.

He further stated that Government should modify the existing Act and include English as the medium of instruction while Konkani should remain as one of the compulsory subjects.

“Government can take a Cabinet decision and implement English in primary schools”, he said.

The State Education Department is besieged with issue as several parents are demanding that education in Konkani or Marathi, which are State languages, will cap the student’s job opportunities outside the State.

FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes argued that although Right To Education states that medium of instruction at the elementary stage should be in the mother tongue, it also quickly adds ‘as far as practicable’, “To maintain continuity not only at the elementary level but also at all levels, it has been discerned by some of the State Governments that it is practicable to have English as medium of instruction as performance of students will improve, drop out rate will decrease, enrolment in higher education will go up and quality of education will be enhanced”, Lopes remarked.

Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate and other elected representatives including Churchill Alemao, Jose Philip D’Souza, Francisco ‘Mickky ’ Pacheco, Agnelo Fernandes, A l e i xo S i l v e i r a , Re g i n a l d (Continued on page 15)

MIGHT IS RIGHT!!: A section of the crowd at Azad Maidan, Panjim on Monday. Around 15,000 parents gathered in a show of strength demanding English be introduced as the medium of instruction from the forthcoming academic year. (More photos on page 2) Photo by Rozario Estibeiro.

Pen down stir fails to make impact on Day 1 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

The indefinite pen down strike called by Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) from Monday pressing for various demands including parity in pay scales, evoked mixed response from the employees on the first day.

Life in the State, however, was partially paralysed after employees from Health Department, Mamlatdar and other departments joined the strike in a show of solidarity.

Government has appointed five Officers on Special Duty (OSD) to inspect the departments. An officer confirmed that the staffers attended work actively.

(Continued on page 15)

Uproar in House over Babu-Parrikar spat HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

The Goa Legislative Assembly witnessed unprecedented pandemonium this afternoon as Opposition legislators and Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar almost came to blows over the latter’s charges of corruption against Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The situation returned to normal soon after, and the House resumed at 2.30 pm as the Sports Minister tendered an apology and the Leader of the Opposition regretted his behaviour.

The exchange of words started during Question Hour, when the Sports Minister was grilled by Opposition MLAs seeking to know why the Sports Ministry was promoting fivestarred hotels under Public Private Partnership (PPP) as part of ‘infrastructure development’ for the National Games scheduled to be held Goa in 2014.

The Sports Minister’s reply to queries raised by the Leader of the Opposition was deemed to be unsatisfactory by the latter.

At this point, Babu made a remark against Parrikar. Unable to tolerate Babu’s remark, Parrikar rushed to the Well of the House.

The Leader of the Opposition

had earlier made it clear that charges against him had been dropped both by CAG and the CBI, and the Minister should be clear while making allegations.

What followed was total disorder, as Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza and Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar also rushed towards the Well of the House as the Sports Minister by now had also moved out from his seat.

The situation was salvaged by the active intervention of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who both restrained the agitated Opposition MLAs and tried to cool down an angry (Continued on page 15)

Cong okays deal with Mamata Settles for 65 seats PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

Ending days of suspense, Congress and Trinamool Congress reached seat-sharing agreement with the former settling for 65 seats, against its original demand of 90, in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly.

The deal was announced within hours of a meeting between Congress President Sonia Gandhi with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the latter’s telephonic talk with Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee.

“Congress has entered into a seat-sharing agreement with Trinamool Congress for West Bengal Assembly polls. We expect that the alliance will give a

chance to the people of Bengal to end misrule of the Left”, AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

Under the agreement, Congress will contest from 65 seats while Trinamool will contest from 229 seats, Ahmed said.

Congress initially had demanded 90 seats but Trinamool was not ready to give more than 45. During the several rounds of negotiations, Congress dropped the demand to 70 seats but Trinamool said it could give only 64 seats.

As the stalemate continued, Trinamool went ahead and unilaterally declared candidates for 228, saying it could not wait endlessly.

Did Civil Aviation Minister lie to Parliament or is State lying to Mopkars & High Court?

BY AJAY THAKUR PANJIM, MARCH 21

This might qualify for the greatest gaffe or a blatant lie that both Central Government as well as Goa Government meted out to people of Goa. On March 9, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Vyalar Ravi informed Lok Sabha that about 1000 acres of land had been ‘acquired’ for Mopa Airport. 24 hours later, M K Vasta, Special Land Acquisition Officer for Mopa Airport told Herald that Revenue Department had only ‘approved the acquisition’ of land for Mopa at four villages namely Mopa, Uguem, Chandel and Ambarem earlier last week and that award is yet to take place. The process of land acquisition starts with

When Herald quizzed SLAO Vasta if he was aware of Writ Petition Nos. 510/2009, 568/2009 and 135/2010 at High Court, all dealing with ‘what was the emergency in land acquisition’ his reply was “I am not aware”. notification, hearing of objections, approval from Revenue Department, payment of compensation, acquisition of land and then possession. The slip between cup and lip has happened yet again at Mopa.

It is not the first time that Centre and State have spoken different languages on Mopa.

In the past when Herald had broken the news that Amman & Whitney was the chosen Consultant for Mopa, Centre con-

firmed it while State denied.

Land acquisition is the new turf for doublespeak. But there is more to how Centre-State’s duality on Mopa Land Acquisition raises eyebrows. On May 5, 2010, passing an interim order on Writ Petition No. 510/2009, High Court of Bombay at Goa instructed “Respondents (read State Government) shall be at liberty to proceed with the acquisition proceedings.

However, this shall be entirely

without prejudice to all the rights and contentions of the parties. Further respondents shall not take possession of the land which is the subject matter of the petition”. Either an overzealous State Government went overboard in stating to the Centre that land was already with them or an insensitive Centre cocksure that any opposition did not exist, either ways the land users of Mopa left stunned whom to believe.

Even though the Court Room Battle for Mopa’s emergency land acquisition is not yet over and a final round of hearing happening this week, SLAO Vasta has sprung up another surprise.

When Herald quizzed him if he (Continued on page 15)

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GOA, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2011

CM rebuffs allegations of shielding mining HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Rubbishing the allegations levelled against him for shielding mining activity, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today said that the budget 2011-12 has enough provisions to ensure that the mine owners are taxed and the financial benefits are passed on to the people in the mining belt.

Kamat said that the taxes are levied on the barge transport, stamp duty on the leases renewal has been increased and fees for consent under air and water pollution act has been hiked.

“The increased stamp duty on the renewal of licences is going to fetch Rs 100 crore for the state exchequer,” the chief minister said speaking during the discussion on the budget.

Kamat said that the mining firms will fund the by-pass roads

proposed in various mining belt.

“The work order for Guddemol and Kapshem by pass has already been given while second and third phase is being tendered,” he said adding that even in North Goa, the mining companies will finance the bypasses.

Stating that the mining is not a new phenomenon, the chief minister said that the activity has been going on since Portuguese time.

“We want to ease the problems faced by people in mining belts of Sattari, Quepem, Sanguem and Bicholim taluka,” he said.

The chief minister clarified that the budget speech erroneously mentioned Ponda taluka in place of Bicholim in the mining talukas.

The chief minister also conceded that the state government

might give second thought to the Sea Link project, if it is not feasible for the state.

“Sea Link was just an idea.

Ultimately, the project should be for the benefit of Goans. We will go ahead with it only if it is beneficial. That’s why it is taking time,” he justified.

He said that even PPP projects for the National Games will also not be taken up, if it is not feasible.

Kamat admitted that he had to plan the budget with fewer resources at hand.

“I know that the resources are less and only few things can be taxed,” he said.

“I have tried to accommodate each and every section of the society. I made it a point that wherever possible, genuine demands are included in the budget,” he said.

The chief minister said that

the `action taken report’ on the last years’ budget was placed along with the new annual statement so that there is transparency.

“There were 108 budget proposals last year, of which 60 per cent are into completed or partially completed category,” he said.

Kamat explained that the plan size of the budget has increased from Rs 2710 crore last fiscal to Rs 3129 crore, this time.

“We are yet to go to before the Planning Commission. The funds from the Planning Commission will give us additional helping hand,” the chief minister stated.

He said that the total budget outlay has been increased by 71 percent.

“The budget outlay last year was 6877.35 crore which has touched Rs 8222.19 crore, this

Babush assures hike in lecture wages HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

State Education Minister Babush Monserrate today assured to create at least one post for BEd teachers in each government schools on immediate bases.

The minister also assured to enhance the wages of all the teachers working on lecture basis in secondary schools in the state.

The minister’s assurance came as a reply to Calling Attention tabled by Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar, who raised apprehension in the minds of parents that education is getting disturbed due to contract/lecture based trained BEd teachers, who are agitating for their rights.

Parikar claimed that teachers

are appointed on meager salary on contract/ lecture basis despite of availability of full time vacancies.

Parikar urged minister to ensure that wherever and whenever need arises, these BEd students would be appointed as permanent teachers for all government and unaided schools.

“Vacancies are already created for these teachers. We will ensure that atleast one job is created for these teachers in government schools on priority basis,” Monserrate assured State Legislative Assembly.

Clarifying on the floor of the house over appointing teachers for contract/ lecture basis, minister said that teachers are appointed on yearly basis to avoid

being declared surplus and teachers on lecture basis are appointed when there is no enough work load in the school for the subject due to maternity leave, child care leave, extra ordinary leave and others.

BJP legislator Laxmikant Parsekar also targeted Monserrate stating that lecture basis teachers in the secondar y schools are paid meager salary of Rs 80 per lecture, which is much less then what is paid to the teachers of high secondar y schools Rs 150 per lecture.

He also pointed out that once regular teacher retires, the post is later reserved on lecture basis or temporary basis.

Monserrate assured that government will try to enhance the

salaries of these teachers.

“The directions are already been issued to look into the matter. The decision will be taken soon,” he said.

The Calling Attention tabled by Parrikar also pointed out that non payment of salaries for last six to eight months have also aggravated the issue.

Replying to this, Monserrate said that the orders for payments are issued on time.

“Sometimes, schools claim the salary of these teachers late. At times, on scrutiny if errors, mistakes occurs, the clarifications are sought, which leads to delay in payment,” he said adding that efforts are being made to avoid delay in payment of salaries of these teachers.

Parrikar blames govt for fiscal indiscipline HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar today pointed out severe loopholes in the state budget terming the entire exercise as without proper fiscal discipline.’

Talking on the ‘Vote of Account’ for the part of the financial year 2011-12 on the floor of the house, Parrikar said that there is Rs 970 crore revenue deficit and the state government has kept on spending through the budget.

“There is inherent fiscal in-

discipline in the budget presented by the government,” he said adding that the state government has presented the schemes presuming that they will never take off.

He said that the state fiscal deficit is to the tune of Rs 80 crore a month, which means the fiscal indiscipline is almost 16 percent of the budget value.

Parrikar said that the fiscal deficit is going to mount to Rs 1,000 crore for this financial year.

“The state government has no explanation from where the

4866 duplicate names detected in electoral rolls HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 20

A total 4866 duplicate names have been detected from the electoral rolls since June 2007 by the Election Commission.

The total strength of voters as on January 1, 2011 is 10,35,948.

Of this, 491516 voters are in North Goa constituencies with 246377 male voters and 243139 female voters . Total strength of voters in South Goa constituencies is 544432 with 273058 male voters and 271374 female voters.

The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in his written reply to a question tabled by Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza informed the House on Monday that 1-20 constituencies of North Goa , 2040 duplicate names have been detected from the rolls from June 2007 till date. Whereas in twenty Assembly constituencies of South Goa 2826 duplicate names were detected.

In North Goa, a highest number of duplicate names were found in Taleigao constituency --about 442 duplicate names were detected in this con-

n491516 voters are in North Goa constituencies with 246377 male voters and 243139 female voters . Total strength of voters in South Goa constituencies is 544432 with 273058 male voters and 271374 female voters. stituency.

Also in St Cruz, Panjim, Aldona and Tivim the number of duplicate names detected was high.

Whereas in South Goa constituency -- Ponda (153), Mormugao (210), Vasco-da-Gama (273), Curtorim (315), Dabolim (166), Cortalim (331) , Benualim (251), Navelim (321), Cuncolim (122), Velim (218) and Canacona (152) had a large number of duplicate names.

The Chief Minister in its reply clarified that as per instructions of ECI the rolls are revised at the end of calendar year with reference to qualifying date as January 1 of the following year.

amount would be fetched. This could be termed as ‘financial mismanagement’ and government is not aware about it,” Par-

State facing shortage of officers: CM

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today announced the relaxation of mandatory experience clause for promotion of junior civil services officers to meet the shortage of officers faced by the state government.

Kamat told the state legislative assembly that there is severe shortage of civil service officers in the state, which burdens the existing officers with the additional charge.

Speaking to the various allegations levelled by members during discussion on the annual statement, the chief minister announced that the state will relax the norm of one year compulsory service in the cadre and overall three years experience, which is required for the promotion.

Kamat admitted that severe shortage of the officers was affecting the functioning of the government.

“Even if I want the officer, I am not able to get it. Moreover, there are many officers who will be retiring this year,” the chief minister said.

The religious ceremonies for Shirgao’s famous Dhonachi Jatra or Lairaidevi Jatra are under threat as the Dhonachi tali (lake) has dried up due to the incessant mining activity around, Aldona ML A Dayanand Nar vekar said today.

Speaking during discussion on the Vote on Account, Narvekar said that the water from Dhondachi tali, where the devotees take holi bath, has dried up.

“The water table has gone down in Shirgao area due to mining. What are you going to do now? Are you going to fill water in Dhondachi tali?” he questioned.

The Shirgaon Jatra is recognized as one of the famous feast all over Goa. Narvekar said that the temple and lakes around it are part of mining leases.

“Lot of communidade land is also given to these mining

Goa’s Legislative Assembly Deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho today said that Airport Authority of India (AAI) should not acquire private land for its expansion project at Dabolim.

“We are here to protect the land of the locals. The authority has already acquired 70,000 sq meters of land for the purpose,” Godinho told the state legislative assembly.

He alleged that the state government has bogged down to the pressure of the central government on acquiring the land.

Godinho stated that the land

from the private party should not be taken for the expansion when other alternatives are available with the government.

The deputy speaker also questioned about the follow up of special status for Goa. “Goa needs special status. People come to the state because of the special characteristic, it is possessing.

No one will come here, if special character of the state is lost,” Godinho said.

Stating that the centre has given Rs 200 crore as a special package for Goa, he said that the amount is `peanuts’ considering the financial packages offered to North Eastern states.

Godinho suggested that chief minister should lead all party delegation to Delhi seeking more funds.

Divya: Quality of primary education must be ensured HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, MARCH 21

Dr Divya Rane has stated that quality of primary education must be ensured.

Dr Rane was recently speaking as the chief guest during the annual social gathering of Nyan Sagar Kala Mandir (NSKM) at Tar-Sattari.

Speaking further, Dr Rane said rural students must be provided with superior quality of primary education so that it proves to be strong foundation for them.

“There was need to upgrade infrastructure in the rural schools which would create an environment and interest among students in learning,” said Dr Rane.

She also lauded the efforts of NSKM school teachers for promoting creative learning and assured her utmost help to the management of the school in the interest of the students and teachers at large.

On the occasion, various cultural events were performed by the children.

Earlier, the guests inaugurated the function. Prizes were distributed to the students by the chief guest and other guests.

Other dignitaries present were ZP member Humlo Gawde, Nagargao Sarpanch Pallavi Marathe, social worker Vinod Shinde, NSKM Vice President Mohan Nene and Halwalker.

Mining takes a toll on Dhonachi Jatra?

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Mauvin: No private land for airport expansion

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

rikar said.

The leader of opposition said that the Vote of Account should have been passed for one month rather then for two months as we are almost nearing the end of current financial year.

Parrikar claimed that by passing it for two months, government is trying to pass on the expenditure to the next month.

Parrikar pointed out before the house that as per the budget revenue receipts are of Rs 5061 crore while revenue expenditure is Rs 5233 crores with revenue surplus deficit of Rs 172 crore

time.”

“Government has tired to give all inclusive growth oriented budget which is trying to touch hearts of common men,” the chief minister claimed.

Kamat said that all the schemes proposed in the budget are backed with the proper financial provision.

He stated that extensive discussion with the farmers was h e l d b e f o re d r a f t i n g t h e budget.

“Also demands of the tribal communities are taken care in the budget. The tribal welfare department’s plan allocation has been increased from Rs 17.38 crore to Rs 25 crore,” he said.

The budget has also made provision of Rs 5 crore each for ST corporation, OBC corporation and Minority Finance Development Corporation.

Five senior police officers promoted HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Five senior scale officers of Goa police have been promoted to the rank of junior administrative grade in an order issued by the Department of Personnel on Monday.

The promoted Superintendents of Police are Atmaram Deshpande, Ar vind Gawas, Bosco George, Shelkhar Prabhudesai and Vishram Borkar.

The order was issued after the Goa Governor ordered their promotion on March 15.

leases,” he stated adding that the locals are agitating against these mines.

National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has also given the report that the water sources in Shirgao are polluted, Narvekar told the state legislative assembly.

Aldona MLA said that the state environment minister should look into this issue seriously and settle the problem as villagers are up in arm against incessant mining in the village.

Speaking in the assembly, BJP legislator Fransis D’Souza demanded that government should conduct scientific study on the environmental damage caused by mining to the state. “ The damage which is caused, is irreparable but we need to know the extent of damage caused,” he said adding that steps should be taken to ensure that further degradation is controlled.

Glimpses of the public meeting held at Azad Maidan on Monday in support of the demand for English as the medium of instuction at the elementary education.

Photos by Rosario Estibeiro

Mauvin, Agnelo back English as medium of instruction HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

The Congress legislators today supported English along with Konkani and Marathi as Medium of Instruction for the Elementary education in Goa. Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho and Calangute legislator Agnelo Fernandes spoke in favour of English during the discussion on Vote on Account on Monday in the assembly.

“The aided schools with the English as medium of instruction should not be denied the grants,” Godinho said referring to the proposed enactment of Right to Education (RTE) in the state.

He said that the choice should be left to Parent Teachers Association and Management as to whether the medium of instruction should be in Konkani, Marathi or English.

Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes pointed out to the morcha in the city by parents demanding English as one of the medium of instruction in RTE. He said that the UNESCO’s recommendation on education in mother-tongue, quoted by leader of opposition on Friday, was actually related to the African countries.

“Do you want that the English medium schools should be closed down?” he questioned

adding that in Goa there is no single BEd college in Konkani language.

“The mother-tongue Konkani which we are talking about in Goa is a Roman Konkani. But when the students go to school, they are taught in Devnagri.

Even the numbers are in Devnagri, the number four looks like eight in English. The student gets confused,” Fernandes said.

The Calangute legislator said that knowledge of English is compulsory for any good job.

“You will be depriving the youths, their jobs,” he said adding that the parents should decide on the medium of instruction.

Damu says his, CM’s speeches uploaded on porn website HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik today shocked the state legislative assembly session by claiming that his and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s clips of speech were uploaded on the porn website.

Intervening before the discussion on Vote on Account, Naik said that the clip of his speech against the website and Kamat’s reply, on the floor of the house, were uploaded by the website.

The website reportedly portrays wrong image about Goan

girls and runs a call girl racket in the state. Even the numbers of the people who run the racket are published on the website.

The Fatorda ML A had raised the issue about the website seeking its ban during the assembly sessions in past.

The BJP legislator today said that his entire speech and Kamat’s reply has been posted on the website.

He claimed that the website is easily accessible through Google search.

The Chief Minister, responding to Naik’s claim, said that directions will be issued to police to inquire about the website through cyber crime cell of police station.

GXE flays govt for approving mining corridors HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21

The Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott has denounced the Goa Cabinet for initiating the largescale destruction of Quepem and Sanguem talukas by approving 40 kms long dedicated mining corridors through these Western Ghat talukas.

The farmers apprehended the ongoing frantic mining paradise will increase manifold if these mining corridors are constructed. “Many Shirgaos and Pissurlems will be created in South Goa. As a direct consequence, the major water resources of South Goa shall be permanently lost, with catastrophic consequences for the entire State”, they said, adding that there will be neither ore

nor drinking water in Goa in a few years, but only large craters bearing witness to our insanity.

Terming the proposed mining corridors as completely illegal since the areas they are supposed to serve are eco-sensitive areas of the Western Ghats, the farmers said the corridors run almost entirely within the 10 kms buffer zone suggested by the Supreme Court, indicating the extent to which the Govt of Goa is ready to bend the Law for the short term greed of a few.

“The Goa government has bypassed the Supreme Court suggestions by deciding that in view of Goa's tiny size, she does not deserve the protection that the bigger States enjoy! The government in connivance with the

Union Ministry of Environment & Forests, has thereafter given speedy approvals to numerous mines and forest diversions in these two talukas on the basis of fraudulent reports. Not stopping at that, it has further helped these mines to operate by using all means available to coerce both the people and the Law”, asserted GXE President Dilip Hegde.

He said that nothing can stop the large-scale displacement of the tribal belts of these two talukas if the mining corridors becomes a reality, even before the forest rights are determined, except ironically, inside the sanctuaries.

GXE has warned all residents of South Goa that even if they have no sympathy for tribals,

farmers or tigers, they must seriously consider the consequences of the mining corridors.

“The Salaulim Dam, which is the only source of water for more than half of Goa's population, is already beseiged with numerous mines. The mining corridors shall signal the end of resistance to mining in the hills surrounding the Dam, clearing all obstacles to massive illegal mining.

This will directly impact the quality and quantity of water in the Dam, putting the entire population of South Goa at risk. We therefore believe that all Goans must wake up and stop the mining corridors before it is too late”, he added.

Saying that the towns and villages alongside the present mining roads are suffering

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Strike gets good response in Vasco, Bicholim; poor show in Canacona

Bodies found at sinquerim, Cavelossim

Subhash refuses to speak on ministers’ criminal background

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MARCH 21

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

The pen-down strike called by government employees evoked good response in Vasco on Monday.

However, the maintenance work force of PWD and Electricity Department were on guard, but not a single file and paper work was done in the two departments, confirmed officers.

The most crowded offices of deputy collector and Mamlatdar wore a deserted look, as most of the staff were on pen-down strike. People who had applied for most sought residential certificates and other documentation work were forced to go back home disappointed, as the work came to a grinding halt.

However, the scene was similar in Block Development Office and Land Survey and Record offices in Vasco.

Mormugao Municipal Council functioned smoothly, as most of the staff does not fall under common cadre of the State government.

BICHOLIM CORRESPONDENT ADDS: The indefinite pen-down strike by the government employees evoked good response with most of the employees abstained from attending their duties throughout the day.

According to Bicholim and Sattari Government Employees’ Union President Shailesh Fatarpekar, 100% bandh was observed by the employees.

The Colva police has recovered a body of an unknown male person from Cavelossim beach on Monday.

Police said the deceased is aged between 21-22 years. The body was later sent to the Hospicio mortuary for post mortem examination.

A case of unnatural death has been registered at the police station, with police saying the exact cause behind the death would be known after the autopsy.

The Colva police are investigating.

Suicide: Cuncolim police has registered a case of unnatural death after a 15 year old girl committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

Cuncolim PSI Gautam informed that the girl succumbed to her injuries at the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim.

CALANGUTE CORRESPONDENT: An unknown male body was found in the close vicinity of Aguada jail at Sinquerim on Monday.

According to Calangute Police, after they were informed about the incident at about 4.20 pm, they rushed to the site and conducted a panchanama and took possession of the body.

Police informed that the body has been preserved in GMC Hospital at Bambolim for further investigations.

Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee on Monday claimed that they will not have any criminal elements joining the party even as Goa Congress chief Subhash Shirodkar refused to answer questions on ministers with criminal background included in the Goa cabinet.

When asked at the press conference that its mother party included ministers with the criminal past, he dodged queries.

“I will not answer this question. We can have a separate press conference for this,” Shirodkar said.

Earlier at the press confer-

Staff of Mamlatdar office in Bicholim on pen-down strike.

“The strike will continue till our demands are met,” stated Fatarpekar.

CANACONA CORRESPONDENT: The all Goa strike call given by Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) virtually had no telling effect on staff or public in general, as it was a normal working day in all the government offices at Canacona.

Even though there are claims from Association’s leadership in the taluka, few staff contacted by this correspondent denied having struck work on the first day of the indefinite pen down strike call.

The taluka’s administrative heads also corroborated the stand of the few staff members

that no government works suffered in the taluka, as there was absolute attendance in all the offices throughout the day.

GGEA Canacona Branch President Pramod Naik Gaonkar informed that all the staff participated in the strike on Monday.

But when few staff was seen still on their office seats, informed that they performed their duties as any normal working day.

Incidentally, no complaints from public of any difficulties have come to notice, meaning everything normally functioned at Canacona deputy collector’s office building where most of the government offices are sit-

Discriminated Teachers stage dharna near CM’s residence HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21

Prematurely retired teachers under the Discriminated Teachers’ Forum on Monday staged a dharna near the Malbhat residence of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat demanding a solution to their long pending problems.

A large contingent of police force drawn from South Goa was deployed near the CM’s residence as a precautionary measure.

The dharna was lifted only around noon after the Chief Minister assured a delegation of the retired teachers in Panjim that he would convene a joint meeting after the ongoing Assembly session to resolve the issues.

President of the Discriminated Teachers’ Forum Neves Anthony Rebello told Herald that the dharna was withdrawn following assurances given by the Chief Minister. “We drew the attention of Chief Minister about his earlier promise to convene a meeting with the Chief secretary and Finance secretary to address our problems, but in vain”, he said, adding that the

One drowns in Dudhsagar waterfalls HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, MARCH 21

A 25-year- old youth from Mallipattanam District, Hassan-Karnataka, drowned in Dudhsagar waterfalls at Sonaulium-Collem on Monday at about 3.45 pm.

Collem Police have identified the deceased as one Goutam Narayan Shetty, who was working as a worker with a mining company in Dharbandoda.

Police informed that the deceased, presently residing at Dharbandoda along with 10 other workers from the same mining company, had gone to Dudhsagar Waterfalls for a picnic.

Police said the incident occurred when Shetty went for a dip in the waterfalls, where he was the swept away by the currents. However, his friends managed to fish out Shetty’s body from the waters.

Collem PI Manoj Mardolkar along with Head Constable Pradeep Gauns, Constables Ramakant Sawant, Bhairu Zore and Premand Sawant rushed to the site and after conducting the panchanama, the body was sent to GMC Hospital in Bambolim for post mortem.

It may be recalled that this is the second casualty this year at Dudhsagar waterfalls. In January 2011, a youth from Andhra Pradesh had drowned in the waterfalls.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

uated, except for few hitches here and there.

Canacona Mamlatdar Chandrant Shetkar informed reporters that there was no strike effect at the government administrative building, where most of the government offices are situated.

There were no reports of disturbances even in public utility services like electricity and water supply on Monday, which could have been felt if employees had resorted to strike, informed sources.

According to Association branch President Naik Gaunkar, there are approximately 200 government employees who are affiliated to the Association in Canacona.

Anganwadi teacher dies in mishap HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, MARCH 21

. The Discriminated Teachers’ Forum at a dharna outside the residence of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat here on Monday.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

CM has now promised to study the issue after the Assembly session.

Rebello further said that a delegation of the Discriminated Teachers’ Forum also called on GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar in Panjim this morning. “Shirodkar immediately spoke to the Chief Minister and impressed upon him to settle our long pending grievances”, he said.

He said the delegation impressed upon the Chief Minister

to consider the genuine grievances sympathetically considering the fact that Goa is commemorating its Golden Jubilee of Liberation.

The Forum had been agitating since the last two years demanding justice for their premature retirement by asking the government to compensate them with two lost increments, their salary arrears for the two lost years and re-fixation of our pensions in the VIth Pay commission scales.

Compromise on Margao shigmotsav fails HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21

Hopes of a compromise between the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat-led Margao Shigmotsav Samiti and BJP MLA Damu Naik-led Panel to hold a joint Shigmo festival in the Commercial capital appeared remote on Monday.

For, both the Chief Minister as well the Fatorda MLA separately offered the sacred coconut to Lord Damodar at the Pimpalkatta on Monday. While Chief Minister along with members of the Margao Shigmotsav Samiti conducted the religious ritual early Monday morning, the Fatorda MLA accompanied

by BJP leaders offered the coconut this evening.

Rupesh Mahatme of the Damu-led Panel told newsmen after the religious ceremony that their panel had no option than to go ahead with the traditional ritual after the rival Kamat-led panel failed to get back to them by 11 am today after last night meeting.

He further said that that the Chief Minister went ahead with the offering of the coconut to Lord Damodar followed by inauguration of Samiti office without taking them into confidence.

Mahatme told newsmen after the religious ceremony that the Damu Panel would not compromise on the proposal offered to the rival panel on the constitution of the Committee. The Damu panel had offered a proposal to make Chief Minister the President of the Samiti, Girish Chodankar, president of

the Organising Committee, Rupesh Mahatme as General secretary and Vasudev Virdikar as treasurer.

Sources in the Kamat panel said the group was willing to give the post of Samiti secretary to Mahatme and joint Treasurer to Virdikar, with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Damu Naik as Chairman and co-Chairman respectively of the Samiti.

Mahatme said that group would perform the religious ceremony at the Pimpalkatta on Wednesday and would go ahead with the Romtamell in the city on Saturday if the rival panel fails to positively respond to their proposal.

shigmo begins in Vasco HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MARCH 21

The Vasco Shigmo Samiti will entertain the citizens of Vasco during the week-long Shigmo festival, which commenced on Monday evening.

‘Dashavatari’ Natak was staged near the main stage in front of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Monday.

The one-week cultural event will end with mega show at Tilak Maidan on March 26, while on March 25, float parade will be held in port town of Vasco.

Addressing media, Vasco Shigmo Samiti President Shekar Khadapkar said the tradition of colour festival should be preserved for the future generation.

A 44-year- old Anganwadi teacher from Housing Board Sanquelim died, after she fell off a two-wheeler near PHC Sanquelim on Monday.

According to reports, the accident occurred when one Anuradha Anil Girap was proceeding with her husband towards Sanquelim on a two wheeler (GA04-A-5733).

They lost control and Anuradha had a fatal fall near the PHC Sanquelim. She was working as an Anganwadi teacher at Karapur-Sanquelim.

Anuradha was rushed to a hospital, but died on the way.

Members of St Andre Village Panchayat in Tiswadi have demanded that 75 names which they claimed have been wrongly included in the voters list for ward VIII be deleted.

The ward VIII will have bye election on April 10.

The members have contended that those 75 voters were on the list of other ward of the panchayat in 2007 and they had also exercised their voting right then.

Hence, they should not be allowed to vote in ward VIII now as it amounts to repeat voting.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Goa’s Anti-mining struggle will get ‘Ramdev touch’ with Bharat Swabhiman Trust (BST) gathering all the crusaders under one banner to fight for the common cause.

Addressing a press conference on Monday morning, BST ’s North Goa Chief Bhartesh Ghullanawar announced that ahead of Swami Ramdev’s public meeting against corruption on March 25 in Panjim, the anti-mining activists have come together to

The voters list was placed before panchayat meeting on March 13, and the members had pointed out that 75 names were on the voters list of ward IV who had already exercised their voting rights in 2007 panchayat election.

The panchayat then passed a resolution empowering the sarpanch to take necessary action to ensure that the names which have been included in the voters list for ward VIII, be deleted.

The resolution also empowers the sarpanch to take legal action if the authorities do not consider their demand.

‘Demand for ouster by disgruntled members’ HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21

Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes has said that the demand for her ouster and that of her deputy Stanley Fernandes was not made by the gram sabha members but by a few disgruntled members of the Village Committee.

Carmelina said that neither she nor her deputy has violated any law or provision of Panchayat Raj Act, adding “let any independent court decide that the Sarpanch and deputy sarpanch has violated any law or provision of the Panchayat Act”.

On her absence at the Sunday gram sabha meeting, the Sarpanch has she was ill for the last four days as she lost her

voice, but lamented that certain vested interests continue to malign her absence.

“How can Village Committee members make such statement to the media as if to show gram sabha has asked for ouster when there is no resolution as gram sabha was adjourned. The ouster was asked by the Village Action Committee”, she asserted.

The Sarpanch further stated that members do not attend the gram sabha as questions which are not listed on the agenda are put up suddenly by force for the meeting. “Question which cannot be asked under section 6 of Gram sabha have been asked for gram sabha. Further, there is no proper constructive discussion with possible solutions

No-trust against Raia sarpanch

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21

Political instability has gripped the 11-member Raia village Panchayat – days after the village gram sabha was plunged into uproar on the controversy surrounding the “non-ST’ Convention in the village.

Six members of the Village Panchayat on Monday served a no trust notice against Sarpanch Savio Gomes.

The signatories, including Deputy Sarpanch Inacio Pedro Pinheiro have charged the Sarpanch for not taking the members into confidence, not taking up development in the wards and not implementing the gram sabha resolutions.

Former Sarpanch Nazareth Gomes told newsmen after the no confidence motion was entered in the Salcete BDO office that the signatories had lost confidence in the Sarpanch. The six signatories include deputy Sarpanch Inacio Pedro Pinheiro, Nazareth Gomes, Judas Quadros, Rumaldo Gonsalves, Esmeralda Gomes and Menino Fernandes.

The signatories have called upon the BDO to convene a special meeting of the Panchayat body to decide the fate of the no trust motion.

A villager Anthony Pango charged the Sarpanch for allegedly discriminating against the ST community by holding a “non-ST convention” in the village as president of the Raia Villagers Association.

At the gram sabha meeting earlier this month, gram sabha members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes had stormed in the Panchayat ghar and stalled the proceedings, protesting against the Sarpanch for allegedly insulting the ST community by holding the convention for the “nonSTs”.

In fact, agitated gram sabha m e m b e r s h a d f o rc e d t h e Sarpanch and other Panch members to leave the dais before adjourning the meeting. The no trust motion assumes significance given that the adjourned gram sabha is scheduled on March 27.

coming youth congress elections.

Shirodkar said that from this election onwards, the positions of the elected representatives will be decided through election. “Our next youth president will be decided after 6665 workers vote to elect. The second highest will be elected as the vice president,” he said.

The Congress leader also added that a 10 member committee will be set up at the State level, while another 10 member committee with be set up each at the Lok Sabha and Block level.

A five member team is down in Goa to work on field for the election process.

Anti-mining crusaders to come under one banner

Delete names wrongly included in ward VIII, says St Andre VP HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

ence, youth congress’s Zonal Returning Officer Sumit Khanna said that party will go to great length to ensure that only people with clean background will be included in the party.

“It is a part of Rahul Gandhi’s vision to ensure that criminal back ground do not join the congress,” he told reporters.

The congress leaders also said that they will make a membership base of one-lakh youth congressman spread over 1333 booths across Goa. The press conference was basically to announce that youth congress has begun with the membership drive from March 15 till April 5. The members also announced plans for the forth-

ever for the gram sabha. It is for this reason that Panchas with self respect have stopped coming for the gram sabhas as they are not elected to take abuses and bad words from any person”, she added.

Claiming that each and every plan and suggestion put forth by the Panchayat body, the sarpanch said the Panch members who were absent for the meetings will not attend till there is order for the Benaulim Gram sabhas.

fight the cause. “Around one lakh illegal mining leases are operational in the country,” Ghullanawar said.

BST has decided to take up the issue, which is worsening in the state everyday with several villagers taking on streets demanding ban on the illegal mining.

An anti-mining leader Dattaram Desai said that they are not against those mines which are operational as per the norms.

“We are against irrational and illegal mining. Even legal mines

should be regulated,” said Desai, who earlier headed massive agitation against Thapar du Pont Limited’s Nylon 66 project.

He stated that the mining in Goa has gained momentum since last five years and there is intense mechanization.

Talking to media, Ranu Prabhudesai, a mining activist feared that Goa will have Japan-like crisis considering the current pace of mining, which is extensively filling our water bodies and converting paddy fields into mining pits.

OHERALDO

Pg4 GOA, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2011

Women unsafe in Goa: GPMSA chief

UPCOMING EVENTS Rastra Seva Dal meet BICHOLIM (HC): The Goa Rastra Seva Dal has convened a special meeting at Radhakrishna High School Bicholim on March 22 at 4 pm.

Maharastra Pradesh RSD President Suresh Deshmukh and Seva Dal tabloid editor Vikas Deshpande will be present for the meeting.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

Friday Balcao PANJIM (HND): Friday Balcao, the fortnightly discussion event to be held on March 25, will focus on the impact of urbanisation on water quality in the towns and cities of Goa. It will be held at the Goa Desc Resource Centre, No 11 Liberty Apartments, Feira-Alta, Mapusa, from 4 pm to 6 pm.

The discussion will cover factors such as rapid urban population growth, industrialization, poor sanitation facilities, natural disasters, tourism growth, degraded environment and climate change.

The discussion will examine the role of the municipal councils, Water Resources Department, Public Works Department, State Pollution Control Board, urban health centres, housing societies, educational institutions and consumers.

Interested citizens wanting more information on Friday Balcao can email to goadesc@gmail.com

Chronic pain camp

PANJIM (HND): Vrundavan Hospital & Research Center in association with Dr Seetaram Korgaonkar and Dr Chittaranjan Das, will organize a second chronic pain camp on March 26.

This camp is organized with the sole intention of creating awareness amongst the public about chronic pain and its treatment, which will help the people to live a pain free and a good quality of life.

This camp is designed specifically for children and adults to outline a comprehensive approach towards pain management and for patients with pain disorders. In females pain occurring due to cancer of breast, uterus, and pain of endometriosis, burning pain & urinary urgency, coccyx (monkey bone) pain will be very effectively treated by the pain specialists.

Kindly register yourself at the earliest at Vrundavan Hospital & Research Centre, Mapusa on 0832-2250022 / 2250033 / 6713535. Only first 50 registrations will be entertained.

Summer vacation courses

PANJIM (HNB): Caritas-Goa will conduct special courses during the summer vacation at Dr Graciano Ribeiro de Santana Centre for Empowerment (A project of Caritas-Goa), Bhatkar Vaddo, opp Dr Pinto Rosario Hospital, in Porvorim.

The courses are specially designed for the benefit and empowerment of women and children.

Courses offered are hobby courses (April 4 to 15) from 9.30 am to 12 noon from Monday to Friday. Children in the age groups of 6 to 16 years can avail these courses.

Baking and Confectionery (April 4 to 8) from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm, from Monday to Friday.

Fruit preserves (jams, pickles, squashes, etc) (April 25 to 29) from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm from Monday to Friday.

For details, contact Sr Mafaldina Pires on 0832-2416716 or 9765256547.

GPMSA president Nelly Rodrigues addresses the women of Navelim on International Women’s Day celebration by VP Navelim in collaboration with GPMSA. Also present are Sarpanch Paul Pereira, dy Sarpanch Anna Carneiro, ex-ZP member Philomena Coutinho, panchas Adelina, Idaline, loretta, Miguelina, Angela, teacher Chanda Kavtankar and others.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

Stating that the future of Goa is bleak and unsafe not only for women but its citizens, Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan (GPMSA) president Nelly Rodrigues said that with increased number of crimes, dacoities, thefts, and rampant drug menace going on unabated a stage will come when Goans will be strangers in their own land.

She was speaking as the chief guest at a function organised

by Navelim Village Panchayat

and GPMSA. Further, Nelly spoke about women’s empowerment and schemes for women. She came down on the State government for meager allotment in the budget for women who comprise 50% of the states population.

She also lamented that when the Women and Child Dept organises programmes, it doesn’t even invite Goa panchayat members and called the Taluka Sports Festival as a mockery of just spending funds. She also said that in most of the schemes,

When did it emerge?

Fauvism was an art movement in French painting which lasted from about 1898 to 1908. It is considered to have revolutionized the concept of color and its dramatic use in modern art, and also influenced future generations of European artists. The Fauves, as its practitioners were called, rejected the Impressionist palette of soft, shimmering tones in favor of the violent colors used by the Post-Impressionists Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh for expressive emphasis.

elected women who are grassroot leaders are not taken into confidence and hence without firm roots, the schemes do not reach the deserving.

Idalina Rebello spoke on the multifaceted role women have to play to balance her work, family and social work. Adelina Fernandes, teacher Chanda Kavtankar, panch Idalina Rebello also spoke.

Earlier Sarpanch Paul Pereira welcomed the gathering and dy Sarpanch Anna Carneiro explained the purpose of the project.

Goa Writers to release ‘Inside/Out’ HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

Goa Writers, a group of disparate individuals, has launched a book which draws together a wide range of experiences and ideas, and gives a hint of the melting pot called Goa. ‘Inside/Out: New writing from Goa’ is the first anthology of the Goa Writers group, which includes some of the best-known writers in the state, alongside those working to improve their writing skills and learn from this group mentoring exercise.

‘Inside/Out’ features exclusive, original work from noted novelist and Aldona resident Amitav Ghosh, as well as previously unpublished contributions from more than 20 other prominent writers.

The 236-page paperback, priced at Rs 195, has been co-published by Goa, 1556 and Goa Writers. It is available in major bookshops in Goa, and via mail- order through goa1556@gmail.com. A formal launch of the book has been planned for March 23, with Ghosh to release the book.

Goynche Niz Mogi has said that lovers of Goa have expressed their disappointment and betrayal in the people of Panjim, particularly religious leaders and the educated, for permitting the election of a panel headed by “one of the greatest enemies of Goa”. The people of Panjim, being educated, should remember all the scams relating to water, electricity, housing, mega projects, parking, shop allotments, which made Panjim the Scam Capital of Goa. President of Goynche Niz Mogi James Fernandes complimented the people of Panjim, for making it difficult for the “enemies of Goa” to win, but regretted that the victory of the panel headed by Babush Monserete would be remembered by history as the greatest dark spot.

Fernandes said that though the most barbaric act of goondaism in liberated Goa was carried out by Babush and his associates by attacking the Panjim Police Station on the night of 9 February 2008, causing severe injuries to innocent policemen, the “dishonourable” people of Panjim voted for the panel of Monserrate.

Yatin Parekh, the man responsible along with his associates for holding the city of Panjim to ransom for six days to breathe the foul stench originating from rotten garbage scattered all over Panjim is to be appointed as the Mayor of Panjim which, said Fernandes, was a shame. He said the family of Yatin Parekh are alleged to be involved in operating the parallel economy of ‘modko’. Goans owe it to themselves to wipe out the deadly disease called Vote Banks, the statement concluded.

S H O RT TA K E S Catechism year ends

CALANGUTE (HC): The Catechism year came to a close in the coastal parishes of Calangute, with cultural programmes based on the yearly theme.

The Catechism year came to a close in St Alex Church (Calangute), Our Lady of Hope Church (Candolim) and Holy Trinity Church (Nagoa-Arpora-Baga).

To mark the concluding day, the Catechists led by the parish priests and assistants organised a Holy Eucharistic celebration, which was followed by various cultural items put up by the students with the help of their Catechists.

At St Alex Church Calangute, the Eucharistic celebration was held in the morning, while cultural programme based on the yearly theme was staged by the students and the catechists in the evening.

At Our Lady of Hope Church Candolim, the Holy Mass and a cultural programme was held in the morning, which was organised by the Catechists and the students.

At Holy Trinity Church Nagoa-Arpora-Baga, the catechism came to a close with a Eucharistic celebration followed by a cultural programme.

The three Parishes of Calangute, Candolim and Nagoa-Arpora-Baga are headed by Fr Carmo Martins, Fr Romuald Robin Rodrigues and Fr Simao Rodrigues and are ably assisted by their assistants.

‘Spoken Konkani’ turns 10

PA N J I M ( H N D ) : ‘ S p o k e n Konkani –a self–learning guide’ in Roman script by Dr Edward de Lima completed 10 years on March 20. The first edition of the book was released on March 20, 2001 at Kala Academy by Uday Bhembre, Damodar Mauzo and Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas. The book was printed by the late Fr Freddy Da Costa at New Age Printers, Verna.

The book has since been re– printed with new editions in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

In simple-to-read Roman script, the book can help anyone who knows English to pick up Konkani at the very first reading. The book is available in all the leading book stalls in Goa.

Science exhibition held

SSCE seating arrangement HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

The seating arrangement for Secondary School Certificate Ex-

amination (SSCE) conducted by the Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education is as given below.

Art Art movements often start out as an alternate perception of existing paradigms, and it was no different with Fauvism. In fact, Fauvism was rather short-lived as art movements go, but it played its eccentric part in the history and evolution of art.

Panjimites should cry in shame, says Niz Mogi

GOA

Fauvism

instead of an imitation of the actual subject matter. They would never consider painting objects in their natural colors.

Henry Matisse

Henry Matisse was considered the founding father of Fauvism, and even though he and many of his followers had been toying with Fauvism since early 1896, it did not become an officially accepted art movement till much later. The acceptance came at the Autumn Salon Exhibition in 1905, where fauvists gathered to exhibit their latest works. Matisse shocked critics by showing an extremely unorthodox painting of his wife entitled Green Strip. The work was an average

Technique

Fauvists were in favor of applying bold untouched colors to their canvases in broad rough strokes that on many occasions would distort their subject. Fauvism also allowed the artists the luxury of freethinking and they were able to create paintings of interpretations

portrait but rather than having traditional skin tone colours, he used colour alone to describe the image.

Her oval face was bisected with a slash of green and her coiffure, purpled and top-knotted, jutted against a frame of three jostling colors. Matisse gave his wife a green nose. To depict a human form in this way was considered harsh and seen as a form of eccentricity.

Slow Decline

Each of the Fauvist painters experimented with the principles of the style in their own way. By about 1908, however, all had forsaken strict adherence to it and demands for the works gradually began diminishing. While friends and colleagues moved onto other movements, Matisse continued to explore the possibilities of the Fauvism's principles and methods, although he too would later find himself pursuing newer avenues of self-expression.

Despite its negative translation, Fauvism and its brief appearance in art is today recognized as having been influential to both the Cubism and the Modern Expressionism movements through its principles of ignoring natural forms and for its love of energetic and loud colors.

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BICHOLIM: Shri Shantadurga High School: 10001 – 10250; Our Lady of Grace High School (main building): 10251 – 10550; Our Lady of Grace High School (new building): 10551 – 10715, 10716 – 10791.

CANACONA: Government Higher Secondary School: 10792 – 10966; St Theresa of Jesus High School: 10967 – 11166; Shri Mallikarjun Vid High School: 11167 – 11261, 11262 – 11330.

CUNCOLIM: Our Lady of Health High School: 11331 – 11530; Cuncolim United High School: 11531 – 11730; Maria Bambina Convent High School: 11731 – 11882, 11883 – 11958.

CURCHOREM: Sarvodaya Education Society’s High School: 11959 – 12222, 12689 – 12761; The New Educational Institute: 12223 – 12462; Guardian Angel High School: 12463 – 12688.

QUEPEM: Pope John XXIII High School, Premnagar: 12762 – 12799, 12801 – 12986; Our Lady Mother of the Poor High School, Tilamol: 12800, 12987 – 13133.

MAPUSA: Saraswat Vidyalaya, Telang Nagar, Khorlim: 13134 – 13383; G S Amonkar Vidyamandir, Dattawadi: 13384 – 13633; Janata High School: 13634 – 13783, 14545 – 14637; St Anthony’s High School, Duler: 13784 – 14008; St Francis Xavier’s High School, Peddem: 14009 – 14197; St Mary’s Convent High School: 14198 – 14395; Dnyanprassarak Vidyalaya: 14396 – 14544.

MARCELA: Sharada English High School - main building: 14638 – 14893; Sharada English High School - new building: 14894 – 15084, 15085 – 15131.

MARGAO: Fatima Convent High School: 15293 – 15492; Shree Damodar Vidyalay English High School, Comba: 15493 – 15692; Mahila Nutan High School: 15693 – 15942; Presentation Convent High School: 15943 – 16092; Holy Spirit High School: 16093 – 16284, 16577 – 16684; Our Lady of Rosary High School, Fatorda: 16285 – 16534; Adarsh Vanita Vidyalay: 15132 – 15292, 16535 – 16576.

MANGUESHI: V D & S V Wagle High School: 16685 – 16930, 19941, 16931 – 16948, 26773.

PANJIM: Don Bosco High School: 16949 – 17273; Don Bosco High School, sub centre I: 18089 – 18231, 26776, 18232 – 18350, 26775; Mary Immaculate Girls High School, sub centre I: 17274 – 17573; Mary Immaculate Girls High School, sub centre II: 17574 – 17848; Mustifund High School: 17849 – 18088.

PERNEM: St Joseph’s High School, Surbanwada: 18351 – 18470; Shree Bhagwati High

School: 18471 – 18662; Viscount of Pernem High School: 18663 – 18752; Government Higher Secondary School: 18753 – 18822, 18823 – 18901.

PILAR: Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School: 18902 – 19045; Fr Agnel High School: 19046 – 19303, 19304 – 19351.

PONDA: IVBD High School, Dhavali: 19352 – 19591; A J Almeida High School: 19592 – 20071; St Mary’s High School: 20072 – 20296, 20297 – 20357.

SANGUEM: Government Higher Secondary School: 20463 – 20563, 20564 – 20589; Miracles High School: 20358 – 20462.

SANQUELIM: St John of the Cross High School: 20590 – 20759; Government Higher Secondary School: 20760 – 21009; Progress High School: 21010 – 21221, 21222 – 21311, 14609.

SHIRODA: Shri Kamakshi High School: 21312 – 21431; Smt Kamalabai High School: 21432 – 21510, 21511 – 21550.

SIOLIM: Keerti Vidyalaya: 21551 – 21778, 21779 – 21800.

TISK – DHARBANDODA: VS Laad Higher Secondary School, Pilliem: 21801 – 21972, 22173 – 22236, 12003; SES High School, Usgaon, Valpoi: 21973 – 22172.

VALPOI: Our Lady of Lourdes High School: 22237 – 22531; Government Higher Secondary School: 22532 – 22667, 22668 – 22717, 26774.

VA SCO: Deepvihar High School, Sada: 22718 – 23107; St Theresa’s High School, Mangor Hill: 23108 – 23357; St Joseph’s Institute: 23358 – 23517; St Andrew’s Institute: 23518 – 23917; Government High School, Mangor Hill: 23918 – 23954, 23955 – 24066.

NAVELIM: Bhatikar Model High School, Housing Board, Gogol: 24067 – 24316; St Joseph’s High School, Aquem Alto: 24317 – 24641; Government High School, Davorlim: 24642 – 24791; AIM Salcete High School-Rumdamol Housing Board: 24792 – 24966; Late Shri Vinayak Gopal Shenvi Vidyalay, Rawanfond: 24967 – 25091; Perpetual High School: 25092 – 25391; Rosary High School: 25392 – 25616, 25617 – 25676.

PORVORIM: L D Samant Memorial High School: 25677 – 25916; Vidya Prabodhini Higher Secondary School: 25917 – 26076, 26077 – 26091.

MANDREM: Mandrem High School: 26092 – 26272, 26416 – 26450; Ramakant D Khalap High School, Madhalamaj: 26273 – 26415.

CALANGUTE: St Joseph High School: 26451 – 26572; Little Flower High School: 26573 – 26762, 26763 – 26772.

Students explain the concept of their exhibits to the dignitaries.

PANJIM (HND): Spring Valley High School, Pilerne organized an inter school science exhibition 2010-2011 at the indoor hall of the school recently. The exhibition was sponsored and funded by Goa State Council of Science and Technology, Saligao.

It was inaugurated by Professor Tushar Anvekar, Head of Chemistry Department, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, in the presence of Dr Trevor White, Principal of Mailse School, Bristol, England, Edward Mac Guffie, geography teacher and Rosa Cembrowicz, language teacher from Sir James Smith Community School, Cornwall, UK and Selena D’Souza Headmistress of the school.

The exhibition based on the theme ‘waste management and recycling’. Nine schools participated in the competition. The first place was secured for the exhibit ‘management of kitchen waste’ by Holy Cross High School-Siolim, whereas the second place was jointly shared by Little Flower of Jesus High School for the exhibit ‘importance of recycle’ and Spring Valley High School for the exhibit ‘EM composting’. The judges were Prof Tushar Anvekar, Dr Trevor White and Edward Mac Guffie.

Dr Suvarna gets gold medal PANJIM (HND): Vice-chairperson of Indian Red Cross Society-Goa State Branch Suvarna Fonseca e Antao, lecturer at Carmel Higher Secondar y School, Nuvem, recently secured gold medal in Materia Medica instituted by late Dr Francisco Monteiro at the convocation held at Goa University, Bambolim.

Dr Suvarna has passed out from Shri Kamakshidevi Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Shiroda and has always been a topper throughout her career in medical college.

Dr R G Wiseman Pinto, Professor and Head of Pathology Department, Goa Medical College, speaks at the international conference on bone tumors, organised recently by Indian Academy of Cytologists at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Salt Lake City, Kolkota. Dr R G Wiseman Pinto chaired the scientific session of the international conference. Around 500 doctors from India and abroad attended.

Medical camp held

PANJIM (HND): Disha Charitable Trust held a medical camp for the special students of Disha Special School, Panjim. A general medical check-up, dental check-up and haemoglobin test was conducted. A team of dentists from Goa Dental College led by Dr Amita Kenkre Kamat conducted the dental check-up camp. She also delivered a talk on oral hygiene to parents of the special children. All the children were examined for general medical problems and parents were advised accordingly by Dr Mulgaonkar. Medicines were distributed to the children and their parents especially to help improve haemoglobin count.

Dr Tilve of IMA-Tiswadi paid visit to the camp and extended the necessary assistance. Medicines were sponsored by Franco Pharmaceuticals.

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GOA, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2011

Sopo auction fetches CMC 80% more than last year HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, MARCH 21

Canacona Municipal Council’s (CMC) Sopo collection tender is auctioned for Rs 17.04 lakh, an increase rate of over 80% than last year’s auction amount.

According to municipal sources, the auction has been bagged by one Shamba Dessai from among the eight bidders, who valiantly tried to outscore the bidding amount called by others.

Interestingly, even though the bidding amount was over 80% higher than the last year’s Rs 13.85 lakh, the tone of terms and conditions envisages curbing several collection avenues, thus reducing the chances of making Sopo collection business as high profiting entrepreneurship to the

Sewage collected, not dumped HERALD NEW DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

The tanker No: GA-02 T-9919 shown in the photograph that appeared on page 2 of ‘Herald’ dated March 8 was not dumping sewage into the Mandovi River as the caption suggested, but was in fact engaged in the removal of sewage from the luxury casino ships operating in the Mandovi River. The said activity of the above tanker was being carried out in broad daylight.

Edmund Fernandes has clarified in a statement that sewage is removed from the ships through their transferring tanks into the disposal tanker, which is then unloaded at the Sewage Treatment Plant at Tonca, Caranzalem. This is being done regularly and in a completely lawful manner with full documentation from 2009, the statement said.

eventual bidder.

CMC Chairperson Ratnakar Dhuri informed that this year’s Sopo collection rights have been given with certain conditions like the bidder has no right to make Sopo collection at Chaudi on special occasion like feast/zatra, etc.

Palolem beach which comes under Tourism Department is excluded from the purview of auctioneer.

“Besides, the Sopo bidder has been debarred to allow regular Chaudi marketers to carry trade in front of the CMC administrative building and Ponsulem road on Saturday’s weekly bazaar days,” informed Dhuri.

Meanwhile, CMC has also decided to do away with the tendering process of the parking fees collection at Palolem beach

parking lot and is likely to engage its own manpower for the job of parking fees collection.

The decision has been taken after several people including some councillors complained charging of exorbitant fees then the permitted amount by the men engaged by tenderer and CMC Chief Officer L S Pereira ratif ying the complaints by saying he himself has been the scapegoat of such practices.

“Last year, CMC’s Palolem parking plot was auctioned for Rs 2.5 lakh, however, this year CMC will do the collections and if it is found that such practice doesn’t earns more than this amount, CMC may revert back to the auction practice from next year,” informed Palolem Councillor Simon Rebello.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, MARCH 21

Villagers from Kurdi-Wadem, Sanguem, led by Kurdi Wadem Farmers Club have demanded immediate deployment of a nurse and a sweeper at the Rural Medical Dispensary, which was opened in the village about a year back.

Speaking to Herald, Joseph Cardozo, spokesman of Kurdi Wadem Farmers Club, informed that the RMD at Kurdi Wadem was opened a year ago after frequent demands and representations by the villagers.

The RMD was opened in a one-room premise of a vacant government office complex in the village as the premise constructed to house the dispen-

sary was in dilapidated condition.

The government at the time of the opening of the dispensary had allocated a full time doctor at the RMD in addition to the deployment of a nurse and a sweeper at the RMD to assist the doctor in day-to-day workings.

“However, it is over three months now that the dispensary is manned by only doctor who does all the running at the RMD. The nurse and the sweeper earlier deputed at the RMD are now transferred elsewhere, thereby severely affecting the functioning of the RMD,” claimed Cardozo.

Cardozo further informed that the supply of medicines at

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, MARCH 21

The work of hot mixing of road in progress. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

piling foundation was Rs 7.72 crore. The work of laying foundation will commence within next eight days. The contractor has been instructed to complete the fish market project within 15 months,” said Kandolkar.

Kandolkar further informed that the MMC desires to complete the pending work of the vegetable market at the soonest possible.

“This vegetable market project was undertaken by Goa State Urban Development Agency in October 2005, but they did not complete the work of the shed of the market. The cost of the project than was Rs 2 crore, but

MP North Goa Shripad Naik inaugurates a ZP project at Mencurem in the presence of Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar and ZP member Shilpa Naik.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

North Goa MP Shripad Naik has stated that politics is the means through which poor and downtrodden sections of

Ponda Police on Sunday registered a complaint against four persons on charges of assaulting a man from Quepem.

According to Ponda Police, the incident occurred at Bhatwada-Shiroda on Sunday at about 2.30 pm.

In his complaint, Rohan Madgaonkar told Ponda Police that he was assaulted by four persons while he was returning home from Kamaxi Temple, Shiroda, in his car (GA-08-F1162).

The complainant further stated that the accused blocked his car and started assaulting him. However, the complainant managed to flee from the site and lodged a police complaint.

the health centre is in short supply. Left with no alternative, the doctor working at the health centre is presently issuing prescriptions to the patients to get medicines from outside pharmacies.

However, what irks the locals is the fact that the doctor on duty at the health centre is made to run the dispensary all alone with no additional hands despite his hard work in the village.

“The Kurdi Wadem Farmers Club has called for immediate deployment of the nurse and the sweeper at the RMD, failing which the villagers will be left with no alternative but to lead an agitation at the ongoing assembly session,” warned Cardozo.

Secretariats of Fabricas secretary available HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, MARCH 21

now the cost of material has gone up substantially,” he said.

He said that MMC has prepared the estimate of the pending work of the market. To complete the pending work, the MMC would have to incur an additional expenditure of Rs 2,06,63,744.

“The file of vegetable market with revised estimates after complying with technical observations was resent to PWD on January 10, 2011. This file is still pending with the PWD. Once the approval is received, MMC will undertake the work of shed of the vegetable market,” said Kandolkar.

Politics can be means to serve poor better, says MP

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, MARCH 21

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, MARCH 21

Locals demand deployment of nurse, sweeper at Sanguem RMD

Mapusa council completes hot-mixing of roads Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has completed the hot mixing of road from Bodgeshwar Temple to Morod and all internal roads in the Mapusa market.

Speaking to Herald, MMC Chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar informed that the Council incurred an expenditure of Rs 2.40 crore for the hot mixing of the roads.

“The estimates of hot mixing of roads were prepared long ago, but the work could not be taken up as the PWD did not complete the work of laying of fire hydrants in the market,” added Kandolkar.

Commenting on the fish market, Kandolkar said demolition of the old fish market was completed in December 2010.

“However, at the time of laying wood piling foundation for the new fish market, the contractor realized that the wood required for the purpose is not available and hence the work suffered a setback,” he said.

“Now fresh estimates for concrete piling foundation has been prepared and sent for approval.

On account of the change in the mode of foundation, the project cost has been increased by additional Rs 30 lakh,” informed the chairperson.

“The original cost with wood

Plaint against 4 persons for assault

the community could be served in a better way by making proper use of government funds.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the

Mauli Temple Community Hall at Menkurem on Sunday. The community hall has been constructed out of the ZP fund at a cost of Rs 13 lakh.

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, ZP member Shilpa Naik, Sarpanch Nakul Naik, Devasthan President Gurudas Parab, teacher Gopal Sawant, North Goa ZP President Pandurang Parab and Diana Braganza were present on the occasion.

Speaking further, Naik lauded the efforts of Shilpa Naik for her instant vision.

MLA Patnekar said a little raise in panchayat fund would help panchayat level authorities to undertake such several socio beneficial projects.

Pandurang Parab, Diana Braganza, Jaiwant Naik and Gopal Sawant also spoke on the occasion.

Jaiwant Naik welcomed the gathering, while Babli Parab compered the function.

The Secretary of the Secretariats of Fabricas/Cofres and Confraternities in the archdiocese will be available at the Clergy Home, Margao, every second Saturday of the month from 9 am to 1 pm to attend to administrative and other matters.

This decision was taken after church authorities accepted the suggestion by many Church institutions from South Goa. The administrative committees of Fabricas/Cofres and the governing councils of Confraternities are requested to approach the Secretary of the Secretariats of Fabricas/Cofres and Confraternities at the above mentioned time, day and place, for signatures on the cheques, as well as for any guidance and queries, states a press note.

People urged to support women HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, MARCH 21

Pale MLA Pratap Gawas has called upon the people to extend their wholehearted co-operation to the items prepared by local women with great zeal and efforts.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 10day ‘Apraant Maand’ exhibition organised by Goa Handicrafts Corporation at Bodke Ground, Sanquelim, on Sunday evening.

About 130 stalls have been installed in the exhibition.

The exhibition is being organised to promote the talents of the local women.

ZP member Laxmiknat Parab, Naresh Sawal, Digambar Naik, Ankush Kamat, Geeta Gawas, Vijaykumar Verekar, Laxmanrao Desai, Puja Dangi and Pandhari Gaws were present.

Devotees urged to help poor

MAYEM (HC): Rev Anna Maharaj has called upon the devotees to use their strength for the service of poor sections of community which in turn will be real homage to god.

He was addressing the gathering at community hall of Khetoba Devasthan, Mayem, recently. On the occasion, 108 couples performed Pooja of the deity. Religious rituals like Poornahooti and Mahaprasad. Padhyapooja of Anna Maharaj along with his wife were performed by the devotees.

New committee yet to be given charge of Saligao Communidade HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, MARCH 21

The old committee of Saligao Communidade failed to hand over the charge to the new committee on Friday, despite the order of Administrator of North Zone Communidade and Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition).

It may be recalled that the State government had appointed a new committee in October 2010 after the term of the old committee came to an end.

But the appointment was held in abeyance due to the code of conduct in view of ZP elections.

Thereafter in January 2011, the then Administrator of North Zone Communidades N M Gaad administered the oath of office to new president of Saligao Communidade Eric Remedios in his chamber at Mapusa.

However, the old committee

Power bills not accepted on March 30, 31 HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

The office of the sub-divisional engineer, electricity O & M, sub division-III, Sanguem will not accept payment against energy bill and new service connection on March 30 and 31, due to the closing of financial year 201011. Consumers and public of Sanguem municipal area and village panchayats of Uguem, Bhati, Curdi-Waddem, Neturlim and Kalay areas are requested to take note of the same.

did not hand over the charge of office to the new committee, the issue was raised by Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar in the ongoing Assembly Session.

In view of this, the Administrator of Communidade acted tough and directed the old committee to hand over charge to the new committee on Friday.

A notice to this effect was sent to the Saligao Communidade members through the Deputy Collector Land acquisition Anthony D’Souza and Administrator of North Zone Communidades Shetye. However, the orders were

again defied by the old committee of the Saligao Committee.

When contacted, Deputy Collector Anthony D’Souza said the Administrator of Communidade will now have to exercise his powers to solve the issue.

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www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O Vol No CXI No: 080 Goa, Tuesday, 22 March, 2011

Y

Five Star Culture

esterday, there were strong exchanges in the Legislative Assembly after opposition leaders questioned Sports Minister Manohar alias Babu Azgaonkar over his proposal of setting up five star hotels and niche hospitality projects under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), supposedly as part of the creation of ‘infrastructure’ for the National Games, due to take place in Goa in 2014. Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar alleged that the entire activity was, in fact, a multi-crore ‘scam’.

Congress MLA Dayanand Narvekar went further than Mr Parrikar, alleging that the entire issue was a scam of the proportion of the ‘Commonwealth Games’: “Five-star hotels, seven-star hotels, fine-dining facilities... What do these things have to do with the National Games? For whom are you building this infrastructure?” he asked.

Is ‘five-star’ the new culture of the ruling Congress?

It would appear so. The Sports Ministry is not the only one to flirt with five-star projects under the PPP system. Not too many days ago, Housing Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar came under fire in the Goa Legislative Assembly from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for the hopelessly ‘inadequate’ functioning of the Goa Housing Board. Following up on his starred question about land available with the Goa Housing Board, Mapusa BJP MLA Francis D’Souza asked Mr Halarnkar supplementary questions on the Board’s functioning.

The Housing Board has auctioned 89 residential plots and 10 commercial plots in the last four years, to the highest bidder. It acquired about 2.5 lakh sq metres of land in Mapusa at a rate of about Rs13 per square metre prior to 1980. The board has now auctioned plots in this area at a rate of Rs16,000 per square metre!

Mr D’Souza’s pointed out that the Housing Board was constituted to provide affordable housing to middle class and lower middle class Goans. Yet the board is auctioning plots bought cheaply 30 years ago at exorbitant rates to the highest bidder, making it nearly impossible for an average citizen with average income to obtain housing in Goa. Mr Halarnkar had no reply. He promised to think about the Goan ‘aam admi’ in future, but who knows when that will be?

But lessons are not learnt. The state government seems determined to go ahead with plans to develop four prime properties belonging to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), again on PPP basis, to build five star hotels.

The PPP cell has approved the development of properties at Baga and Britona, while approvals for Mayem Lake and Kesarval are awaited.

The GTDC too, was constituted to provide hotels and tourism facilities that were affordable to the middle class tourist. That was the entire objective behind the creation of the tourist hostels in various parts of Goa, now renamed as ‘residencies’. If these are to be replaced by five-star facilities (as in the case of Britona) and new properties are to be given to developers of luxury resorts, who is going to set up decent, affordable hotels for ordinary people visiting Goa?

Hold your breath The Bharat Swabhiman Trust (BST), led by practitioner of Pranayama Baba Ramdev, has slammed illegal mining as one of the most ‘critical issues’ concerning Goa. Trust President Bharat Ghullanawar has fired a shot across the bows of the mining lobby, saying that Goa might have to face a ‘Japansized’ calamity if rampant illegal mining in the state is not curbed. When even yogis start to complain, it is time the powers-that-be sat up and took notice.

It has to be in Konkani Samir Kelekar, by email That a child’s creativity blooms in his/her mother tongue, is an accepted fact, the world over. Learning a second language such as English will be a cinch once, when one’s mental faculties are developed well in one’s mother tongue.

The fact that one needs to be taught in English from primary to get jobs is a cockeyed argument. Let us not pressurise our kids with talk of getting jobs further up in life, at the ages of 2 and 3. Indeed, there is no evidence that learning primary in English would equip oneself better at a job.

Many of us have learnt Konkani in primary school and had no problem at the highest levels of either academics or in-

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

22 March 1911 Introduction of Bailiffs

Has been introduced to the Authorities the three Bailiffs to represent the Government in legal matter pertinent to the State, two from the District of Bardez and Daman.

Basics of contest presented

Merciful murder

the horror of murder, by any medical or legal trick of language still remains a horror, that needs elimination, says AVertHAnUs L d’soUZA

I

f your very old mother is totally helpless and bedridden and is wholly dependent on others for even her basic needs; if her condition has adversely affected your lifestyle and your pocketbook, you may not bash her head in with a rock or put a knife into her heart; nor may you pour poison down her throat to relieve her of her suffering (we are assuming that you still “love” her and want to end her life “for her own good”) because this would be deemed to be active euthanasia which is still considered to be a crime.

The Supreme Court of India, however, has now provided an alternative, more “merciful” way to kill your ailing mother without falling foul of the law. Simply starve her to death by refusing to give her any nutrition or even water to keep her hydrated. This is called “passive euthanasia” which will be permitted until such time as the Parliament decides to pass new legislation.

Shorn of all the obfuscation of legalese, and in the simplest language of the common man, this is what the judgement of the Supreme Court of India in the Aruna Shanbaug case amounts to.

The Court has introduced a totally arbitrary (and unnecessary) distinction between active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. Let us leave it to the legal eagles to deconstruct this confusing distinction. From the common man’s point of view, the intention to kill is murder – plain and simple.

Whether the killing is done by “injecting a potent drug to advance the death of such patients,” or whether it is accomplished by “withdrawal of life-sustaining drugs and/or life support systems” is simply a matter of legal quibbling. The crucial factor in all such cases is the fact that someone else, including a High Court or a panel of doctors, makes the determination to kill a helpless person.

Whether it is a panel of doctors, the immediate relatives of the patient or a High Court is simply irrelevant. Even whether the patient herself has requested the termination of her life is not a determinant of the moral issue. The moral issue is whether anyone has the right to terminate his or her own life or the life of another person.

One very positive and encouraging aspect of the discussions which followed the Supreme Court’s judgement was the unanimity of the views expressed by many medical doctors whose opinions were sought by the TV channels. Without any hesitation, these good doctors, true to the Hippocratic Oath which they had taken, unambiguously opined that they would not decide to

dustry worldwide. Let us not push a foreign language down the throats of kids, so early in life.

On English medium Cedric Fernandes, by email I would like to congratulate the parents and the PTA organisation of various schools for initiating the move to switch from Konkani medium to English medium from Std 1 onwards. Why are only the aided schools in the primary in Konkani medium while all the private schools have English as the medium of instruction? If the government is serious about Konkani, then they should implement Konkani as the medium of instruction in the primary even in these private schools. Parents have now realised the need of English and how it benefits their children in the long run.

Hope the government and the Education Department will lower their ego and listen to the parents and will switch to English as the medium of instruction from the coming academic year.

A just cause Marcos Alemao by email The movement for the English medium of instruction at primary level is gaining momentum, 99 per cent of the people including politicians and some others have supported this movement. This is a people’s movement for the betterment of their children. The Education Minister and the Chief Minister should apply their minds and support this just cause.

This will ensure the survival of the present government for another term in office.

Heinz-Uwe Hobohm, German tourist As a young student, I visited Baga and Calangute in 1978, after a three weeks overland trip by bus and train from Europe.

It was old hippie times and a great, perhaps life changing experience for me.

After 33 years, I came back to see the old places again. I could not reasonably expect the vast, empty beaches, the proud fisherman people, and the beach parties from those days again, but what I found was somewhat shocking. Masses of beach

or the more insidious title of the right to die with dignity. The Supreme Court rightly rejected the contention of a journalist that she had locus standi in the case of Aruna Shanbaug. This crusading death dealer presumed the right to decide whether Aruna Shanbaug should continue to live or deserved to “die with dignity.” She was never called upon to attend on Aruna; she did not even volunteer to feed and clean her or even to offer her consolation. Yet she claimed the right to appeal for the killing of Aruna. The Supreme Court rightly rejected her claim and observed that it was the entire administration of the KEM Hospital, Mumbai, and specially the nurses who cared for Aruna for 37 long years who had the prior right to made recommendations about whether Aruna should live or die – and thankfully, they were unanimous about wanting Aruna to continue to live until natural death occurred.

The core issue here is the right to life. Common sense tells us that since life is a pure gift from

God, only he can take it away, under circumstances of his own decision. Once it is presumed to decide who should live and who should die, and when and how someone should die, we open the floodgates of chaos and utter confusion. The world has already seen the practical results of such a twisted and specious philosophy. There is no need to describe the utter horrors of ethnic cleansing and racial pogroms. These are the consequences of the same specious philosophy of our modern day promoters of euthanasia – only on a larger scale. These crusaders of the right to die are too myopic to see the larger consequences of their crazy propaganda. They are the agents of death and represent everything that is ignoble and undignified. It is a strange irony that they do not see the inherent contradiction between their destructive propaganda and the true meaning of “Dignity.” They have never defined what “dignity” is to them. They only claim that they have the right to decide what is a dignified death and what is not. Death is the ultimate indignity.

It robs us of our ability to survive. Yet, society has always honoured its dead – whether they are soldiers who gave their lives for the defence of their country, or whether they be poets or musicians or artists.

Society has always treasured the contribution of members who have enriched their cultures and made it possible for people to live together in harmony and peace. Every single individual is indispensable and invaluable, just as every living cell is indispensable for the health of the body. No one has the right to decide whether someone else should continue to serve in her own way or to be terminated prematurely. Whether we kill a baby in her mother’s womb or whether we kill her after she is born, or whether we euthanise her when she becomes helpless and dependent, we are committing murder – no less. Our sick society has found euphemisms to camouflage the large scale murder of our unborn babies by calling it the medical termination of pregnancy, and the murder of our elderly, helpless and dependents by calling it euthanasia. The horror of murder, by any medical or legal trick of language still remains a horror which needs to be eliminated from our society. Whether we actively kill our helpless relatives or simply allow them to die by withholding from them nutrition and loving care, we are still guilty of murdering them, irrespective of what the Courts or medical panels have to say.

An adventuresome trip

S

Meeting on unknown societies

The General Attorney of the Republic will undertake proceedings against certain Bishops due to celebrated Pastoral Collectives.

terminate the life of any patient. They would try to make the patient as comfortable as possible – palliative care – until the time of natural death.

They would not hasten the death of any patient, however sure they were that the patient would eventually die. As one eminent doctor clearly put it: “where do we draw the line?” At what point should a doctor (or a relative) decide that the patient does not deserve to live any longer? This doctor pointed out that even the statistics showed that in cases where patients were diagnosed to be in a permanent vegetative state, 43% of them recovered fully and left the hospital in good health. The present state of medical knowledge is still far from being sure about the inability of patients in a vegetative state to recover.

An important aspect of the Supreme Court’s judgement touches on the legal status of those ideologues who have taken it upon themselves to promote the despicable business of murdering helpless persons in the name of the right to die,

ome people just live their life quietly and passively. They shudder at the thought of the least bit of change and stay a million miles away from what one would call ‘adventures’.

Some people are adventure-seekers, taking every possible risk in life, totally living on the edge! But some people like yours truly fit into the last category. These people like the thought of adventures, but don’t really go out of their way chasing them. They just ‘fall’ into adventures!

If you don’t believe me; read on. It was the 6th day of November 2010, when my husband and me left Mysore to return back to Goa. We reached the Mysore Bus Terminus well before our scheduled time of departure. After several trips to the enquiry desk, my husband told me that our bus would arrive right in front us where we had squatted and waited for its arrival.

But the bus didn’t arrive. Ten minutes passed, then twenty and no sign of the bus. Then our travel agent called up my husband and told him “I don’t know where you’ll are, but the bus is about to leave the terminus without you’ll.” You can be sure we didn’t wait to hear anymore, but blindly rushed to the line of identical-

Sad sad situation

Proceedings to be undertaken

MorAL ConsiderAtions

Little matters

Jose C Lacerdo, Professor of Illustrations at the College of Fine Arts presented to the Minister of Navy basics of the contest undertaken towards the structure done to make Postal Stamps of different denominations in the Colonies.

With control from the State Government over anonymous societies the Minister of Navy had a prolonged meeting with his colleague from Finances to discuss the same matters.

OPINION

looking buses ahead. Somehow, we managed to find our bus. The conductor spoke to us quite heatedly, until we irritatedly told them that we had enquired a million times and had waited in the right place. They cooled down and we quickly got into the bus.

A few hours later, as the bus was moving, there was a thud and the bus came to a stop. The luggage flaps of the bus on the sides had ‘mysteriously’ opened and suitcases had fallen out on the road! A car coming from the opposite direction banged right into the suitcases. The conductors and driver spent the next two hours trying to pacify the car owners and reach some sort of compromise.

After this, we resumed our journey again.

By around 8pm, we reached a big bus stand. The conductor stood at the front of the bus and addressed the passengers loudly in what sounded to us like gibberish! And then, almost everybody charged out of the bus. We assumed it was the dinner break and alighted from the bus to use the pay toilet. We told the conductor in Hindi and sign language that we would go to the toilet and be back soon. He mumbled something and nodded in agreement.

My sixth sense told me to make it a quick one. We almost ran

Save speechless Goa

Jason D’Souza, Bangalore

Goans remarkably excel in turning a blind eye towards Goa being constantly molested by corrupt governance, hasty unplanned developments, money-slurping estate agents, unwelcome immigrants and escalating organised lawlessness. While dayto-day elaborate spoils and insignificant calendar-marked appointments keep Goans consciously engaged, Goa is silently giving itself up to administered abuse. And by the time Goans come to terms with the reality, the State will fall into the clutches of those who will permanently take advantage of it. If lethargic and non-spirited Goans continue to let Goa’s cries go unheeded, by accepting it as a way of life, nothing will save Goa.

Helicopter tourism Claudius Fernandes, Quepem The aam admi in the state were amused when our CM included hinterland helicopter tourism in the State Budget 2011. How this will work out and how many Goans benefit from it, remains to be seen.

Presently, the state is facing problems of garbage, police-politician nexus, illegal mining activities etc.

Instead of solving these problems, the government is trying to divert tourism to the hinterland. Around 4 lakh tourists visit Goa every year.

With helicopter tourism, the tourist will get an opportunity to see, from a bird’s eye view, the illegal mining activities and its serpentine line of trucks. They will be more excited to witness the poaching of wild animals by

back to our bus, but froze when there was no bus waiting for us!

The place where our bus was parked was now empty! “Don’t worry; it must be waiting for us at the entrance of the bus stand” I said to my husband. So we raced around the corner only to find that there was no bus at the entrance either! We stared at each other in shock.

Suddenly, a loud shout broke the tense silence “OYEE! OYEE!” In the distance, we saw the familiar figure of our conductor. We ran towards the bus which was out of the bus stand, its engine running; and in motion. We flung ourselves into our seats, panting after the marathon, and questioned the conductor. He nonchalantly told us that people tell him tons of things and indicated that he obviously couldn’t be expected to remember everything. The lady sitting behind us told us that the bus was already leaving when she informed the conductor that we weren’t on the bus. If it wasn’t for her, the bus would have left without us!

We realised that, it was Lord Jesus’s divine providence taking care of us even when we had no clue as to what was happening.

We surely had enough of our share of adventure, at least for now.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

restaurants, one besides each other, hiding the nice green belt lining the beach. Tons of garbage in the green belt and streets all over. Speedboats racing between swimmers, producing a strong gasoline smell and gasoline layer on the water. Frequent electricity power failures not adequate for a developing second world country.

Goa, in principle, has so much to offer: endless white beaches, warm and stable weather, friendly and humble people, cheap eating and drinking. Why not keep it a bit in shape? Apparently, the Tourism Ministry does not have any strategy. I am sad, my old precious Goa, you are no more.

By Vanessa Lobo Fernandes

wealthy people with the help of forest officials.

Helicopter usage during an emergency, as mentioned in the budget, will benefit those who turn up late during sessions.

Having helicopter tourism is not a wise idea at this juncture, especially when the state is crippled with the above problems.

Ravindra Bhavan apt spot Augustus Alphonso, Vasco This is with respect to Adelmo Fernandes’ letter ‘Restore Tilak Maidan’ (Herald, 21 March.

Adelmo has said that the Tilak Maidan at Vasco should not be misused for other recreational activities like musical shows and birthday bashes.

In the near future, there will be a suitable place to do all that, i.e., at the much-awaited Vasco Ravindra Bhavan project by the Baina beachfront, which is due for completion soon.

The authorities must also permit various social functions to be held in Ravindra Bhavan.

This will, in turn, generate good revenue for the state.

I have also suggested through the columns of several newspapers that the Ravindra Bhavan be provided with a swimming pool.

I hope the concerned authorities are listening.

Goans with no identity Richard Zackaria, Quepem This is with regard to the meeting of the

state status, held recently in Margao which included Matanhy Saldanha and Rui Da Gama. What they said at the meeting is really happening as we Goans have been selling our land and homes to the so-called foreigners who buy at high rates.

In years to come, we will surely be reduced to a minority in our own state. We would then be left to rue our status, as that of a lost identity.

A cleaner Panjim Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar The mounting garbage, increasing number of stray dogs and the pathetic state of some of the city gardens, are amongst the other issues that would need immediate attention by the newly elected corporators of the Corporation of City of Panaji.

With Patricia Pinto being asked as a corporator to handle the garbage crisis, another expert could be brought in to tackle the stray dog menace. Noted horticulturist Daniel D’Souza could also be asked to take care of the existing new gardens and plan new ones with children parks for the CCP. If we are able to ensure that all the 30 wards are free from garbage and stray dogs, and beautified with gardens, it would go a long way to make our city a better place to live in.

Why criticise GRA? Willie Severes, Majorda The courage, dedication and determination of the leaders of the GRA have to be appreciated. They maybe a group of NGOs, but their dream and hard work to bring back Goa to its golden days of yore, need to be looked upon.

Yet, there has been some criticism against the GRA. Those who support corrupt politicians for their own selfish reasons and then write negative things about them, is disappointing. Today’s politicians have let us down due to greed of money, and a change in the present political setup is desperately needed.

Through this letter, I request Goans to ignore these critics, and to gather in large numbers for the GRA Margao meet on 8 April. Let us be united to save Goa from further destruction.

Paths of Wisdom

Nammalwar

Nammalwar was a Tamil Poet, regarded as one of the twelve Alwars in India. He is quite renowned for his beautiful hymns dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The main aim of Nammalwar’s life was to serve the Lord, love Him, praise him and surrender to Him. Even though he was originally from southernmost part of India, he won the hearts of people throughout the country with his beautiful poems.

Nammalwar was born in Thirukkurugoor (near Thirunelveli) in the Pandaya dynasty of Tamil Nadu. There is a little disagreement as to his birth date. Tradition gives the date as 3102 B.C. (i.e., the beginning of the Kali Yuga), but scholars believe the date to be 880-930 A.D. It is said that as a child, Namalwar never cried, suckled or responded to external stimuli.

After seeing this condition of their child, his parents left him at the feet of Lord Vishnu’s statue. It is said that, he got up, sat in the lotus position and started to meditate. From then onwards, began the journey of Nammalwar on the path of spirituality.

Nammalwar remained in a meditative state for as long as 16 years. A Tamil poet and scholar, Maturakavi, managed to draw out Nammalwar from his Samadhi by asking him a question. Thereafter, he took Maturakavi as his first disciple. He taught him about the secret doctrines of Vaishnavism. Unable to resist the urge of praising God, he composed a thousand hymns admiring Lord Vishnu then and there only.

The subject matter of all the poems written by Nammalwar is “the Lord, the soul, the means, the end, and the impediments to spirituality”.

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OHERALDO

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INDIA

GOA, TUESDAY •22 MARCH, 2011

opinionated

National interest paramount, Need to think maturely not rights of MNCs, rules SC n This case is a on instruction medium

By Colin Savio Coelho The struggle to bring back English as the medium of instruction in the primary classes has gained momentum. There are many conflicting views amongst our legislators on this aspect. But parents are of one mind on the matter.

Surprisingly, some schools in the cities of Panjim and Margao have not bothered to make a move to support this great cause.

In fact, some principals feel that nothing will come out of this move. But a vast majority have pinned their hopes very high.

This is simply because the freedom to choose what is best for the children by the parents supersedes all other intellectual thinking processes.

Well, if the unaided schools lobby is to be protected, then the resistance amongst the legislators would be very stiff and equivocal. But here, this being election preparation year, most of the MLAs have decided that this is a movement they cannot oppose without seeing some drastic results in the long run!

It is interesting to note the statement made by the Leader of the Opposition. He claimed he studied in the Marathi medium in the primary level. He found it very difficult to switch over and speak English in the later years. But he improved his English only by reading.

It is an accepted fact that Mr Parrikar took a lot of trouble to learn the English language and mastered it as well. But in these days of extreme pressure (the students were not pressurised much during the days Parrikar Bab was in school, I am sure), why do you want to burden these small minds with so much extra intellectual baggage? If they learn in the English medium right from the start, will they not avoid the ‘struggle?’ Mr Parrikar claims to have faced while switching over from Marathi medium to English medium in Std V? Would these small, innocent minds not be better equipped to deal with the growing English popularity? Despite having the largest spoken language in the world, Mandarin, as part of its linguistic culture, the Chinese have realised that only English can make it a strong partner in this world of globalisation and economic development. Closer home West Bengal has realised it, and quickly, many states have begun to realise it. Also Mr Parrikar must realise that all students are not of the same intellectual level as he is. So, it is a fact that some might take longer than he did to pick up the language.

Wouldn’t it be too late to learn after the primary? But if they started with English from day one, things could be much easier as they get to class V and later. Why does the Goa government, despite Goa having such a high literacy rate, give us the impression that they are playing to a lobby run by well-known businessmen who manage unaided education businesses in the name of trusts around Goa? We need some mature thinking coming from the icons of democracy - our MLAs. As this movement has clearly pointed out, there is a vast difference between medium of instruction and learning a language.

Medium of instruction must be in the language that is best for communication. In this case, English is a globally accepted choice. Konkani is absolutely important and must be a compulsory subject from Std I to VIII, to conform to Elementary Education as defined in the RTE. The Education Minister has brought forth a proposal to finalise the policy of medium of instruction by the end of this budget session of the assembly. He has promised to consult all stakeholders while finalising the process. Who, may we know, are these ‘stake-holders’? Are they the Chief Minster, Education Minister, Chief Secretary and Director of Education? Two days have already elapsed since the announcement has been made.

The budget session is not going to last long. Why has a list of these so called stake-holders not been announced? There seems to be a definite attempt to shy away from being transparent.

Also, it seems to be a statement made only to try and stop parents from coming together in large numbers at Azad Maidan for the meeting that was held there with regard to medium of instruction.

The Digambar Kamat led government is famous for this move.

The man himself has already made a vague statement when he realised that over 50,000 signatures of parents had been collected.

Besides activity on Facebook and other networking sites will tell you that we have overwhelming support for the cause. The web-spies of the men in government seem to have already informed them about the goings-on. So, the statement was made by both the Chief Minister and the Education Minister, in an attempt to dilute the effects of the Azad Maidan meeting. There have been similar instances in the past. When a large group of entertainers met some time ago at Clube Gasper Dias at Panjim regarding the sound restrictions, probably threatened by the numbers, some MPs and MLAs proposed to support the cause of easing sound restrictions. But four years later, as expected, nothing has happened. We must be wary of attempts like this by these gentlemen.

English is undoubtedly the language of communication the world over. We need to plug into global reality while also taking into account the local scenario. So, given the global scenario and other compulsions, English as medium of instruction and Konkani as a compulsory subject is the only option we have left before us. We must do this for our children. But, we need to be aware that our children are not our future. They are citizens of the present and are very much part of the present. We are looking at a better present for them. If we do this, the future will look after itself. We, as parents need to take the right decisions for them. We need to remind the government that we parents are major stake holders in the policy-making process.

We should have a right to decide what is good for our children.

We don’t need a very lowly educated bunch of individuals deciding for us. Even the highly educated seem to have a biased thinking.

As parents, we do hope better sense prevails. Let every parent and child benefit from a very well thought out decision. English needs to be the medium of instruction. What we need to further think is how to improve the standard of English in schools after its merciless battering it has received all these years - twenty years to be precise!

PTI

NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

The Supreme Court has ruled that private companies cannot complain about violation of their contractual rights by government when national interest is involved in awarding contracts for public projects involving taxpayers' massive money.

A bench of Justices V S Sirpurkar and T S Thakur in a judgement expressed anguish at the manner in which the Tehri Pump Storage Plant could not be taken up for the past three and half years due to the legal battle involving two MNCs-Voith GMBH (respondent No.1) and Alstom (respondent No.2).

“This case is a classic example of the whole nation suffering on account of the fight between two multi-national companies in respect of each other's rights.

There is no dispute that the Tehri Pump Storage Plant project is of utmost importance to the State of Uttarakhand particularly and to the nation generally,” the

classic example of the whole nation suffering on account of the fight between two multi-national companies in respect of each other's rights.

-- Supreme Court apex court said.

The apex court passed the judgement while staying a Uttarkhand High Court order which had halted the tendering process adopted by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Ltd after Voith Hydro GMBH Co challenged the process as being in favour of rival bidder Alstom.

In this case, the notice invit-

Man gets life for burning alive four Mahesh was in the mob which NEW DELHI, MARCH 21 had entered complainant Vidya A man was sentenced today Kaur's house in block numberto life imprisonment for burning 13 at Trilokpuri on November alive four persons in Trilokpuri 3, 1984, and burnt alive her husarea of East Delhi during the band Jaswant Singh, his nephew 1984 anti-Sikh riots which had Anokha Singh, his friend Satnam broken out here following the Singh and a neighbour Bhajan assassination of the then Prime Singh.

Minister Indira Gandhi.

The court relied on testiAdditional Sesmonies of 1984 RIOTS sions Judge P S Teji Vidya, her also imposed a fine two sons Surof Rs 30,000 on convict Mahesh jeet Singh and Kuldeep Singh saying the prosecution has es- who had also witnessed the tablished that he was present killings. in the mob which had set the “The presence of the eyewithouse on fire resulting in four nesses has not been questioned deaths on November 3, 1984. by the defence. Rather, the case "The prosecution has suc- of the defence was that Vidya cessfully established on record became unconscious and was beyond reasonable doubt that not in a position to identify the accused was a member of whereas this fact has been catthe unlawful assembly at the egorically denied by Vidya. time of commission of the of“As a result, the prosecution fence and entered into the has successfully established the house. presence of eye witnesses at the “Prosecution has also suc- spot of the incident,” the court cessfully established that after noted. entering into the house, being Mahesh had contended that a member of the unlawful as- he used to visit the house of sembly, accused Mahesh com- the complainant to take liquor. mitted the murder of the four He said he was falsely implicated persons,” the court said. in the case as some altercations PTI

ing tenders on the prime turnkey execution was issued on August 31, 2007.

But the two companies, which were finally shortlisted for the contract, fought legal battles in the high court and the apex court accusing THDC of being biased in favour of the other.

The apex court had then passed the order in March 2010 asking the Corporation to adopt certain parameters for determinging the contractors on the basis of the evaluations done by the high-powered committeee. It had also made certain remarks expressing anguish over the delay in the project's execution due to the legal fight between the two MNCs. However, when on the basis of the committee's recommendations, the THDC had posed certain queries to Voith Hydro GMBH Co, the latter challenged the move again in the High Court alleging bias.

11 killed during Holi in Delhi PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

Eleven people, including a couple, lost their lives in separate incidents on the day of Holi in the national capital even as police challaned around 8,000 people for various traffic violations.

Murders of a driver and a labourer, five fatal accidents killing seven people and drowning of two teenagers were reported yesterday with police saying these incidents were related to Holi. Among the dead are two women, both victims of road accidents.

A couple -- insurance agent Vinay Rai (27) and his wife Deepa (23) -- were killed in Mukarba Chowk yesterday when their motorcycle collided with a tempo while their minor children escaped death.

The families of the couple came to know about the incident after one of the eye-witnesses called a number from Vinay's mobile which happened to be that of a neighbour. “The neighbour then informed the families about the accident after which they rushed to the hospital,” he said.

Song in Urumi a gift to my parents: Balan

PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 21

Actress Vidya Balan, who will be doing a special song in `Urumi', says it is a gift to her parents as they always wanted to see her in a Malayalam film.

Directed by Santosh Sivan, `Urumi' is a historical film, starring Prithviraj, Genelia D'Souza and Prabhu Deva, besides Vidya, Arya, and Tabu in cameo appearances.

“I have done a song and few

scenes. I did it because mother and father always wanted me to do a Malayalam film. So it is my gift to them,” Vidya told PTI in an interview.

About the song, the actress said, “It is not an item song as I play an oracle. It is not item song in the way we see it...it is just a special appearance song.”

The actress has also dubbed for the movie in her own voice.

“I was really happy doing dubbing because my mother came

to the studio for the first time.

She studied the scene and complimented me for it. I was thrilled,” the 33-year-old actress said.

Vidya will be seen next in Sujoy Gosh's Kahaani', a thriller that releases on June 17.

“I am playing a pregnant woman who comes down from London to Kolkata in search of her husband who has gone missing. So it's a search story,” Vidya said.

The actress received kudos for her power-packed performance in No One Killed Jessica.

“I am thrilled and humbled that No One Killed Jessica got me the appreciation and it did commercially well. Lot of people used to say that a film with two heroines and no hero will not do well commercially. But the movie has changed that perception.”

When asked if she is doing Rajnikant-starrer Rana, Vidya refused to comment.

Residents hunt for usable items from the burnt remains of the Naisingpara refugee Camp . At least 16 people, mostly children, died and many more got severe burn injuries in a fire incident that broke out in a refugee camp in Tripura.

Court sets aside EC order restraining rice distribution PTI KOCHI, MARCH21

In a ruling bringing in relief to the CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala during the run up to the April 13 assembly elections, the state High Court today set aside the Election Commission order restraining it from extending the scheme of distributing rice at Rs 2 per kg to fresh beneficiaries.

The EC decision to defer the implementation of the government decision was ‘wholly artbitrary’ and unconnected with purposes sought to be achieved by the commission for securing a level playing field for all political parties, a division bench comprising Chief Justice J Chelemeswar and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon said in their 28-page order allowing a petition filed

by Rajaji Mathew, Ollur MLA, challenging the EC decision.

'The activity of the state was combining the official activity the State in the implementation of its policy. There is no political propaganda in it', the bench held.

Cop shoots himself to claim award PTI JAIPUR, MARCH 21

A police constable, deputed as a personal security officer of a former legislator here, shot himself to claim a gallantry award, police said today.

“The constable Mahesh Rajguru alleged that around six unidentified persons opened fire at him at the rented house of the former legislator Surendra Singh and sped away in a car,” ACP Adarsh Nagar Arun Macya told PTI here.

“Senior officials rushed to the spot and found his statements and crime scene suspicious. Today, he confessed no such incident that he had narrated took place and he shot himself just to claim a gallantry award by showing bravery,” he said.

Rajguru, who received bullet injuries in stomach and arm, is admitted at Sawai Man Singh government hospital in the city and his condition is stated to be out of danger, he added.

Celebrities can’t log off social networking forums PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

Social networking forums like Twitter and Facebook have managed to burrow into popular cult u re b u t u s e r s - i n c u d i n g celebrities- faced with issues of privacy, abuse and even social fatigue, seem to be logging off such online sites or even trading one for the other.

A case in point is Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan who miffed with unsavory comments posted on his Twitter account had recently reportedly abandoned the microblogging site and his 8 lakh followers to move on to Facebook.

In the past too several Hollywood names like actor Miley Cyrus, singer-guitarist John Mayers etc were also seen to have shut down their Twitter accounts.

Technology experts, however say, despite random instances, celebrities cannot afford to remain isolated from networking sites which offer them a forum to publicise their works and connect with fans much more than conventional channels.

“With a few exceptions, celebrities continue to be active online and they take great pains to create and manage their image, directly influence media and share tidbits of events in their life with fans and followers," says Gaurav Mishra, director, digital and social media director of a leading strategic communications firm in Asia.

Section 67 of India's Information Technology Act, 2000 specifically prohibits posting of obscene matters and provides imprisonment for a term ex-

tended to five years and with fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh and subsequent offence with a punishment extending to 10 years and fine of Rs 2 lakh.

“The number of followers on Twitter is often seen as a measure of popularity of stars as well as politicians. We have had examples of some celebrity tweeters getting into uncomfortable situations due to their tweets — the most talked about examples being the one from ex-IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi involving former minister Shashi Tharoor," says CyberMedia research lead analyst for the communications practice, Naveen Mishra.

Though issues regarding privacy over social networking sites and instances of email and social networking profiles being breached, distorted or additional usually obscene matter

being put on the profile are fairly common, celebrities are even more vulnerable to such acts, say legal experts.

“They usually have a wider network and also that people outside the said network also monitor the accounts. In addition, privacy in case of celebrities can also be breached through fake accounts,” says Anuradha Salhotra, Managing Partner, Lall Lahiri & Sons.

“As a measure to protect them and probably to clearly identify a celebrity account, Twitter's website provides the facility to users to determine which account with the name of a celebrity is real and which is fake. Action has been taken by many celebrities worldwide in the past for breach of security and breach of their privacy,” points out Salhotra.

Apart from celebrities, politicians and companies have taken to connecting with fan followers, citizens and customers through such sites.

Increasingly in China, for example, celebrities are signing up for Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter Entertainers such as actress Yao Chen have attracted as many as 5 million-plus followers.

While sometimes there is a drop in online activities due to “social fatigue” or when users have reportedly been troubled by nasty comments, such instances have seen to be just temporary.

Bollywood producer Karan Johar who had been reportedly instrumental in making his buddy Shah Rukh Khan take to Twitter had posted on his site in September 2010.

“Am I sensing twitter fatigue?

Has the herd mentality bug attacked Twitterverse and now backtracking?? Or is it just me"???

He later posted "taking a Twitter sabbatical..thank you for your love..your support and even your negativity!! Am motivated but need a break..love u all..." only to resurface after nearly two weeks to post about his film.

"Apparently Rakhtcharitra is not for people who liked K3G!!

Didn't know planet pluto had multiplexes!! Aliens can't wait to see it!!”

Fans too have taken to log on to their favourite celebrity's site to read firsthand accounts.

Soon after reports of his death popstar Michael Jackson's fans turned to Twitter to express their grief.

The EC decision to defer the implementation of the government decision was ‘wholly artbitrary’ and unconnected with purposes sought to be achieved by the commission for securing a level playing field for all political parties.

The EC had submitted in the court that it was not against providing rice at Rs 2 per kg to BPL-APL families, but had only restrained the identification of fresh beneficiaries and extending the scheme to the beneficiaries who were yet to be identified.

“What has been restrained is the actual identification of the new beneficiaries. Hasty processing and identification of beneficiaries on the basis of the government order issued just few days before the April 13 assembly elections has given room for several complaints', the commission had informed the bench.

The families who are already in receipt of the said benefits can continue to receive the same. What is objected to by the commission is the implementation of the

modification in criteria on the eve of election and the selection of fresh beneficieries under the scheme after the announcement of the election, the commission's counsel had stated.

The commission submitted that the selection of new beneficiaries includes identification of lakhs of families for inclusion in the scheme as modified. The process of inclusion and exclusion of applicants is to be done during the process of elections to the State assembly.

'This disturbs the level playing field amongst the political parties who are contesting the elections as it influences the votes and gives the ruling party special political benefit while the Model Code of Conduct continues to be in operation’, the commission stated.

Researchers tag whale shark PTI AHMEDABAD, MARCH 21

For the first time in India, a whale shark has been tagged with a `satellite collar' which makes it possible to track it and get information about behaviour, ecological preferences and migration routes of this member of the largest fish species in the world.

The satellite tag was put on the fish last week by a team of researchers from the `Whale Shark Conservation Project', a joint venture of the Gujarat Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

According to WTI Assistant Field Officer, Manoj Matwal, another whale shark will be tagged by the mid-May. “The first set of data received indicated that the tagged whale shark, a 6.5 m long male rescued off the Gujarat coast, had reached the coast of Maharashtra moving southward,” Matwal told PTI. “We plan to install similar satellite tag on another whale shark, preferably a female, by the mid-May as after that they

are not seen off the Gujarat coast,” he said.

“For the second tagging, we are exploring the sea near Veraval and Sutrapada in Junagadh district where the spotting has been good.”

Satellite-tagging is the latest initiative under the Whale Shark Conservation Project. Earlier there have been efforts to do , genetic analysis and visual tagging of whale sharks in India.

APPOINTMENTS

OHERALDO

Pg 8 GOA, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2011

Rebels on the move as Gaddafi hit hard AGENCIES BENGhAZI, MARch 21

Rebel fighters in Libya are attempting to wrest control of towns leading to Tripoli as the government-controlled capital endures a second day of international air strikes.

Western forces have begun targeting the Tripoli compound of Moamar Gaddafi, destroying a command and control facility just hundreds of metres from the embattled leader's home.

Meanwhile, rebels have begun moving out of their stronghold of Benghazi towards the capital, with heavy fighting reported on the road to the west of the city just outside of Ajdabiya. coalition air strikes have hit hard at Mr Gaddafi's air force, air defences, radar stations, missile emplacements and runways - anything that could bring down one of the coalition jets patrolling the skies.

There has been no detectable

One of three Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 Spirit bombers returns to home base at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, after striking targets in support of the international response which is enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya. The B-2s landed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri after a more than 25-hour mission in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. The bombers employed 45 guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions, each weighing 2,000 pounds, against hardened aircraft shelters in Libya.

activity in the air by Libyan aircraft since the shelling began, and NATO says there is now effectively a no-fly zone over the country.

The strike on the command and control facility within the heavily fortified leadership

compound was just 50 metres f ro m t h e t e n t w h e re M r Gaddafi usually greets foreign guests, and 400 metres from his home, which remains surrounded by voluntary human shields.

Libyan spokesman Moussa

Ibrahim told journalists it was a barbaric bombing which could have hit hundreds of civilians.

"Western countries say they want to protect civilians while they bomb the residence, knowing there are civilians inside," he said.

however, French government spokesman Francois Baroin said his country had no information that civilians had been killed in the international strikes.

"There is no information of killed civilians that the French command is aware of," Mr Baroin told French television's canal+.

The Arab League has similarly expressed concern that the coalition strikes have gone beyond the UN Security council resolution on a no-fly zone.

The League's chief-of-staff, hesham Youssef, says there are fears that civilians will inevitably be caught up in the intensive bombing campaign.

"It's a concern that I think we all share, that we do not want more civilians to die, and we hope that we will be able to overcome this crisis as soon as possible," he said.

"Our objective is to protect innocent civilians who have been attacked by the Libyan military."

Libya frees NYT scribes AFP ANKARA, MARch 21

Four New York Times journalists detained in Libya have been released and handed over to Turkey's embassy in Tripoli, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Monday.

The minister said Washington had requested Turkish help in obtaining the release of the journalists who the Times said were detained by government forces last week.

"Thanks to the Libyan authorities and their cooperation, the four New York Times journalists were... handed over to our embassy a while ago," Davutoglu told reporters. Efforts are under way "to send them back home within several hours," he added.

In a statement, a Times spokeswoman said the four were reportedly in good health.

"We are grateful that our journalists have been released, and we are working to reunite them with their families," she said.

Workers evacuated as smoke rises from Japanese N-plant REUTERS TOKYO, MARch 21

Nuclear authorities say workers have been evacuated from an area of Japan's troubled nuclear plant after gray smoke was seen coming from one of its reactors.

Officials said Monday that no increase in radiation levels has been detected and they are still trying to determine the cause of the smoke.

The new threat at the Fukushima nuclear plant came as heavy rain pounded northeastern Japan's earthquakestricken regions, prompting increased fears about radiation.

Restrictions on the sale of certain foods contaminated by the radiation were expanded.

The weather forced Prime Minister Naoto Kan to cancel a planned visit to a staging area for relief supplies just 20 kilometers from the Fukushima plant, where work crews continue to spray seawater to keep spent fuel rods from overheating.

Authorities said the rain was also preventing helicopter crews from flying food, water and other relief goods to remote locations where tens of thousands of people are housed in makeshift shelters with scant food and heat.

A spokesman for Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety

Agency said the smoke was detected in mid-afternoon and that workers were "temporarily" evacuated until the cause can be determined. he said the smoke was coming from the area of the Number 3 reactor, one of two reactors which are believed to have suffered damage to the containment chambers surrounding their nuclear cores.

Authorities said earlier that two of the six reactors at the Fukushima complex are now stabilized and that progress has been made in restoring power lines so that water can be pumped to the others. But the government says it may be days before power is restored to the Number 2 reactor, which also is thought to have suffered damage to its containment chamber.

Serious problems also remain at the number 4 reactor.

The death toll from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami continues to climb as more bodies wash up on the coasts of Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. More than 8,600 people have now been confirmed dead and more than 13,200 are reported missing. Police in Miyagi say they believe about 15,000 people have died in that prefecture alone.

Growing concerns about the safety of the food supply were

Death toll passes 18,000 REUTERS TOKYO, MARch 21

A Thai elephant receives money from tourists donated for aid to Japan at Khao San road in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday.

heightened by the rain, which carries airborne radiation to the ground. Officials said people should try to avoid getting wet and be sure to wipe themselves dry if they do.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano announced a halt to all shipments of spinach and another leafy vegetable

Saudi protests simmer as Bahrain conflict rages REUTERS QATIF, MARch 21

hundreds of young Shi'ite men marched down a commercial street in the Saudi city of Qatif, near the heart of the kingdom's oil industry, pounding their fists in anger over their country's military intervention in Bahrain.

"With our blood and soul we sacrifice for you, Bahrain," they chanted as they walked, according to videos of a recent protest posted on the internet. Some wore scarves to conceal their faces. Others waved Bahraini flags.

"People are boiling," one Shi'ite activist in Qatif told Reuters by phone, asking not to be named for fear of arrest.

"People are talking about strikes, demonstration and prayer to help the Bahrainis."

The protests were in response to Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and most powerful Gulf Arab state, sending troops to Bahrain last week to help quell weeks of protests by majority Shi'ites in the Sunni-led monarchy. Bahrain's opposition called it a declaration of war.

from four prefectures where elevated radiation levels have been found on the vegetables. he also announced a halt to shipments of raw milk from Fukushima prefecture, surrounding the nuclear plant.

Edano said residents were being urged to avoid drinking tap water in one village in Fukushima where some ra-

Electrocuted man gets first US full face transplant AFP BOSTON, MARch 21

Shiite men march down a commercial street in the Saudi city of Qatif.

Riyadh, facing Shi'ite protests of its own, fears a sustained revolt in neighboring Bahrain could embolden its own Shi'ite minority, which has long grumbled about sectarian discrimination, charges Riyadh denies.

The military intervention, however, appears to have only deepened Shi'ite resentment in the kingdom, where between 10 and 15 percent of the 18 million Saudi nationals are Shi'ites.

Leading Saudi Shi'ite cleric Sheikh hassan al-Saffar has

called for Gulf leaders to find a political solution.

Saudi Shi'ites, inspired by prodemocracy protests across the Arab world that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia, have held sporadic protests in a handful of eastern towns over the past three weeks.

"Before the start of revolution in Tunis, people felt rather incapable of making a difference," activist Tawfiq al-Seif said. "They (now) feel they can make a difference."

A cherry picker horrifically injured in an electric shock has successfully received the United States' first full face transplant, a Boston hospital said Monday.

Dallas Wiens, 25, can look forward to a new life with a donated face attached last week by a 30-strong team at Brigham and Women's hospital, which said it was "the first full face transplant" performed in the country.

"Today's tremendous news marks a new milestone in Brigham and Women's legacy in transplant surgery. The pioneering achievement by the entire transplant team is a gift made possible by the most selfless act one human being can do for another, organ donation," hospital president Betsy Nable said.

Wiens, from Texas, was injured in November 2008 when his head touched a high voltage electrical wire. The burns literally erased his face.

Thousands march in Syrian protest town AFP DARAA, MARch 21

Thousands of Syrians marched Monday in the southern town of Daraa after the funeral of a protester killed in the previous day's demonstration, a resident said.

Daraa has become the unexpected nerve center of anti-regime protests in Syria, holding daily demonstrations since Friday despite a massive deployment of security forces and a heavy-handed crackdown on protests that left five dead.

The resident said "a mass of demonstrators started to march from the cemetery towards Al-Omari mosque after the burial" of Raed Akrad, who was killed by security forces Sunday when they opened fire to disperse a protest.

"Just God, Syria and Freedom," and "Revolution, revolution" chanted the demonstrators, according to the resident who said

security forces were stationed at the entrance of the tense town.

The protesters, who have been inspired by regime-changing revolts in Tunisia and Egypt, are demanding "freedom" and an end to 48 years of emergency laws in Syria under President Bashar al-Assad and his father hafez.

"There was a massive deployment of security forces to block protests but thousands gathered anyway," a witness told AFP, adding that they used tear gas to break up the crowd and "arrested several people" on the fourth day of unrest.

Since Friday, security forces have killed five people in a violent crackdown on protests in Daraa, according to human rights organisations and activists.

As popular uprisings rock the Middle East and rooted regimes unravel, Syria's security services have shown zero tolerance for

protests. human rights groups said Monday they had unleashed a wave of "arbitrary detentions" and "excessive force" in cities where anti-regime protests flared in recent days.

"Eleven people were detained Friday after a demonstration outside the Omayyed mosque in Damascus, and several others were arrested in the port city of Banias," said the Syrian Observatory for human Rights.

On Thursday, 32 protesters who were arrested during a Damascus rally calling for the release of political prisoners faced charges of "attacking the reputation of the state" and "inciting racism and sectarianism."

On Saturday security forces arrested "dozens of protesters" in Daraa, where thousands attended the funerals of two of four people killed on the previous day's violent crackdown, a rights activist said.

dioactive contamination has been detected. Small amounts of iodine and cesium have also been detected in Tokyo tap water.

Edano said the radiation levels in the food and water were not high enough to be an immediate threat to human health, but could have an effect if consumed over a long period.

The human and financial cost of the tsunami continues to rise, after police estimates showed more than 18,000 people have died in the disaster and the World Bank said it may cost Japan as much as ÂŁ145bn to repair the damage.

The figures came as emergency workers were evacuated from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after smoke or steam was seen rising from one of its reactor units.

The smoke raised concerns that water in the spent fuel pools at the No 3 unit was running low, but officials said there was no immediate spike in radiation levels.

"We are checking the cause o f t h e s m o ke , " h i d e h i ko Nishiyama, a nuclear safety agency official, told reporters.

Earlier, engineers finally succeeded in connecting power cables to three of the plant's reactors and said they planned to test the pumps soon.

Engineers hope to connect those power supplies to the No 3 and No 4 units on Tuesday, the public broadcaster NhK said.

WORLD

Fears Egypt vote to benefit Islamists

Over 4 million Egyptians approved the constitutional amendments.

AFP cAIRO, MARch 21

Egypt's first exercise in democracy in decades was hailed as a success on Monday, but the result of a key referendum has raised fears in some quarters that Islamists will hijack looming elections.

Egyptians on Saturday voted 77% in favour of proposed constitutional amendments intended to guide the Arab world's most populous nation through new presidential and parliamentary elections within six months.

The Muslim Brotherhood threw its huge influence and grassroots organisation behind a "yes" vote, although youth groups that spearheaded the protests that forced hosni Mubarak to resign last month had called for a "no" vote.

They argued the timetable set by the military was too tight for them to organise at grassroots level, that the Muslim Brotherhood would benefit and that the changes to the Mubarak-era constitution were too limited.

In an editorial, the mass-circulation daily Al-Ahram said the referendum was a "win for democracy," a view echoed by the state-owned Al-Gomhouria which said: "Everybody has won in this referendum, whether they voted yes or no."

The coalition of the Revolution's Youth urged supporters not to feel defeated after the result, and called on everyone to respect the result of the "historic democratic process" and quickly begin work on the next phase.

"We are now on the doorstep of a new era, in which Egyptians will shape their state for decades to come... we must work to carry on fulfilling the ambitions of the revolution," the group said on its Facebook page.

But others felt more threatened by the result.

"The referendum, while it was free of fraud, was not free of 'influence', especially by the Muslim Brotherhood and the religious trend in general," wrote Suleiman Gouda in the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.

"The mosques were used by these groups to influence the voters," he said.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition movement in the country and officially banned in the Mubarak era, used its new found freedom -- and organisational skills -- to campaign for a "yes" vote.

The group, and other more fundamentalist religious movements, presented the "yes" vote as a religious duty, while many at polling stations said they voted "yes" for the sake of "stability" rather than religious inclinations.

In the run-up to the vote, "the 'yes' camp had been warning people of suffering on the day of judgment if they don't vote yes," wrote columnist Salama Ahmed Salama in the independent daily Al-Shorouk.

Gouda urged the army to oversee the country's handover to a secular figure.

"The country must be handed over to an elected secular president, not to the Brotherhood, not because we are against them as a movement, but because the current exceptional circumstances work in their favour and not the others," wrote Gouda.

"There has to be fair competition."

More than 14 million Egyptians approved the constitutional amendments and four million said "no", organising commission chairman Mo hammed Attiya said.

Obama woos Brazil in bid for better ties AGENCIES RIO DE JANEIRO, MARch 21

Disappointment showed on the faces of many people in Rio de Janeiro's cinelandia Square as they waited in the hot sun outside the Municipal Theatre, where US President Barack Obama was inside giving a speech to 2,000 selected guests.

During the weeks before Mr Obama's visit to Brazil, it was widely thought that he would talk directly to the people from the square, with Brazilians eager to hear the first African-American leader of the United States.

But on the eve of his arrival, the Americans decided to move the event inside the theatre because of "a number of concerns", according to White house officials.

"I am very disappointed that he is not going to speak to the public. I would like to see him because I think he is a great political figure and I am a big fan," said cristina Martins, who stood in the square with hundreds of other people trying to catch a glimpse of President Obama.

There were some small but noisy protests, organised by members of left-wing groups who accuse the Americans of being interested primarily in exploiting Brazil's resources, such as the recently found offshore oil reserves.

But most people seemed happy to see the US president visiting Brazil and acknowledging the growing importance of the South American country on the world stage. " T h o s e w h o a rg u e t h a t democracy stands in the way of

President Barack Obama and his family visit Corcovado to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

economic progress must contend with the example of Brazil," said President Obama in his speech. "Let us stand together not as senior and junior partners but as equal partners."

It seems that a door has been opened to rebuild the US-Brazilian relations that had in recent years become strained over a number of issues, ranging from

Iran's nuclear ambitions to currency imbalances.

"The first two years of the Obama administration were clogged with other priorities, domestic and international, but with respect to Brazil relations really did sour over Iran, honduras and bases in colombia. A very ideological tone set in," says Julia Sweig, from the coun-

cil on Foreign Relations.

Ms Sweig says that the visit, just three months into the government of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, showed the US administration's willingness to put the bilateral relationship back on track.

"My sense is that Presidents Obama and Rousseff have an interest in improving the dynamic and doing it soon," said Ms Sweig.

Brazil and the US will have to work hard to translate their goodwill into results - particularly to achieve an increase in bilateral trade. But in Brazil, the visit of the US president has at least been a symbolic success.

The image of a female president and an African-American one greeting each other as the heads of state of the two largest economies in the Americas is in itself a mark of how much the world has changed.

But there is still a long way to go: the only time Barack Obama saw a sizeable number of Afro-Brazilians was on his visit to the cidade de Deus slum, made famous by the movie city of God. The city of God is one of the poorest districts of Rio de Janeiro and also has one of the largest black populations in the city.

"It's great to have Barack Obama visiting our community.

It's very important for black Brazilians to see this," said student Pablo Mota, who posed for visiting photographers and camera crews, proudly showing off his Vote Obama T-shirt.

Date for Galliano’s trial to be fixed in May AFP PARIS, MARch 21

Dior's former chief designer John Galliano will find out on May 12 when he goes on trial here for allegedly making anti-Semitic slurs, judicial sources said Monday. The date will be set by a Paris court and the trial could take place before the summer or later in the year.

Prosecutors have charged the Gibraltar-

born, London-raised couturier with making racist and anti-Semitic remarks, a crime in France punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of 22,500 euros ($31,500).

The court will examine two complaints, one filed by a couple that claimed they were subjected to a drunken, anti-Semitic tirade from Galliano in a Paris cafe in late February. The second comes from a 48year-old woman who accused the British

couturier of making racist remarks in 2010.

Galliano, 50, one of the finest designers of his generation, was fired early this month

by Dior over the complaint and then a mobile phone video showing him, apparently drunk at the same cafe, saying: "I love hitler."

The British couturier had already been suspended by Dior late February after he was arrested and questioned by French police over his alleged anti-Semitic tirade.

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT

Healthy Ways of quenching the Heat Away

Buniadi vinnem ghor nhoi, xikpa vinnem monis nhoi -Anonymous

Spring arrives in Kashmir, bringing Hope of Peace

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email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live m o d e r a t e l y, c u l t i v a t e cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life - William Londen

With the unbearable scorching sun over our heads, everyone’s mouths are running dry with nothing but thoughts of some chilling beverages filling their minds. With a number of carbonated and sugary drinks filling the markets, Herald finds out the best options for quenching your thirst in the healthiest ways possible

BY DOLCY D’CRUZ HERALD FEATURES ith mid March came the feeling of the sun hitting our faces drilling in the fact that summer is here and it is time to keep ourselves well hydrated. Not a minute outdoors goes by without us imagining a chilled cold drink splashing down out parched throats. And one great thing about summer is that along with the scorching heat comes a number of seasonal fruits that make tasty and healthy natural juices. Unfortunately, for many, busy lifestyles and tight schedules have resulted in fresh juices and homemade beverages taking a backseat to processed and packaged drinks.

However, everything found in the market always has a fine print. In this case, it is the fine print that says ‘contains sugar’ and ‘added preservatives’.

Dr Rufino Monteiro, a cardiologist from Panjim, enlightens, “Juices are very good for the body. Juices should not be made from added sugar as fruits are already sweet. Natural juices are more preferred.

Juices like mango juice which contain a lot of sweetness in itself should be consumed within limits but juices like lime water, orange juice, watermelon juice are good for children. People suffering from diabetes can consume drinks like barley water, soda, jal jeera and aloe vera juice.

Aerated drinks should be avoided.”

Rather than simply quenching your thirst and keeping your hydrated, summer coolers also make fun activities. Children when at home can enjoy preparing some desserts include different types of jellies, custards and puddings that are refreshing and healthy. Yes, even desserts can be as refreshing as fresh juices. Sheryl De Souza Afonso, a dietician and centre manager at VLCC, says, “Any juices or shakes like apple shake or banana shake that help in re-hydration are good. Homemade juices like watermelon juice, grape juice, lime juice with salt and sugar and sweet lime juice are good. For diabetic patients, they should have mixed vegetable juices. Cucumber juice is a cooling agent. One can also have tomato juice, carrot juice mixed with beetroot juice, karela juice and pumpkin juice.”

Giving a tip for people suffering from diabetes who are not too fond of bitter juices, Sheryl says, “Add coriander, celery and half a teaspoon of fenugreek to the vegetable juices. Plain barley water is also good as well as

W

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buttermilk as it is high in nutrients and keeps the index blood normal.” She adds, “Lassi and buttermilk are light and even good for children. Children should not drink cold drinks in excess in the summer; instead they should have milk based drinks. Sodas are okay but as it is aerated, chilled water makes a better option.”

Another quick fix for fruit juices suggested by Sheryl is that juices can be prepared at home and filled in ice trays. When required, a few cubes can be removed in a glass, water can be added and a chilled juice is ready. Desserts like jelly can also be quite refreshing for children. Ice candies and ice creams are also preferred except a check should be kept on obese children.

Besides juices, one can quench their thirst with chilling tender coconut water, kokum juice, faloodas and sherbets. Yogurt, jellies, ice creams make ideal desserts. Dr Maria D’Costa, who practises in Verem, advises, “Any fruit juices that are natural and without any preservatives are good for one’s health.

Vegetable juices like carrot juice, beetroot juice are also very healthy and give vitamins. At home, one can prepare fresh fruit juices like orange juice, watermelon juice, lime water, lemonade, apple juice which are high in vitamins.

Even in the market, there are various juices like pomegranate juice and cranberry juices which are good for re-hydration, but one has to check the contents of the carton for preservatives. Some juice which have excess sugar like pineapple juice or guava juice should be avoided as once children get used to excess sugar, it is difficult to get them back to have food with the right

amount of sugar. For women, calcium is very important. Once they cross the age of 40, they should do regular exercise and consume a good amount of milk shakes to maintain the calcium in the body.”

So there you go! While the heat may be intolerable, it gives you a perfect excuse to indulge yourself with some delicious and of course, healthy juices and chilled food items. Don’t forget to keep your juices pulpy and drink plenty of water!

Could Artefacts in Jordanian Cave reveal Jesus’ Last Years?

B

iblical artefacts discovered in a remote cave in Jordan could reveal the last years of Jesus’ life if they are found to be genuine. The discovery of the scrolls and 70 lead codices, tiny credit cardsized volumes containing ancient Hebrew script talking of the Messiah and the Resurrection has left Biblical scholars excited.

Much of the writing is in code, but experts have deciphered images, symbols and a few words and the texts could be 2,000 years old.

Texts have been written on little sheets of lead bound together with wire.

Many of the codices are sealed which suggests that they could be secret writings referred to in the apocryphal Book of Ezra – an appendage to some versions of the Bible.

The treasure trove was found five years ago by an Israeli Bedouin and may have been around since the 1st century, around the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and Resurrection.

A number of experts have examined the writings, including Margaret Barker, a former president of the Society for Old Testament Study with a renowned knowledge of early Christian

T

studies. According to reports, she revealed how the intrigue surrounding the artefacts was similar to the black market secrecy with the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls.

“There have been lots of shenanigans. Vast sums of money have been mentioned with up to 2,50,000 pounds being suggested as the price for just one piece,” Barker was quoted as saying.

“If they are a forgery, what are they a forgery of? Most fakes are drawn from existing material, but there is nothing like this that I have seen,” she revealed.

The owner of the cache is a Bedouin named Hassan Saeda who lives in the village of Um-al-Ghanam in the north of Israel.

Peter Northover, head of the materials science-based archaeology group, examined two samples that were sent to a laboratory in England. The verdict was inconclusive without more tests, but he said the composition was “consistent with a range of ancient lead”.

Philip Davies, emeritus professor of biblical studies at Sheffield University, is convinced the codices are genuine after studying one, and has told colleagues privately that he believes the find is unlikely to have been forged.

(Courtesy: ANI)

he harsh winter chill is fading away, the brown and barren landscape is giving way to lively green and farmers are getting ready to plough their fields again. Spring has arrived in the Kashmir Valley, bringing with it some tourists and the hope that the months to come will be peaceful and prosperous.

As the gloom of the three-month winter transforms into brighter days, grassy fields and colourful blooms, it’s time for new beginnings in every which way, say residents of the picturesque conflict zone for whom clashes and violence have become a way of life for the past 30 years.

“The valley literally remains frozen during the winter months.

All activities of life, including agriculture, come to a standstill here. Spring heralds the beginning of new life here,” said Gull Rather, 45, a farmer in Ganderbal district in north Kashmir. Many tourists have already started arriving in this northern Indian border state this year and locals hope the valley will be peaceful so that livelihoods remain unaffected.

Horticulture, tourism and handicrafts, the three mainstays of the valley’s economy, took a serious beating last summer because of the unrest that saw 110 people being killed in clashes with security forces. The movement of trucks carrying apples, pears and other fruits to terminal markets from the valley also suffered as irate mobs jammed the Srinagar-Jammu national highway for days without end.

“Tourist flow, which had started in right earnest, came to an abrupt halt after June last year and this resulted in huge losses to hoteliers, taxi drivers, houseboat owners, handicraft dealers and travel agents,” said a senior tourism department official. Senior hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who spearheaded the summer unrest last year, told the media recently that there would be no indefinite strikes in the valley in future. “Unless the Indian security forces act in a manner which causes loss of public life and honour, we will not call for any prolonged strike here.

But the world must know that calling for strikes is an extremely unpleasant step we are forced to take because all other means of peaceful protest are prevented by the Indian security forces here,” Geelani asserted.

What people want is a modicum of normalcy.

“The separatist campaign and mainstream politics can continue alongside each other, but this must not throw normal life haywire,” said a college teacher who did not want to be named.

As schoolchildren jostle against one another to get into their buses in summer capital Srinagar, Kashmiris pray that peace is something they can rely on, not just a fragile state of being threatened by the slightest winds of trouble.

Spring is in the air... and so hopefully is peace. The signs are good and it should stay this way, say Kashmiris.

(Courtesy: IANS)

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info ‘nf’un zone

Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Inside/Out – New Writing from Goa’, will be launched on March 23 at 6pm at Literati, Calangute. Call 9850461649.

‘TVS Apache Mirchi Sound Check’, a band and orchestra music competition for the youth, by the youth, organised by Radio Mirchi 98.3FM and American Centre, Mumbai will be held on March 24, 25 and 26 at Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim. Registration closes on March 22. Visit www.radiomirchi.com. Call 6656666.

A day at Bat Island, organised by Wildtrek Adventures will be held on March 27. Call 9822123458, 9822155805 or 8796418565.

A painting exhibition by Francis D’Silva is underway at Gallery Attic in Panjim.

Call 2420929, 2257743 or 2257690.

The annual summer camp for children, organised by Wildtrek Adventures will be held on April 7, 8 and 9 at the periphery of Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. Call 9822123458, 9822155805 or 2710650.

The annual summer camp for adults organised by Wildtrek Adventures will be held on April 9, 10 and 11 and 13, 14 and 15 at the periphery of Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.

Call 9822123458, 9822155805 or 2710650.

Call 9822123458, 9822155805 or 2710650.

The 2nd Popular Tiatr Festival 2010 cum Competition, organised by Tiatr Academy of Goa is underway till March 24 at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

Call 2420452.

A workshop with Bondo in an endeavour to boost the resurgence of acoustic instruments among young talent, organised by the Department of Art and Culture and the Entertainment Society of Goa will be held on April 24 at the INOX Courtyard, Panjim. Call 9822383929.

A 5-day workshop in shell craft jewellery, organised Sunaparanta - Goa Centre

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HOROSCOPE for the Arts will be held from April 4 to 8 from 3pm to 6 pm at Sunaparanta, AltinhoPanjim. Registration closes on March 24. Call 2421311.

Workshop on Mind Power conducted by eminent International trainer of JCI Estonia, Katrin Aedma, organised by the JCI Vasco, will be held at Janata Vachalaya, Vasco, on March 23 at 7pm.

9823869918, 9730065677, 09766133455.

Indradhanush, a 3-day cultural festival, organised by the Ganga-Zuari Academy will be held from April 22 to 24. There will be competitions in the areas of dance, singing, essay and drawing. Hurry up for registration before 31 March. Call: 9822486204 / 9404434878.

Friday Balcao will be held on March 25 at the Goa Desc Resource Centre, No.11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa.

The topic of discussion will be on Water Quality in the towns & cities of Goa. Right to Information workshop organised by Asha Family Responsibilities & Rights Association will be held on March27 from 9:15am to 11am, at St. Andrews Church Hall, Vasco, Goa. Call 2256445, 9822166876 or email: trustasha@yahoo.co.in Workshop on the Benefits of Special Category Status organised

by Asha Family Responsibilities & Rights Association will be held on March 26 from 4pm to 6pm at Asha Centre Hall, Sweet Home Building, Mapusa, Goa. Call 2256445, 9822166876 or email: trustasha@yahoo.co.in Seminar on Media & Human Development will be held at the International Centre Goa on March 26 and March 27, from 9:30am to 5pm. Call: 9765404391, 2452805-10 ‘Capture the Sights, Colors and Revelry of Carnival 2011 Photography Contest’, organised by Goan Shutterbugs is open for registration till March 31. Visit www.goanshutterbugs.com to download entry forms. Call 9822151419.

A mysterious person will become more familiar -- and you 21 Mar - 19 Apr may be disappointed. You may have a harder time relating to people today, but don't stress over it. If anything, you may find yourself relishing the chance to meditate and just ponder big questions you don't usually have time for.

Taurus Your recent actions have made people think you're over20 Apr - 20 May sensitive. Correct that error.

You're feeling a bit more sensitive to slights than usual, which could make your social interactions trickier. If you cut everyone slack, that should help you overcome the worst of it.

There's no Gemini n e e d t o b e Machiavellian.

Hold on to your values and 21 May - 20 Jun ideals. It's time to pay back to the community or your family -- help someone in genuine need. You may have to put your own business on hold, but the karma you score should be totally worth it!

Feel pressure to make a choice?

Take a break until it's obvious what you should do.

22 Jun - 23 Jul You can't really make up your mind about even the silliest things today -- but you still feel great about it all.

See if you can get your people to make all the little calls that need to be made.

Looking at where you are in life doesn't take bravery -- it just takes hon24 Jul - 23 Aug esty. Everything requires extra attention today -- so look more deeply than usual and make sure that you're not just taking life in stride. In fact, you may want to press your friends to do the same!

Don't sell yourself short -- you have a formidable intellect and 23 Aug - 22 Sep a curious mind.

Your insights are stronger than ever today, and that could mean that you've got some new info on the factors that have been holding you back. It's a day of thought, not action, but you need to get ready.

Your emotions will play a valuable role in a professional 23 Sept - 22 Oct context today. If you work for yourself, today is a great day to clear things out and make sure that you're ready for new business. If not, you may want to consider it, as your mindset is great for setting out on your own.

Scorpio Today, try to spend as much time as you can around people 23 Oct - 22 Nov w h o r a d i a t e power. An old wound is finally starting to heal -- or might be all done! You might not even have realized it was getting better until you started paying attention again, so see how great things really are.

Sagittarius It's okay if you

Capricorn S o l i t u d e i s healthy once in a while, and it won't dam22 Dec - 20 Jan age interpersonal bonds.

Your hopes and ambitions are clearer -- to you, at least -- and should make the path ahead easier to navigate. It's a great idea to write it all down so you don't forget anything essential.

Aquarius Don't obsess about your career now -- let the quality of work 21 Jan - 19 Feb y o u r speak for itself.

Your social energy needs a boost -- and volunteering or donating to charity is the best way to do just that. Once you feel like an important part of the community, you are sure to start smiling again.

Some new information you receive today should not you 20 Feb - 20 Mar m a k e change your mind. Things are more confusing than usual, but that should work to your advantage. Most others can't handle confusion as well as you can, and that means you're at least one step ahead of the pack.

Aries

Libra

feel moody and slow, but don't let procrastination 23 Nov - 20 Dec become a habit.

Let your mind roam far today -- you need to make the most of this imaginative energy. It may be artistic or business ideas that float to the top, but you'd do well to bring them to life as soon as you can.

Cancer

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DID YOU KNOW? Shandy around the world

reaper Pronunciation ree-per Function Noun Meaning 1: a person who reaps; harvester 2: a machine for cutting standing grain; reaping machine Example Sentence The Smith’s could not afford a mechanised reaping machine for their small field so they hired Allan and Joe as reapers.

LAFFS

Shandy, or shandygaff, is normally a beer mixed with citrus-flavoured soda, carbonated lemonade, ginger beer, ginger ale, or cider. There are also non-alcoholic shandy mixes known as ‘rock shandies’. In some jurisdictions, the low alcohol content of shandy makes it exempt from the laws that govern alcoholic beverages. In Germany, this type of drink is called a Radler or an Alster. In France and in Italy, it is called a panaché while in Catalan it is xampu or clara. In the United Kingdom, Shandy is beer mixed with carbonated lemonade. In H G Wells’s comic novel The History of Mr. Polly, Wells refers to shandygaff as “two bottles of beer mixed with gingerbeer in a round-bellied jug.” The French panaché is beer flavoured with limonade, which is lemon-flavoured soda or soda water. Other variants of shandy throughout the world include Argentina’s Quianti, Australian Portagaff, Austria’s Almradler, a Belgian Flanders, Fan-schop from Chile, a Snowwhite from the Netherlands and USA’s Brass Monkey.

WIZARD OF ID

Funny Quote

“You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.”

– Scott Adams DAILY GROOK AIL TRAIL

by Francis Rodrigues the alcoholic’s health failing, is because he’s been...ale’ing!

GARFIELD

MIND BENDERS

SUN MOON TIDES

Tongue Twister Tuesday 33° C | 22° C Dawn 06:17

Five frisky French frogs frolicked through the fields in France Partly Cloudy

Sunrise 06:38

Moon rise 21:36 High Low — 06:20

Riddle Me This

Sunset Dark 18:46 19:08 Moon set

TIDES High Low 13:00 18:42

08:22 High —

D Tide timings are for Mormugao Harbour. For Panjim/Calangute add 20 mins. For Colva add 30 mins

Last ‘Riddle Me This’ Answer: Neither. Telephone

23:15 Once Upon a Time in Mexico 08:45 A Lot Like Love 10:55 The Rock 13:35 You Don't Mess with the Zohan 15:45 Never Say Never Again 18:30 The Myth 21:00 Double Team 23:00 Night at the Museum 2

11:15 13:15 15:00 17:00 18:30 21:00

Final Destination 3 The Final Destination The Tattooist Thor: Hammer of the Gods Future X-Cops Transformers

10:00 14:00 17:30 21:00

Itihaas Yeh Hai Jalwa Suhaag Yamraj Ek Faulad

08:30 11:30 15:00 19:00 22:30

Grosse Pointe Blank Chhoti Bahoo Nikaah Shortkut: The Con Is On The Princess Diaries 08:30 12:30 16:00 20:00 23:40

Dulaara Hadh Kar Di Aapne Aur Ek Ilzam Waqt Hamara Hai Gair Kaanooni

11:45 13:35 15:40 18:30

The Benchwarmers Black Death Harry Brown The Affair of the Necklace 21:00 Desperado

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Vidhaata Tu Hi Durga Tu Hi Kaali Awara Paagal Deewana Nayak

14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Lapataganj FIR Ring Wrong Ring Mrs. Tendulkar Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Mrs. Tendulkar Ring Wrong Ring Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Mrs. Tendulkar Lapataganj FIR

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Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Rang Badalti Odhni Geet Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Rang Badalti Odhni Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein

IDIOT BOX 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya Maayke Se Bandhi Dor Gulaal Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Tere Mere Sapne Hamari Devrani Sapno Se Bhare Naina Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak? Chaand Chupa Badal Mein Maayke Se Bandhi Dor Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya Sasural Genda Phool Saath Nibhana Saathiya Behenein Sabki Laadli Bebo Saath Nibhana Saathiya Sasural Genda Phool Chaand Chupa Badal Mein Maayke Se Bandhi Dor Gulaal Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Tere Liye Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

10:30 14:30 16:00 17:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 22:30

Adaalat C.I.D C.I.D C.I.D Classics Krishnaben Khakhrawala Chhajje Chhajje Ka Pyaar Adaalat Saas Bina Sasural Kismat

11:00 Dil Se Diya Vachan 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Apno ke liye Geeta ka Dharmyudh 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Choti Bahu 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Sanskaar Laxmi 14:30 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 15:00 Ram Milaayi Jodi

SUDOKU 813

Only one colour, but not one size, Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies.

Present in the sun, but not in the rain, Doing no harm and feeling no pain.

What am I?

15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00

11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00

Bhagonwali Apno ke liye Geeta ka Choti Bahu Jhansi Ki Rani Pavitra Rishta Bhagonwali Apno ke liye Geeta ka Dil Se Diya Vachan Choti Bahu Jhansi Ki Rani Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Pavitra Rishta Ram Milaayi Jodi Sanjog Se Bani Sangini

Mrs. Tendulkar Lapataganj Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Mrs. Tendulkar Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta

17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Geet Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Geet Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Geet Rang Badalti Odhni Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani

11:35 12:25 13:20 14:15 15:10 16:05 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Wipeout Top Chef House Got to Dance Fear Factor The Amazing Race Asia Top 20 Countdown Got to Dance Fear Factor Wipeout House Top Chef

22:00 Motorsport Mundial 22:30 WWE: After Burn 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

Dexter The Bold and The Beautiful Friends Las Vegas The Good Guys Community The Simpsons Dexter Las Vegas Koffee With Karan How I Met Your Mother Modern Family Las Vegas Dexter

12:00 16:00 18:00 18:30 19:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30

Chhota Bheem Marathon Pokemon M.A.D Chhota Bheem Anpanman Breadman Just for Laugh Gags Takeshi's Castle Mr. Bean The Pink Panther Show

10:00 ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 H/ls 22:00 ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 H/ls

10:30 Australian Iron Man 12:00 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 16:00 Squash World Cup 2011 17:00 The Monday Night Verdict 18:00 Bpl Express 19:00 Premier League Highlights 20:00 The Immortals 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 Squash World Cup 2011 22:00 Master Official Films : 2008 08:30 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 20:30 21:00

ATP 1000 Masters 2011 Serie A Show WWE: After Burn Football League Show NBA 2010/11 Real NBA FIM X Trial World Championship 2010/11

10:00 ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 H/ls 22:00 ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 H/ls

10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30

Creative Vision Big Cats Week Nat Geo Amazing!

Mission Army Lion Ranger Inside Fight Science Nat Geo Amazing!

Dangerous Encounters I Didn't Know That I Didn't Know That Super Cat Big, Bigger, Biggest Weird & Wonderful Hotels Weird & Wonderful Hotels

07:30 Kids Club 08:00 English News 09:00 WizBiz Quiz 09:30Amazing Fusion of Dance Beats 10:00 English News 11:00 Angos Musical Show 11:30 Classical Music 12:00 Santa Cruz Mando 12:30Trendsetter 13:00 English News 14:00 Tiny Tots 14:30 Bharat Amcho Des 15:00 Evening with Parishners 15:30 WizBiz Quiz 16:00 English News 17:00 Gomantak Natak 17:30 Kids Club 18:00 English News 19:00 Holy Hymn Singing 19:30 Amazing Fusion of Dance Beats 20:00 English News 21:00 WizBiz Quiz 21:30Classical Music 22:00 English News 23:00 Angos Musical Show 23:30 Holy Hymn Singing 00:00 Tiny Tots Note: Subject to change

Instructions for Sudoku 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

SUDOKU SOL 812

HERALD CROSSWORD - 813 Across 1- Herring type; 6- Not much; 10Attempt; 14- Coeur d'___; 15Achy; 16- German Mister; 17Highways, e.g.; 18- Whirl; 19Della's creator; 20- Dead; 22Tallied; 24- Revivalists; 25- Skyway; 26- Having feet; 29- I could ___ horse!; 30- Cross inscription; 31- In all places; 37- Shorthand taker; 39- Guadalajara gold; 40- Unit of volume; 41Without racial prejudice; 44- Finishes; 45- Adorable; 46- Scrape off; 48- Argue; 52- Informal greeting; 53- Tangle up; 54- Undervalue; 58- Inter ___; 59- Castle ring; 61- Green _____ is the place to be; 62- Metallica drummer Ulrich; 63- Composer quest; 54- Polite address; 55- Golf club which Khachaturian; 64- Curt; 65- Little one; 66- Apcan be numbered 1 to 9; 56- Nothing; 57- Corpoint; 67- Church council; nerstone abbr.; 60- Man-mouse connector; Down 1- Franklin D.'s mother; 2- Trudge; 3- Gather, SOLUTION - 812 harvest; 4- Moderate musical movement; 5Exam taker; 6- Donkeys; 7- Outstanding; 8Jackie's second; 9- Compactness; 10- Biblical abode of the dead; 11- Earth; 12- Senator Specter; 13- Plait, old-style; 21- Got on; 23Move slowly; 25- Brother of Moses; 26- Moneyrelated: Abbr.; 27- Aware of; 28- Hurler Hershiser; 29- Causing goose bumps; 32Electrical units; 33- Series of ranks; 34- Gas burner or Sicilian volcano; 35- Comic Foxx; 36Gaelic language of Ireland or Scotland; 38Roman god of the underworld; 42- Woodsman; 43- Raised platform; 47- Road around an obstruction; 48- Distributed cards; 49- Embed; 50Smug smile; 51- Break off; 52- Blackjack re-

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HERALD FEATURES he RTI Workshop held by Asha Family Responsibilities and Rights Association at Community Hall, Nagoa-Arpora had active participation from people of Nagao-Arpora and surrounding villages. Asha NGO Convenor Rui Da Gama explained the Right to Information (RTI) Act step-by-step and appealed to the people to use the RTI Act in a judicious manner. It was brought to the notice of the participants that transparency and accountability is vital to the functioning of democracy. Participants acknowledged that the use of RTI Act will curb corruption and appealed to the Government to publish all information as part of their obligation under Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.

Rui Da Gama explained that the Goa Government is planning to introduce a Public Service Guarantee Bill in the Assembly and also set up a State Public Service Delivery Commission.

Participants said that it is compulsory for government servants to serve the people even without filing application under RTI. The participants noted that the Government of Goa is accountable to its people and a Public Service Men’s Accountability Bill should be passed by the Goa Assembly to strengthen democracy and the rights of its people.

Agnelo D’Souza and Jerry Rodrigues of Nagoa, Rev Simao Rodrigues, Gracy D’Souza of Parra, Dattaprasad Dabolkar of Calangute, Agnelo Remedios of Arpora, Pauline Fernandes of Siolim, Shawn Martins of Calangute and others participated in the workshop.

Parenting

Pg11

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011

Government should publish Information, appeal RTI Activists

Tourism

Unique Zomnivoilo Khell performed on Stage

BY JOEGOAUK he ‘zomnivoilo khell’, a common sight during the carnival of yesteryears, was brought on stage by director Domingo Mascarenhas and Vitorin Pereira, a well known personality in the ‘khell tiatr’ world. The Davorlim Dramatic Troupe performed the Khell Tiatr, recently at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

This was the first time ‘zomnivoilo khell’ was performed on a stage, making it a unique experience for the performers and the audience, alike. The tiatr was divided into ‘partis’ with songs, music and trumpets sounding off.

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The event opened up the world of the ‘khell tiatrs’ to the people from North Goa, as this dramatic form was earlier restricted mainly to the villages of South Goa. Snippets of information and interesting trivia were also given away, like the fact that the ‘khell tiatrs’ were performed on just drums or ‘gumott’ beats and that wind instruments like the trombone and trumpet were introduced at a later stage.

Photos by JoeGoaUK

BY SAMIR UMARYE HERALD FEATURES he traditional festival of Gade was celebrated on March 20, 2011 at Pilgao Bicholim in the presence of hundreds of people. It may be stated that the Gade festival is celebrated as part of Shigmotsav and is celebrated at Kudnem, Karapur, Sal, Bordem and Pilgao in Bicholim taluka. In most of the villages it is believed that it is a game of hide-and-seek between the Gade and Devchar.

Almost everywhere this festival is celebrated at night but at Pilgao it is celebrated during the day so that many people can witness this unique event. Gade, clad in white dhotis with black belts around their waists, are the residents of the village. It is believed that the spirit of God enters their bodies when they start dancing.

At Pilgao, the festival begins when the people from Amona village taking away the holi (trunk of tree) from

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the village. On the same night, the Gade from the village go around the crematoriums collecting the remains of the people including bones or any other thing they get at night.

They enter Pilgao only in the morning after hearing the sound of the dhol. After reaching the village near a temple they go to the nearby well and dump the things they brought along with them. While going on their way, some of the people from the village who are believed to be possessed are made to lie down on the way, covering themselves. It is believed that when the Gade crosses over them, they regain their health.

After dumping all the remains brought from the crematorium into the well, they come back and lie down near the temple which is the end of this festival.

The Gade from Sal also began on Sunday and will go on for three days. It is said that after the festival, people from Sal do not have to fear ghosts throughout the year as they are tied up by the Gade.

2nd Popular Tiatr Festival 2010 cum Competition - Day VI R E V I E W

Puro, Ami Tras Kadleat Te

C

an anyone be taught how to have fun, or live life? No. A person has to live it and experience it for oneself. This thought is well described in an intense dialogue by a father stating that everything goes through its own time but if some think that they will not allow their children to go through the hard times they themselves went through as children and hence give them everything, they should be prepared to throw in a fistful of mud in their child’s grave. As the curtains rose for the last scene, the audience were shown the flickering of two candles which turned out to be part of an altar during a funeral service. The hair-raising scream of Lorraine playing the mother that was then followed by the father’s speech aptly summarised the title of the tiatr – Puro, ami tras kadleat te...

Then again, playwright-cum-director Alfredo Fernandes has been a sensation at the annually organised tiatr competition popularly even called, ‘the world cup of Konkani tiatrs’ for quite a few years now and is always playing to packed houses ever since. However, while the charisma of a popular tiatrist draws great influence on the audiences, with this being a lacking factor in the commercially less popular tiatr competition shows, attention to detail has become an integral part of such shows instead. And these small little details make a difference. The talented child artistes, with smaller yet well etched out characters, did a splendid job of keeping the audiences entertained with their extremely impressive and entertaining kantarams. While costumes were done by best actress prize winner for the tiatr competition, Jessica Pereira, actor-cum-trumpeter Mathias Mascarenhas led a very full sounding band in spite of the absence of the trombone.

Lenoy Gomendes provided the part pre-produced and part live played music for the intense scenes of this tiatr

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

coupled with Alfredo’s literary skills. Elvis Mascarenhas sang the opening song Sundor Jivit (Life is beautiful). He played the lead role of the boy who gets AIDS. The character then goes on to show signs of getting frustrated with his stuck medical situation and life in limbo.

Basically, Alfredo has thought-provokingly brought out how a family whose member is HIV positive deals with the social stigma so much so that it makes one realise the magnitude this problem gains simply due to society – or rather the ignorance and unhealthy attitudes towards such sensitive issues in a society. Performances here were well directed.

Given this social situation for a Goan family, while Alfred did an excellent job of defining their emotional turmoil, it was also impressive how he created certain comic situations. The part, for instance, when comedian Mathew finally admits to the local priest that he doesn’t go for Sunday Mass, got great response from the audiences. Flashback scenes simply brought to the fore the talent within the production team behind the scenes, especially with respect to the change in properties when a time zone change is shown or even with the costumes and the make up for that matter. George Gonsalves did the make up.

Apart from the entertaining-as-usual trios and quartets, this tiatr had a dhako comprising ten singers of different ages – an item that especially stood out thereby highlighting the variety of creative options of expression in a tiatr – well used by Alfi.

Photos by Samir Umarye

Gade – A Traditional Ritual of Hide-and-seek

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Coming out was intense: Ricky Martin

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Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011

inger Ricky Martin says it was difficult to come out of the closet and open up about his sexuality.

“I’ve been through an intense spiritual process for the last five years, especially the last two years. I needed to share it with the world,” stated the singer at the GLAAD Media Awards, which honours openly gay and lesbian entertainers.

Martin says he wants to get even more involved in spreading a message of love to the rest of Latin America.

“Let’s share the love!

Let’s go to Mexico!

Let’s go to Columbia!

L e t ’ s go to Argentina! Let’s go to Chile! Let’s go to Brazil!

Travel

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Pg12

Lady Gaga’s Hair is falling out!

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We need you GLAAD – we need you down there,” he said.

“I can help, I can do it! I’ll be part of it. I want to be part of it,” he added.

On March 29, 2010, Martin had publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in a post on his official web site by stating, “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.” Martin said that “these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”

ady Gaga has revealed her hair is falling out because she has dyed it too much. The 24-year-old singer, who has become a style icon with her outrageous outfits and trademark platinum blonde hair, dyed her naturally brown hair since launching her singing career.

Gaga admitted that she misses her dark hair when she has to ‘get a chemical haircut because my blonde hair is falling out’, stated reports.

The Paparazzi star has advised fans that the best beauty secret was just being yourself.

“Just go with your gut. Whenever you try to be someone else, it’s boring,” she said.

u n o S n a Salm on LA take , r e l t s e r Arm-W him! defeat

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Preity is back in Shape for Films

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fter two years’ break from acting, Preity Zinta has decided to wear the grease paint, but before that, she has to get back in shape. “This year for me is about getting back into movies and the entertainment industry.

I had let myself go for some time because I had taken a break. I had put on seven-and-a-half kilograms. But then I lost all of it because I can’t afford to look like that in a film,” said Preity.

Asked to reveal the names of the projects she is working on, the 36-year-old declined. “I’ll start working on films this year for sure, but my lips are sealed. Announcement will come from the producers. But I’ll be doing some real cool films,” she added.

t looks like all the abstinence from Mughlai food and alcohol is doing Salman Khan a world of good. These days he is in top physical shape, good enough to take on an African-American physical trainer weighing 150 kg for arm-wrestling. And defeating him! Sonu Sood, who was with Salman that evening, verifies the incident. “Yes, Salman challenged the guy who trains Mahesh Babu’s two sons Vishnu and Manoj and many other big actors from the Telugu industry. We were at a party in Vizag.”

“Many prominent stars from Telugu cinema were also present at the bash. They were all talking about how powerful and invincible the trainer was, and how all the leading men from the Telugu film industry were queuing up to work-out with him.”

That’s when Salman decided to indulge in some masti.

Says Sonu: “He announced that I’ll be taking on the Los Angeles trainer for arm-wrestling.

I was quite embarrassed. But by then Salman was in full form. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. There was no smooth surface to arm-wrestle so I took on the trainer on a rough wall. Though at the end of it my elbows were badly bruised it was surprisingly easy to defeat him.”

Encouraged by Sonu’s victory, Salman then decided he too would arm-wrestle with the trainer.Everyone watched with avid interest as Salman arm-wrestled with their star-trainer from the US – and defeated him.

For a good 20 minutes thereafter there was utter chaos with Salman and Sonu receiving congratulations from the entire congregation.

Protein Folding could cure Alzheimer, Parkinson Diseases

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More Men going Under the Knife to look Good

t is believed that when vital proteins are misfolded in your body, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson, and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease occur. While there are currently no cures for these conditions, biologists at Brown University researchers have reported that cells can fix the problems themselves with only a little bit of help.

The insight suggested that there are more opportunities to develop a therapy for protein misfolding than scientists had thought.

“There are multiple steps that you could target,” said lead author Susanne DiSalvo.

Until now most scientists guessed that the only way to stop the runaway misfolding was right at the beginning and assumed the mutants must be blocking that first step to keep the protein in a harmless form.

“The dogma in the field is that these conformations were so abnormal the cell couldn’t resolve them. But what we’ve found is that this process of misfolding is so efficient the cells can’t keep up with it. If you make it even just a little bit less efficient the cell can get rid of the pathological state,” said Tricia Serio, associate professor of medical science, who led the research team.

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ho said only women fret about their appearance and spend a mini-fortune on beauty treatments? Doctors say men too are increasingly resorting to cosmetic surgery to look and feel good. Facelifts for men rose 14 per cent in 2010 in the US compared to the previous year, while male liposuction increased seven per cent. Men underwent more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures, both minimally-invasive and surgical.

“Typically, people think of celebrities and high-profile men going under the knife,” said Stephen Baker, member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

“And while that may be true, the typical male cosmetic surgery patient that I see is an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels. Most of my patients are ‘men’s men’, the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery,” he said.

One of Baker’s patients is an “average Joe” named Joe Marek.

Joe recently underwent a facelift and eyelid surgery. The 57-year old said: “I didn’t feel that old. I felt young. I was working out. I was pretty active and I wanted to look like I felt inside.”

“Minimally-invasive procedures such as Botox and soft tissue fillers work to a point. However, as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement,” he added.

Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas.

One mutant prion, Q24R, hinders the ability of misfolded proteins to aggregate into harmful clumps. It’s like a dryer sheet that cuts down on static cling and makes it easier to fold laundry. Another helpful mutant prion known as G58D, assists the cell by speeding up its ability to unfold and refold misfolded proteins. That’s more like a friend who helps untangle strings of holiday lights when they come out of stor-

age.

DiSalvo’s experiments showed how the mutants and cells work together.

Cells would only be cured when she both added a mutant and allowed the cells’ own quality assurance system to work.

Courtesy Agencies

Create a Bicycle by just printing it on Computer!

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groundbreaking technology has enabled the world’s first fully working bicycle to be created simply by printing it out on a computer. The bicycle, which is made of nylon, is the result of an extraordinary project and is as strong as steel and aluminium but weighs 65 per cent less.

Scientists in Bristol designed the bike on a computer and sent it to a printer, which placed layers of melted nylon powder on top of each other to build-up the machine.

Individual components such as gears, pedals and wheels are usually made in different factories and assembled into a finished bike but the Airbike is a single, complete part.

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space group in Filton, near Bristol, made the cycle. The 3D printing method allows products to be made from a fine powder of nylon, carbon-reinforced plastics or metals such as titanium, stainless steel or aluminium.

They are drawn using computer-aided design and then sent to a printer, which is filled with the powdered material. The manufacturing process uses about one-tenth of the material required in traditional methods, reducing waste.

“The possibilities with ALM are huge – it’s a game-changing technology,” stated lead engineer Andy Hawkins. “The beauty is that complex designs do not cost any extra to produce. The laser can draw any shape you like.”

Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 6658512, 6658500, 2224202, 2228083. Fax: 2222475. Email: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com.

OHERALDO

Pg 15 GOA, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2011

Al-Qaeda demands 90-million-euro for French hostages AFP GAO, MARCH 21

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is demanding at least 90 million euros in ransom for the release of four French hostages held since September, a source close to mediators said Monday.

The French people were kidnapped in September 2010 in neighbouring Niger, where France has a large stake in uranium mining, and are still being held hostage in the desert.

"The kidnappers are demanding at least 90 million euros (128 million dollars) to release the four French hostages still being held," said the Niger source close to talks taking place in northern Mali.

"They also want the release of AQIM prisoners taken in several countries, including France," the source said.

"I can tell you that everyone is mobilised to obtain the release of the hostages," the source added.

The four were among seven hostages seized in September in the uranium-mining town of Arlit in Niger and then taken into Mali.

They included an executive of French nuclear giant Areva and his wife, while the other five men worked for an Areva subsidiary.

The seven included five French nationals, a Togolese and a Madagascan. The latter two and the French woman were freed on February 25, after a ransom was paid, according to a source close to negotiations.

The group's abduction was claimed by AQIM, whose leader warned France to pull its troops out of Afghanistan if it wanted to see the safe return of the French hostages.

AQIM on November 18 urged France to negotiate the fate of the captives with Osama Bin Laden directly, but Paris rejected this demand, stating that its foreign policy would not be dictated from outside.

France fines Google 1,00,000 euros over Street View

5 detained terrorists shot dead

sparked controversy over privacy concerns.

In addition to concerns about the photos taken, Google admitted in 2010 that its specially equipped cars taking the photographs were also picking up Wi-Fi data and had inadvertently captured unencrypted private data including passwords and e-mails.

CNIL, the National Commission for Information Freedom, said Google had pledged to erase all the private data, but that it had found "that Google has not refrained from using the data identifying Wi-Fi access points of individuals without their knowledge."

The regulator said it decided to impose the fine as this constituted "unfair collection" of information under French law and it had received economic benefits from the data.

Google once again apologised for having collected private data.

"As we have said before, we are profoundly sorry for having mistakenly collected payload data from unencrypted WiFi networks," said Google's lawyer for privacy issues, Peter Fleischer.

"Deleting the data has always been our priority, and we’re happy the CNIL has given permission for us to do so," he added in a statement.

Five detained Taliban militants were shot dead in the northwestern Swat valley of Pakistan when they tried to snatch weapons from security personnel and escape, the Army said today.

The militants were arrested in Matta area of Swat following a tip-off from local residents a few days ago, an official of the army-run media center in Swat said.

He said the militants had told security forces that they had stored their arms in the mountainous area of Darosh Khel.

derway to pull other bodies out of the rubbles. Bizenjo said that the rescue operation may take several more hours to take the trapped miners out of the pit since Sunday morning.

The rescue team said they have rescued four injured miners. Troops have also been called out to help in rescue operation as hopes for the remaining trapped miners are diminishing.

Earlier reports suggested that

there were 52 miners working at different levels of the mine, which are about 61 meters to 305 meters deep underground, when the disaster happened.

Balochistan's Minister for Mines, Rehman Mengal, told local Dawn TV that the provincial government had asked the state-run Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation which owns the mine, to shut it. because of dangerous envi-

ronment and lack of safety measures.

Reports said the explosion occurred as gas accumulated due to poor ventilation in the mine.

Mengal said the provincial authorities had asked for the closure of the mine at Sorange area, some 35 kilometers from Quetta, the provincial capital, after an earlier blast claimed 15 lives.

AFP PARIS, MARCH 21

France's data privacy regulator said Monday it had imposed a record fine of 100,000 euros ($142,000) on Google for private information collected while compiling its panoramic Street View service.

"It is a record fine since we obtained the power in 2004 to impose financial sanctions in 2004," the head of the CNIL regulator, Yann Padova, was quoted as saying in the daily Le Parisien.

Google launched in 2007 its Street View service, which provides panoramic views of city streets, but its arrival in Europe

PTI ISLAMABAD, MARCH 21

Pak mine blast toll upto 45

AGENCIES ISLAMABAD, MARCH 21

A Pakistani official confirmed Monday that 45 miners have died in a coal mine gas explosion in the country's southwestern Balochistan province.

Balochistan Minister for Irrigation, Aslam Bizenjo, told the provincial assembly that 45 miners have been confirmed dead while 24 bodies have been recovered. The operation is un-

From Page 1 CALL FOR ENGLISH Lourenco and others joined the rally to support the cause.

Speakers on the dais made every possible effort to convince that English language is the need of the hour, as it is become a link language in real sense.

“English is a popular language in India and the world. Other nations that promoted their respective mother tongues are now pursuing English language”, parent and former teacher Lorreine Fernandes said.

“The non-aided schools role in imparting English education is tremendous and flourished the education system because of which Goa is excelling. We do support Konkani being our mother tongue but English is become a necessity for a better future”, said a parent Pradeep Kakodkar.

Kakodkar added that accepting English doesn’t mean that “we are bowing to US or are denationalized or de-cultured”.

Education minister Monserrate had recently told the State legislative Assembly that a “policy decision on the issue would be adopted soon”. The Parent-Teachers Associations of various schools across Goa have formed pressure group and collected 51,372 signatures in a single day.

Pen down stir

The Government has already invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against employees who abstain from duty.

According to GGEA President Mangaldas Shetkar, approximately 20,000 employees joined the strike, notwithstanding the ESMA invoked.

“By and large, we received support from all talukas on the first day of the strike. Our strike will continue till the Government orders parity in pay scales across the ranks and not selectively to their favourite workmen”, Shetkar said.

The Association has advised employees working in Departments that come under essential services including the River Navigation-manning the inland ferry boat service, water supply, power department to hold back their agitation for another day.

“Employees from the essential services departments who have been affected by the disparity in pay scales have joined the strike, but we have advised them to wait for a day. In the event, if Government still fails to heed our demands, we will intensify our agitation”, Shetkar said.

He further said that their demand has been pending since long with the State Government and they did not heed to frequent strike notices. “We had even met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who had given us fake assurances”, he added.

Inquiries revealed that aggrieved employees though registered their presence, did not perform their duty in some departments, whereas in other departments, employees continued their routine work. Employees from Transport, Forest, Agriculture and others registered 80-100 per cent attendance.

The Government has urged all its employees to desist from joining the strike called by Association and to not be misled by the instigating talks of the Association members. Simultaneously, instructions were issued against those who fail to report for duty.

“Anyone found not discharging their assigned duties during the strike period, shall be treated as absent and the principle of “no work no pay” will be invoked in all such unauthorized absence”, State Government’s Information and Publicity department had

EU freezes assets of Mubarak, 18 associates AFP BRUSSELS, MARCH 21

The European Union on Monday froze the assets of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and 18 people in his inner circle.

The sanctions against resources owned by people identified as "responsible for the misappropriation of Egyptian state funds" were signed off by foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.

The move follows a Cairo criminal court ruling which upheld a decision to freeze the assets of Mubarak and his family.

Diplomats said the EU list, to be published later this week, includes Mubarak, his wife Suzanne, his two sons Alaa and Gamal and their wives, as well as key former regime figures -- such as a former interior minister and a ruling party official.

said in a press released on Sunday.

“At present, the Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly is going on and the Government appeals to the employees not to be misled by the Association and to join the work for the smooth functioning of the Government for the welfare of the people of the State of Goa”, the release adds.

Goa has around 50,000 Government employees and GGEA has been recognised as a majority union amongst the workmen.

OUR MARGAO REPORTER ADDS: The pen down strike called by the G GEA had little effect on the functioning of the district Collectorate, South, while other departments were hit by the strike on Monday.

A note circulated by the district Collector, G P Naik cautioning the employees against going on strike helped maintain regular functioning of the Collectorate, senior officials said.

The district Collector told Herald that the Collectorate, including the offices of Mamlatdar and deputy Collectors functioned normally.

“The strike had no effect on the Collectorate offices. Employees reported to work as usual”, he said, while admitting that his office had circulated a note to the various sections warning of disciplinary action against employees joining the strike.

Meanwhile, Jai Damodar Association has demanded strict action against the employees who joined the pen down strike on Monday, calling for their dismissal under CCS & CCA Rules.

Saying that enough is enough, Association President, Mahesh Nayak said the public will be forced to check the assets and properties of each and every government servants if they continue with the strike.

Did Civil Aviation Minister

was aware of Writ Petition Nos. 510/2009, 568/2009 and 135/2010 at High Court, all dealing with ‘what was the emergency in land acquisition’ his reply was “I am not aware”. Strange, as over 100 of project affected people in and around the affected site had filed three writ petitions at High Court of Bombay’s Goa Bench against the arbitrary manner of acquisition but the main concerned acquiring authority wasn’t aware.

Ground Zero is a picture of shock and horror as most of the residents never got notices of Land Acquisition. At other times, they were not aware of dates of hearing. Goa Government in a bid to beat any popular unrest followed a code of silence and unleashed LAA 1894’s infamous emergency clause Section 17(i) which gives the Collector unchallenged powers to acquire land without hearing the owners/tillers.

Interestingly, earlier this month, two days before Vyalar Ravi’s admission, Supreme Court (on March 7) in its landmark judgement on emergency land acquisitions had held that right to possess a land being a right to property cannot be taken away without conducting an enquiry under the Land Acquisition Act (LAA).

“Admittedly the LAA, a pre-Constitutional legislation of colonial vintage is a drastic law, being expropriatory in nature as it confers on the State a power which affects a person’s property right”.

The Bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice A K Ganguly had said “the concept of public purpose on this broad horizon must also be read into the provisions of emergency power under Section 17 with the consequential dispensation of right of hearing under Section 5A of the LAA. The courts must examine these questions very carefully when little Indians lose their small property in the name of mindless acquisition at the instance of the State.”

Writing the judgment Justice Ganguly also said: “Even though right to property is no longer a fundamental right, and was never a natural right, and is acquired on a concession by the State, it has to be accepted that without right to some property, other rights become illusory. The concept of public purpose cannot remain static for all time to come”.

Will justice then overcome the reign of Centre-State lies?

Uproar in House Azgaonkar.

Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar and Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira too were seen trying to calm down the Sports Minister.

Upset by the Sports Minister’s response, Parrikar said that he would not take things lying down. On the other hand, the Sports Minister claimed that he had not done anything wrong, when the House was adjourned by Speaker Pratapsingh Rane, till 2.30 pm.

When the House met again at 2.30 pm to conduct business as per schedule, Azgaonkar apologised, saying: “I talk directly. I don’t know any indirect way to say things. I’ve come up the hard way from the grassroots. I was wrong in using certain words, but I had no intention to disturb proceedings of the House”, he said while apologising.

The Leader of the Opposition admitted it was not right on his part to react the way he did in the House. “I don’t know what led me to behave that way, but it will not happen again”, he said.

All unparliamentary language used by the Minister against Parrikar was deleted from records of the House on instructions of Speaker Pratapsingh Rane.

Speaking later, the Chief Minister said the Goa Assembly, which has set an example for other State Assemblies in the country, should maintain decorum. He urged members of the House to observe restraint.

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Japan calamity damages could cost $235 bn: WB PTI SINGAPORE, MARCH 21

The devastating earthquake and tsunami is projected to cost the Japanese economy up to USD 235 billion in damages, while the reconstruction efforts could last five years, according to the World Bank.

The estimated damage, which could account for about 4 per cent of the economy, is much more than USD 100 billion loss incurred after the 1995 Kobe earthquake.

The World Bank today said that damages from the natural calamity could range from USD 122 billion to 235 billion. This could be around 2.5 to 4 per cent of world’s third largest economy.

“While it is too early to estimate accurately, the cost of the damage is likely to be greater than the damage caused by the 6.9 magnitude Kobe earthquake in 1995,” the World Bank said.

“If history is any guide, real GDP growth will be negatively affected through mid-2011.

Growth should though pick up in subsequent quarters as reconstruction efforts, which could last five years, acceler-

n The estimated damage, which could account for about 4 per cent of the economy, is much more than USD 100 billion loss incurred after the 1995 Kobe earthquake. ate,” the World Bank said.

Meanwhile, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President Justin Yifu Lin told Chinese news agency Xinhua on Monday the impact of the massive earthquake and tsunami will be felt in the short-term in international financial markets as well.

“The international financial market is sensitive to disasters.

Appreciation of the yen and the drop of foreign trade in Japan would also affect the economy of some other countries,” he said.

However, Lin noted that post-quake reconstruction efforts would give a boost to Japan’s economy and it would

soon recover.

“After a year, Japan’s imports will return to the level as before the quake, while its exports will rebound to 80 per cent,” Lin said.

Private insurers are expected to see expenses to the tune of USD 14 billion to 33 billion.

The multilateral agency noted that private insurers are likely to bear a relatively small portion of the cost, leaving a substantial part to be borne by households and the government.

In one of the worst disasters in Japan, a massive earthquake followed by huge tsunami killed thousands of people, destroyed billions of dollars worth of property and left nuclear plants on the verge of meltdown on March 11.

Following the devastation, more than 15,000 people are either dead or missing.

“The loss of life has been heartbreaking. Many people have been injured and damage to housing and infrastructure has been unprecedented.

There are uncertainties and challenges posed by the unfolding issue of nuclear radiation in Japan,” it said.

Potter Darga Mallama decorates traditional earthenware water jugs at her residence in Hyderabad on Monday. Earthenware pots are traditionally used as a natural clay pot cooling system. As the mercury raises across India people begin to prepare for the soaring summer temperatures and water shortages.

Nomura sees Japan coming out stronger from crisis PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 21

A leading economist has said the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan, resulting from a powerful quake and tsunami, would serve as a catalyst for the tiny island nation, whose economy has been on a losing streak for nearly two decades now, to come out economically stronger and politically more cohesive.

Nomura Global Chief Economist Paul Sheard said for a country that rose magically from the nuclear ashes to become and remain for four decades the world's second-largest economy, the twin tragedies, which may have killed over 20,000 people and flattened a vast swathes of regions, could well be the trigger for a radical change - both economically as well a politically.

Pointing out what Japan made out of the world's worst nuclear tragedy in 1945, Sheard said the Japanese will do an encore this time too.

Saying he was cautiously optimistic that the current tragedy will galvanise the Japanese and serve as a catalyst and spur its economy, Sheard said though it

Nomura Global Chief Economist Paul Sheard said for a country that rose magically from the nuclear ashes to become and remain for four decades the world's second-largest economy, the twin tragedies, which may have killed over 20,000 people and flattened a vast swathes of regions, could well be the trigger for a radical change - both economically as well as politically. is far too early, he sees some positive signs in this regard as Tokyo looks to bury the quake-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in sand and concrete to avert a larger tragedy.

First, the disaster has already altered the political landscape, at least in the short term. There is a sense of national urgency from across the disparate Japanese politicians and Prime Minister Naoto Kan has full political backing.

Second, a more expansionary fiscal and monetary policy mix is on its way - this is exactly what a deflation-ridden Japan needs, the economist said.

Japan's GDP deflator has fallen by 15 per cent since its peak in Q2 of 1994

while the same for US, the world's top economy, was up 40 per cent during the same period, he said.

Discounting the worry that Japan's parlous fiscal situation doesn't give it the leeway to expand fiscal policy, he said there is a world of difference between "Japan" and "the government of Japan": the latter has a debt problem, the former does not as it is a large net creditor to the rest of the world, a status that is bolstered each year it continues to run a big current account surplus.

He further said the Bank of Japan, which until Monday had hardly expanded its balance sheet since the 2008

ICICI Bank, Intuit launch ‘Money Manager’ PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 21

Leading private sector lender, ICICI Bank, and Intuit, today launched an on-line personal finance management solution ‘Money Manager’ - which would help banking customers understand their spending habits.

The web-based solution would also help customers organize their finances by providing them with details of all their ICICI Bank accounts on a

single platform, a press release issued here said.

“We constantly innovate to provide path-breaking solutions for our customers online. `Money Manager’ is a unique personal finance management solution, which will give our customers the convenience of aggregating their accounts and providing output required for managing expenses,” the bank’s Executive Director, Rajiv Sabharwal, said.

Sensex down 40 pts PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 21

After a wide-ranging movement, the BSE Sensex ended in losses for the third straight session today, down nearly 40 points, as rising crude oil prices after US-led strikes on Libya raised inflationary concerns.

Global stock markets, however, remained firm.

The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer opened higher and improved further to cross the 18Kmark, touching 18,007.73 on strong Asian cues in afternoon deals.

Stabilising of the Fukushima atomic power plant in northeastern Japan, hit recently by earthquake and tsunami, aided the rebound in world stocks.

The solution delivers the flexibility to focus on specific details such as earnings, savings, spends and loans, the release said.

“Money Manager is unique to India and was specifically built for the market. Intuit and ICICI Bank can deliver a worldclass offering that addresses the unique needs of banking customers through the service,” Intuit President, Global Business Division, Alex Lintner, said.

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global economic downturn, has unlimited capacity to do so by buying government bonds and other assets, financed by creating excess reserves. It has already pumped in a whopping USD 187 billion to soothe markets. Third, Japan has suffered from a "brand image" problem in recent years and has been subject to what Japanese call "Japan passing (ignoring)" against the earlier "Japan bashing". Now it is in the world's limelight, and has its abundant sympathy, he noted.

On the impact on GDP, Sheard said the levels and rates of growth need to be distinguished. Typically, potential output falls, as does the current or next quarter growth rate, relative to what it would otherwise have been, but higher growth rates are recorded later on due to the rising demand.

"Our Japan team expects the disaster to shave 0.4 per cent off the 2011 real GDP growth (we now expect 0.9 per cent) but will add 0.3 per cent to 2012 growth which is pegged at 2.5 per cent."

CBDT chief for quick payment of IT refunds PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

Issuance of about 15 lakh income tax refunds to taxpayers across the country has become a bone of contention between the I-T Department and CBDT, with the Board chairman issuing instructions that failure in this task will be reflected in the “performance” of Chief Commissioners and Commissioners of the department.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sudhir Chandra has sent several letters to the top officers of the I-T Department as he has found that the “progress of issue of refunds is far below expectation.”

“This (issue of pending refunds) is going to be one of the significant criteria in judging the performance of the Chief

Commissioners of Income Tax and Commissioners of Income Tax during the financial year 2010-11,” Chandra wrote in his latest communication on March 19 to the top brass of the department.

The Chairman has asked the officers to expedite the remaining refunds.

“All officers are once again advised to necessarily issue all pending refunds of assessment years 2009-10 and 2010-11 by March 28, 2011,” Chandra told them.

The department has already issued 74 lakh refunds while another 15 lakh are remaining.

“The Chairman has made it a point to issue all the refunds within March as promised to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

But despite regular re-

minders, some I-T ranges have not complied with the order,” an official said.

A senior I-T officer said I-T refunds to taxpayers should be accomplished by the department in larger public interest.

“As the ranges keep themselves involved in other issues related to tax collection, scrutiny and assessment, refunds take back seat. But this issue has to be addressed with priority,” he said.

The 74 lakh refund cases involve an amount of Rs 65,000 crore as compared to Rs 49,000 crore in the last fiscal.

In the last fiscal, the department had settled 50 lakh refund claims.

During this period, refunds stood at Rs 59,602 crore as against Rs 41,741 crore during the same period last fiscal.

IDEA ties up with handygo for VAS to rural areas HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

IDEA Cellular has tied up with leading VAS (value added services) player handygo to offer live information on weather, livestock, mandi prices, fishery advisory, finance and health schemes for just Re 1 per minute.

The latest bouquet of VAS offerings - ‘Behtar Zindagi ’ - for customers in rural areas of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, UP West

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To use this service Idea subscribers need to dial 556780 (tollfree) and avail the subscription pack at a minimal charge

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On this tie-up CEO handygo, Praveen Rajpal, said that he envisages great potential in the untapped rural market and partnerships with various large associations will ensure latest and authentic information to the mobile subscribers using

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Announcing the launch of these services,CEO Maharashtra & Goa, IDEA Cellular, Rajendra Chourasia that with over 1.2 crore subscribers, Idea has the highest penetration in rural parts of Maharashtra and Goa. He expressed happiness on tieup with handygo to offer relevant and affordable services to IDEA rural subscribers in the circle.

Reliance Ene, 1097.7, 1099.99, 1050.35, 1073.33 Reliance Ind, 624.95, 632.9, 618.25, 621.2 Reliance Ind, 999.05, 1000, 981.1, 990.3 Reliance Pow, 122, 124, 118.05, 118.55 Rolta India, 136.5, 136.5, 132, 134.4 Satyam Compu, 67.5, 67.8, 66.5, 67.2 Sesa Goa Ltd, 261.75, 262.3, 254.75, 259 Shipping Cor, 106.35, 107.3, 105.65, 105.85 Siemens Ltd, 870.3, 873.45, 865.15, 869.65 Sintex Indus, 145, 145.85, 138.5, 139.15 Sobha Develo, 258.05, 260.5, 253.7, 258 State Bank O, 2608.4, 2614.5, 2568.6, 2582.6 Steel Author, 157, 160.45, 155.5, 159.85 Sterlite Ind, 160, 160.95, 158.5, 159.85 Sun Pharmace, 435.25, 447.55, 434.85, 444.5 Sun Tv Netwo, 443.6, 443.6, 430.1, 440.35 Suzlon Energ, 45.4, 46.4, 45.05, 45.95 Tata Communi, 221.05, 221.9, 209.05, 210.15 Tata Consult, 1091.5, 1091.5, 1066.5, 1070.8

Tata Motors, 1129.1, 1133.4, 1115.2, 1121.2 Tata Power C, 1235, 1238, 1206, 1230.15 Tata Steel L, 601, 606, 596.55, 601.45 Tata Teleser, 14.95, 15, 14.7, 14.75 Tech Mahindr, 709, 717.9, 695.3, 709.45 The Ge Shpg., 257.5, 259, 251.05, 252.1 The Phoenix, 178.75, 178.8, 170.8, 172.15 Thermax Ltd, 579, 579, 557, 565.55 Titan Indust, 3470, 3495, 3358, 3427.05 Torrent Powe, 246.5, 253, 239.3, 240.8 Triveni Engg, 96.85, 97.9, 95.1, 96.7 Tv18 India L, 74.75, 75.9, 72.5, 73.05 Uco Bank, 99.7, 101, 98.4, 100.5 Ultratech Ce, 1033.95, 1047.8, 1001.1, 1017.2 Union Bank O, 332.8, 335.45, 329, 333.7 Unitech Ltd, 37.5, 37.5, 35.95, 36.1 United Phosp, 136.5, 138.4, 133.9, 137.4 Videocon Ind, 189, 189, 182, 187 Vijaya Bank, 72.7, 73.1, 71.05, 71.65 Voltas Ltd, 159, 160.9, 153.05, 155 Wipro Ltd, 441, 445, 431.4, 433.9 Yes Bank Lim, 275, 276.7, 270, 274.25 Zee Entertai, 119.45, 119.9, 117.6, 119.35

OHERALDO

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GOA, TUESDAY, 22 MARCH, 2011

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A doctor with a different heart!

eople have labelled him Spirit Church, Dr Colaço shares with many adjectives. many memories that enriched True to the core, he is a his childhood. He did his man of principle. Honest in Kindergarten at Presentation deeds and actions he finds sol- Convent and initial study at Esace in spirituality. Social ac- cola Primária and Primeiro and tivism has come to him Segundo Grau before going for through his genes. Music flows Lyceum. In Verlekar Jeweller’s in his blood. Guess who we are house near the temple there speaking about? He is none was Institute Abbe Faria where By BHArATi PAwAskAr other than Dr Francisco Co- he studied for 5 years and then never sold their hearts in exlaço. A very soft spoken per- went for further 2 grades to change of goodies. son, Dr Colaço rarely turns hot Panjim. “I had Hindus and At age 10 Francisco wished over some sour issue, or Muslims as friends. Balu Naik, to be a priest, dreaming that hardly utters bitter words. Harishchandra Nagvenkar, priestly life was a bed of People of Margao know him as Syed Kasseem and Mohd roses. Fascinated by the ima doctor with a musical soul Sadiq, we all used to get along maculate and sumptuous who graces innumerable occa- well and our friendship was robes and the fact that sions to sing to his heart’s con- beyond compare.” priests were held in high estent. Once in his medical chair Francisco remembers two teem by the society he could he takes charge of the pa- incidents when his father not fathom the other side of tient’s heartbeats and checks would have been sent to jail. the coin in his youthful days: whether all is well. Whosoever knows him, has the feeling he/she knows him for ages, such is his friendliness. He is the pioneer of Echocardiography in Goa. “Medical profession has moulded me because unlike any other profession here a person comes directly in contact with life and death and must take responsibility for his actions – correct or incorrect.

Life is never uniform, there are ups and downs in it but one should have a desire to be a better person day-by-day. Let not small things stop you; let not falls or ascents matter. Live life and accept death, as they Dr Francisco Colaço, Consulting Physician, at his Echo-Cardiography Clinic at Margao come your way,” Dr Colaço speaks the language of philos- Once when collectively they that the life of a priest is one ophy. sent a telegram to Salazar that of extreme discipline and The third son of a clever and the Portuguese regime was re- umpteen sacrifices. His pious cultured landlord who looked pressive and Goans were un- mother sent him to the Saliafter his family well, Dr Colaço happy. The second was during gao Seminary, hoping her has high respect for his father the Portuguese elections when son would eventually beand mother. His father Luis be- they supported the opposition come a priest. But little Franlonged to a group of national- candidate Humberto Dalgado cisco felt homesick. He ists who stood against the rule against Salazar’s dictatorship. wanted to run home to his of Salazar. Closely affiliated Governor Vassalo da Silva mother. There was no psywith Dr Antonio Colaço, a called such attempts as treach- chological counselling and staunch nationalist and auton- ery and proclaimed them as he could not adjust to the omist Bruto da Costa and oth- enemies from within. Some- stern and strict atmosphere ers, Luis was against the times carrot and stick method in the seminary. So on the Portuguese setup and treas- was used and children of such 12th day he returned home ured books of Nehru and rebellious persons were of- promising the Rector he Gandhi. Living still in the same fered scholarships to Lisbon. would return soon, but never 123-year-old house, near Holy But they did not fall prey and kept his word. He then con-

tinued his schooling. He was a bright student and topped the class.

For his 6th and 7th year, Francisco went to the Lyceum at Altinho, Panjim. He passed the exam with flying colours in Maths – 20 out of 20 but got less in Biology. This was the time he lost his dear mother Brança due to heart ailment.

And instead of joining Engineering, Francisco opted for Medical Science at Escola

tion had dawned on Goa. The Indian Government did not give medical graduates from Escola Medica de Goa equivalence to MBBS. They were asked to compulsorily answer a condensed course of oneand-half-year to secure MBBS degree. Francisco was too glad to follow this condition, as it was a good course, with written exams. Even seniors like Dr Dhume, Dr Luis, Dr Irene Menezes and Dr Surlakar de-

FACTFILE

nLifetime achievement for Mando by TAME nFelicitated in 2010 as the Pioneer of EchoCardiography in Goa nIMA – Margao Chapter Award for his most outstanding contribution to medicine nGoa Sudharop felicitated him for outstanding social contribution in 2005-06 and Gomant Sevak Sangh in 2010 nKala Gaurav Puraskar in 2010 nAttended medical conferences all over India and abroad, passion for Infant EchoCardiography and diagnosed more than 20,000 patients Medica de Goa. Joining in 1960 for a 5-year-course young Francisco had a grand time. They had books in every language. He had already mastered Portuguese, English and French at school level. It was a great power to assimilate languages that made students of Escola Medica ‘auto-didatas’ (self-taught).There were dedicated Goan teachers like Dr Pacheco de Figueiredo, Dr Joao Felipe do Rego, Dr Constancio Mascarenhas and Dr Jacinto Estibeiro that imparted knowledge. However, most laboratories were not in proper shape, there were no written exams and sometimes favourite students were shown partiality. After his graduation in 1965 Francisco had a feeling that he had not learnt enough.

Meanwhile, in 1961 Libera-

cided to join the first batch.

Answering exams every 6 months Francisco finally got his MBBS degree.

“A beautiful part of my medicine career as a student was that I met my life-partner Fernanda Peres, hailing from a musical family. We, boys at Escola Medica, had formed the Tuna Academica – a musical group that ‘serenaded’ in Panjim. Local Goan families welcomed us in their homes for gala dinners and great get-togethers. Those were fun-filled musical nights. Fernanda was (and is) very beautiful and many used to fall for her while singing through their hearts. I am the lucky one who married her in 1968,” Dr Colaço says.

The couple left for Mumbai.

He joined KEM Hospital and had to struggle for MD seat as

he was an outsider there.

Doing his research in Paediatric Cardiology, he was helped by Goan doctors Dr Ivan Pinto and Dr C P Dalvi to get registration under Dr K K Datey, the topmost cardiologist. After that there was no looking back. Times were hard and difficult. Struggles continued till it all paid one fine day.

Dr Colaço stood 1st in Mumbai in his MD batch. With tears of joy in his eyes Dr Colaço chokes as he says, “That was the greatest day of my life...”

They returned to Goa in 1973 with their son Melvin.

Since then the practice as a consultant continues till date.

Fellowship at Sloan Kettering Hospital at New York came his way. He learnt advanced EchoCardiography at Alabama under the world no 1 leader Dr Navin Nanda, an Indian. Dr Colaço started one of the first Intensive Care Units in private setting in Goa. The birth of two daughters Elaine and Anabelle added beauty to their life making it complete. Life continued happily.

Dr Colaço looked at his 23year-young son Melvin, a MBBS merit student, post-graduating at GMCH, as his successor. But as a beautiful dream ends somewhere, life chose to be brutal.

After completing his duties at the hospital Melvin was riding home a motorbike when a tragic accident near Kesarval turned fatal. Struggling for life Melvin embraced death as his ultimate partner.

It was indeed a hard blow for Colaço family. Finding it difficult to piece together the embers of their shattered life, it took 4 years for them to come out of the sorrow.

Turning sentimental Dr Colaço shares, “I turned spiritual.

Engaging myself in singing, writing, social activities and practice, I give my woes over to God. Music soothes my soul. Walking on my path I dream to meet Melvin somewhere, someday.”

TCS eyes 1,000 customers for ‘iON’ by year-end PTI CHANDIGARH, MARCH 21

Customers look at a locally made electric powered Angkor 333-2010 car at a showroom in Phnom Penh on Monday.

Cambodian mechanic Nhean Phaloek signed an agreement with local developer, Heng Development Company, and Chinese Chau Leong Enterprise (group) co., LTD to set up a factory to produce the electric vehicles.

Future Group eyes 20-25% market share in 1 year PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 21

Riding high on the success of its private apparel brands such as DJ&C and John Miller, India’s largest retailer by revenue, the Future Group, plans to extend its labels into the FMCG personal-care space with deodorants, eyeing a 20-25 per cent market share in the next one year.

The Kishore Biyani-led enterprise is making a foray into the personal-care segment with a range of deodorants for youth in its Denims, Jeans and Casuals (DJ&C) brand, which is expected to cross the Rs 200-crore mark this year, fuelled largely by apparels and the deo category.

“We are bullish on our private brands and have a range of products in the food, apparel, FMCG and consumer durables space. We are planning to extend our youth apparel brand DJ&C into the personal-care segment and products in men’s grooming category in the John

Miller Brand,” Future Group Private Brands (Head) Devendra Chawla told PTI here today.

The retailer is also expecting a healthy 20-25 per cent share from its deodorants business from the current 10-15 per cent in its retail outlets alone.

The deodorants would, however, not be in direct competition to FMCG players like HUL, Godrej or Elder Health Care as private brands would be sold only through the Group’s outlets like Big Bazaar, Pantaloons and Central, he said.

The deo market in India is pegged at Rs 800 crore with around 65 different brands in the organised sector.

“There is enough room for everybody as deo is a high growth category with much consumption play in the youth segment,” Chawla said.

The Group, that launched the deodorant line in DJ&C, the company’s largest selling brand, also plans to enter into other categories eventually as well, Chawla said, without giv-

ing a time-line for this.

It already has a personal-care range in its John Miller brand, the male formal dressing brand for the working executive, and plans to launch a grooming range, he added.

“Indian youth today have a fashion world view, following global grooming codes and want to look like the more famous brigade. DJ&C intends to extend the Look Famous platform with products that would contribute to the overall style quotient of its customers.”

Date, Hangout and Street are the three variants for the boys followed by Show Stopper, Shine and Sparkle for the girls.

The product has been priced at Rs 109 as an introductory offer.

“DJ&C would be the second brand from Future Group to enter this category after John Miller. Both these brands cater to different customers. While John Miller looks at catering to office-goers, DJ&C will look at reaching out to the collegegoing youth,” he said.

Leading IT company TCS today announced plans to ramp up its customers base for its product meant for Small and Medium Business (SMB) to more than 1,000 by the end of current year.

This is in line with its plans to generate USD 1 billion revenue in next five years from its newly launched IT solutions product ‘iON’, “We are targeting to increase our customers for our ‘iON’ solution to over 1,000 from 200 at present by focusing on domestic sector,” company’s Global Head, V Ramaswamy told reporters here today.

Based on pay per use model, TCS rolled out its fully integrated IT solutions for SMB using scalable cloud computing technology last month. It aims to address the entire SMB technology needs ranging from HR, Finance and inventory.

Message ‘Unhappy’ to resolve SBI complaints PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 21

Not satisfied with the services you get from the nation’s largest lender State Bank and want to get back to the bank on the same? Forget the pen and paper to write it down or even email the same but just message “Unhappy”, and your issue will be resolved within 48 hrs.

After being on pilot test since last October at select centres and seeing the huge response, bank chairman Om Prakash Bhatt today launched the initiative in Bhopal.

With this nationwide customer service initiative called ‘SMS Unhappy’ to serve its 130million strong customers, does away with the previous mode of registering their complaints in writing.

Prior to this, for an SBI customer who has a complaint had to do so in writing with his branch, or send an email to the bank, detailing his problem.

DGCA plans to bring over 10,000 CLP holders under scanner PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

Aviation regulator DGCA plans to bring under the scanner over 10,000 commercial pilot license (CPL) holders and conduct thirdparty audit of all flying schools in the country in the wake of cases of forgery behind securing of licences coming to light.

As the forgery cases have given rise to fears that travellers’ life is being endangered by incompetent pilots, the regulator is planning a slew of steps to check the malaise.

Apart from this, the regulator is also worried about the problems faced by a large number of Indian youths, who go abroad for training and return with fake or invalid licenses, after spending lakhs of rupees.

Besides the six cases of pilots using forged documents to get their licenses, “we have got some more suspicious cases, but there is nothing confirmed as yet and investigations are going on,” DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan told PTI here.

The six cases of forged documents that have come to light are two each from air carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet and one each from Air India and MDLR. While all the 4,000-odd holders of Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPLs) are currently being probed, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is “considering looking into all the CPLs”, he said. There are over 10,000 CPL holders in the country.

In a bid to combat fudging of records, the DGCA is determined to have an online option for students, beginning with “at least in some (examination) centres, by July,” the Director General said, adding, “We are working with the National Informatics Centre on this project” that should be in place soon.

Asked whether flying training schools were following stringent standards laid down by the regulator, Bhushan said: “There have been cases ... there is suspicion

that at least some of the flying hours that they are logging in the student’s log books, are not genuine”.

He also indicated that problems relating to training infrastructure have also been found.

These training academies provide flight training and issue CPLs to the successful students.

A separate set of aviation regulations or Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) have also been framed for such institutions.

“I want to examine the condition and quality of training they are giving. We have to ensure that the conditions and quality of training are maintained. My intention is to have a team from outside, a third-party systematic audit of these schools,” Bhushan said.

There are about 40 flying schools in India.

Under the CAR, a flying school gets a license which is valid for a year. It is renewed after a DGCA inspection and “on satisfying that the institutes maintain their required capability. The inspection is carried out as per the standardised check-list”, the DGCA chief said.

In this context, the DGCA plans to get the quality of training being imparted by such flying schools abroad examined by the regulatory bodies in those countries and organizations like the Federation Aviation Administration of the US.

Pg 18

SPORTS

GOA, Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Inter-PWD cricket at Fatorda

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Public Works Department, Government of Goa will organise their inter-department T-20 season ball cricket tournament for regular employees of various departments of Government of Goa in association with SAG on April 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 and May 7 and 8 at SAG open

cricket ground, Fatorda, Margao.

Last date to register is April 6.

Details may be obtained from pwdsports@gmail.com or sports secretary, Gomakant Mahambrey on 9370277957, Anil Mashelkar on 9881344949, Pramod Prabhu on 9370278103 or Mahesh Gawandi on 9422455626.

CM bats on 15 marks for tug-of-war HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat categorically stated in the Assembly on Monday that those participating at the State tug-of-war championship organised by the recognised association under the recognised National Federation and IOA were eligible for 15 merit marks under the present Sports Policy, currently in force in Goa. “If the sport is a duly recognised one by IOA, Ministry, National Federation, State level association, State authority recognising the sports association (SAG) and Registrar of Societies alongwith the State Olympic Association (GOA), then one cannot stop the recognition

Margao United champs HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

M a rg a o U n i t e d d e f e a t e d Calangute XI by a solitary goal to lift the Dominic J Lobo Rolling Trophy in the finals of 1st Goa State men’s hockey championship organised by Association for Control of Hockey in Goa (ACHG) at Don Bosco Oratory ground, Panjim on Sunday.

Calangute began the fight on a strong note and dominated the first half. Calangute had their fair share of chances, including two penalty corners in the dying moments, but were unable to take advantage of the same.

Margao’s Inacio Fernandes broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a reverse flick to put his team in the lead, which finally turned out to be the match winner.

Brahmanand Sancoalkar was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Fr. Ralino D’Souza, Director, Don Bosco’s Oratory, Panjim and Fr. Dominic Alvares, promoter of hockey in Valpoi. Savio Messias, former GFA secretary was the guest of honour.

Following awards were presented: Fair Play award - Stars of Sattari. Best defender - Januario Cardozo (Calangute XI).

Man-of-the-match - Inacio Fernandes (Margao XI). Player of the tournament - Trevor Dias (Calangute XI). Best goalkeeper - Navin Mendes (Margao XI).

associated with the game, be it tennikoit, sepak takrow, chess, etc, and the merit marks under the Goa Sports Policy, need to be given without making any distinction among sports,” Digambar told the House. “Most importantly, tug-of-war has been recognised by IOC, 11 years ago,” pointed out Digambar.

“I understand that football demands longer hours of practice. I know that chess does not involve physical strength as it is more to do with intelligence. I know that badminton is exacting. I have been the president of Goa Badminton Association, Goa Swimming Association and president of Swimming Fed-

eration of India. That’s all well.

But the Sports Policy, as it stands now, does not make distinctions between sports and games as far as merit marks are concerned,” the Chief Minister explained.

“Not all sports are held at Taluka or District or Zonal level.

Some hold the State championships directly. As per the present Sports Policy, 15 marks are earmarked for such participation. I remember tug-of-war as we used to play it at school and college level, mostly between students and professors. Today, tug-of-war is recognised as a sports event by the world bodies including the world federation, IOA, Ministry, Government, sev-

eral federations at Asia and South Asia levels. To cut a long story short, it is a recognised event or sport and so it attracts marks under the Sports Policy,” remarked Digambar.

As things stand now, the State level events attract 15 marks. If at all, amendments or alterations need to be carried out, then it could be done only in the future.

“We will have to revisit the Sports Policy,” stressed Digambar.

On a large scale, it is only the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) that conducts events at school and HSS levels at taluka, zonal, district and State levels. However, in swimming, judo, taekwondo and chess even this procedure is not

followed at Taluka level. Moreover, the DSYA caters to 32 disciplines while the SAG caters to 42. The Sports Policy does not make a distinction between DSYA and SAG recognised events, treating all sports on par for granting merit marks under the Sports Policy. In any case, apartheid disappeared from the world scene long ago. “Tomorrow, students participating in hiking and mountaineering will apply for merit marks and at State level they are also entitled for 15 merit marks,” observed Digambar. “You cannot deny them also.”

With the head of Government clearing the doubts and that too in the House, it is now to be seen what stand the Goa Board

of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education takes, since the Board members have opined that only five marks and not 15 be assigned for tug-of-war participants. Some members have reiterated that the Board is an autonomous body, thus giving an impression that theirs and not Government’s is the final word, unless there is a clear directive from the Government.

On sheer merit, the decision of SAG fits into the letter and spirit of the Sports Policy. The protagonists of five marks have levelled some personal, weird, unfounded accusations against those who have correctly interpreted the document, which no doubt, suffer from several infirmities.

Tennis ball cricket in Margao HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, MARCH 21

Margao Municipal Council will organise their 1-day All-Goa 11a-side inter-Municipality tennis ball cricket tournament on March 26 from 9 a.m. at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Margao.

Addressing a press conference here today, Damodar Shirodkar, MMC councilor and secretary of the organising committee said it’s a great opportunity for councilors and municipal employees to showcase their talent.

He disclosed that so far six municipalities have confirmed their participation and Rs 1,30,000 had been granted as the budget for the tournament. Only two players will be allowed to bowl a maximum of two overs each and the teams playing without four councilors and staff will be disqualified. If a match ends in a draw, it will be decided by the

toss of coin.

The winners will take home Rs 25,000 and a trophy while the runners-up will have to be content with Rs 15,000 and a trophy. Individual prizes for best batsman (Rs 2,000), best bowler (Rs 2,000), best fielder (Rs 2,000), best disciplined team (Rs 2,000) and man-of-the-series (Rs 2,000) will be awarded.

Chairperson of MMC, Sushila Naik said that the council.

The finals are slated for March 26 and Digambar Kamat, Chief Minister will be the chief guest.

Among those present were Gonzaco Rebello, vice-chairperson of MCC and treasurer of organising committee and Damodar Yelekar, president, organizing committee. Details may be obtained from Damodar Shirodkar on 8605004220 or Damodar Yelekar, ATO on 8605004233.

Rosary High School, Navelim, winners of State U-17 judo championship organised by DSYA. Standing (l to r): Rushap, Rajahmed, Bharat, Anif, Benefia, Kranti, Pravin and Ensley. Sitting (l to r): Snehal (PE teacher), Eugene D’Silva (headmistress), Fr Joe (manager), Suzanne Barretto (assistant headmistress), Deepak Naterdekar (black belt 3rd Dan SAG judo coach) and Flaviano Xavier (PE teacher). Squatting (l to r): Allan and Pradeep. Allan was declared best judoka of the tournament.

34 events for 2014 Nat Games in Goa Goa win l Undue interest in PPP projects, says Opposition

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 21

Thirty-four events at 12 different centers will be held during National Games (NG) to be held in Goa in 2014. The process for appointment of technical consultants for Part –I projects of infrastructure development is nearing completion.

The consultants will be appointed within next few days and work will be expedited, Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar stated while responding to a question tabled by Shiroda MLA, Mahadev Naik.

The estimated cost of infrastructure development (Part I ) under PPP has been estimated at Rs 390 crore. This include the costs as approved by the

Central team with minor adjustment of Rs 157.50 crore with an additional requirement for state-of-the-art infrastructure of Rs 62 crore and possible commercial infrastructure cost of Rs 171 crore.

The Sports Minister clarified that 75 per cent of Rs 157.50 crore will come from the Central Government whereas the State Government’s contribution will be Rs 39.38 crore. Rs 233 crore is expected to be raised through PPP. So far the Central Government has allotted only Rs 12 crore, the budget provision of the State government being Rs 8 crore.

The total cost of Part II projects is Rs 1238.50 crore. Dhargal infrastructure Rs 288.50

crore, Dhargal PPP project Rs 500 and Arambol PPP project Rs 500 crore.

The Sports Minister was unable to explain why the Sports Department was taking interest in PPP projects such as food courts, star luxury hotels and budget hotel.

Earlier, Speaker Pratapsing Rane asked the Minister to restrict to the question asked rather than speak about other aspects of Sports City.

The PPP projects planned at Campal include international food court, two-level deck for entertainment, sitting and water sports, dinning restaurant, large spa, sports retail center, administrative blog for SAG and club facilities.

Parrikar sought to know why the Sports Department was promoting hotels even as there are already 23 hotels in Campal.

“Are they fooling people,?”

Parrikar queried.

The Sports Minister tried to explain that they want to involve PPP partners to ensure maintenance of infrastructure.

The hotels are being planned to provide facilities to sportspersons and officials visiting the State during the event. It is to promote tourism along with sports, he said even as he added that nothing had been finalised.

Aldona ML A, Dayanand Narvekar pointed out that participants of Nat Games are students and need not be put up in five-star hotels.

MAPUSA (HSR) -- Cahill Gomes scored a massive seven goals as Goa U-14 team hammered MP 19-0 in AIFF’s festival, in Chennai on Monday. Mceucene Fernandes and Carlton Rebello bagged a hattrick each while Veegan Ferrao scored a brace. Shayne Rodrigues, Aaron Vaz, Jovan Dias and Dylan Lourenco completed the victory.

Later Goa beat TN 6-2.

Pro-League: Sporting Clube de Goa v. Dempo SC, Duler Stadium, Mapusa, 4 p.m.

SWC Cup soccer: Curtorim Gymkhana v. Nuvem SC, Zaino ground, Velim, 4.45 p.m.

SJ Areal oust Marksans Pharma top Navelim Villagers HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club beat Navelim Villagers Union 87 via the sudden death to move into the quarter-finals of SWC Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Social Welfare Club of Zaino Velim at Zaino ground, Velim on Monday. There was no score at half time.

Sao Jose de Areal stole the show with good ball possession but failed to convert when it mattered the most.

On the other hand, Navelim had a few scoring chances but their forwards frittered away

easy chances.

Both teams went all out in search of the elusive match-winner but failed.

In the tie-breaker, Mariano Rebello, Fredrick Endro, Aggie Antao, Francis Valadares, Daisy Oliveiro, Socorro Monteiro, Raymond Fernandes were on target for Sao Jose de Areal while Newton Sanford Cardozo, Richard Costa, Chandrakant Naik, Sodney Colaco, Jaison Pereira and Joseph Dias converted for Navelim.

In the sudden death, Ashton Oliveiro was successful for Sao Jose de Areal while Valerio Pires failed for Navelim.

PANJIM (HSD) – The Boys of St Cruz will organise their 1st All-Goa 7-a-side soccer tournament on March 27 at St Sebastian ground, St Cruz at 9 a.m.

The winners will walk away with Rs 6,000 while the runners-up will have to be content with Rs 4,000. Details may be obtained on 9822387667.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 21

75kgs: Joel Gonsalves, Sarvesh Phadte, Francis Fernandes, Umesh Shirvoikar and Deepak Madkaikar. +75kgs: Suresh Shirodkar, Gaurish Bhagat, Naresh Kunkolkar, Elaiya Raju Naidu and Surendra Naik.

Dayanand Narvekar, Aldona MLA was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Sandesh Narvekar, president, Goa Bodybuilding Association and vice-president, Indian Bodybuilding Federation; Moni Prabhu, social worker; Vishvanath Halankar, president, Penha de Franca Sports Club; Gupesh Naik, ZP member, Eknath Nar vekar, sarpanch and Manish Naik, panch.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, MARCH 21

7-a-side soccer at St Cruz

Marksans Pharma Ltd. defeated Finolex Cables Limited by 5 wickets at the 10th All-Verna industrial tennis ball cricket tournament organised by Pentair Water India Pvt. Ltd., Verna at SAG ground, Chicalim recently.

Finolex Cables won the toss and elected to bat restricting them to 57 in 10 overs with good bowling from Marksans Pharma pacer Laxman, who claimed 4 wickets in two overs while Siddhart of Finolex was the top scorer with 13.

In reply, Marksans Pharma, chasing a moderate target of 58 runs to win in 10 overs, were struggling at 12 for 4 after three overs with the match in control of Finolex. The fifth wicket steady partnership between Dakhesh and Sandesh created a stable situation while later Bhanudas stole the match with two quick boundaries in favour of Markns Pharma.

The winning team Marksans Pharma alongwith JosePhilip D’Sousa, Olavo Vaz, Maruthi Venkat, Raghunath Mane (Head Manufacturing), Vallabh Valaulikar (Wyeth – Head HR), Raju (Director - Marksans), Ajit Naik (Administrative Manager – Pentair Water).

In all, 58 teams within the Verna Industrial Estate participated.

Marksans Pharma Ltd. pocketed Rs 10,000 while Finolex Cables Ltd. had to be content with Rs 8,000 and trophies.

Following individual prizes were awarded: Man-of-the-tournament - Bhanudas (Marksans Pharma). Best bowler - Hemant Raikar (Finolex Cables). Best batsman - Surath (Lupin Ltd.).

Best disciplined team - Lokmat

Media Ltd. Third place - Titan Time Product Ltd Trophy. Semifinalists - Wyeth Limited.

Jose Philip D’Souza, Minister for Revenue, Civil Supplies and Factories and Boilers was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Maruthi Venkat, Head of Finance of Pentair Water India. Earlier, Olavo Vaz, sports secretary, Pentair welcomed. Later, he proposed the vote of thanks.

Rama Bhat emerges champ of champs

Rama Bhat emerged champion of champions in the All-Goa bodybuilding championship organised by Fitforever Gym, Britona on Monday.

Re s u l t s : 5 5 k g s : S a t i s h Kunkolkar, Rahul Mangueshkar, Ramdas Tari, Noor Shaikh and Vikrant Dhargalkar.

60kgs: Cruz Fernandes, Hamid Khan, Gandesh Shetkar, Dhananjay Naik and Devendra Parkar.

65kgs: Subhash Andrade, Raju Teli, Krishnand Naik, Ramnath M a u z e k a r a n d Va m a n Chopdekar.

70kgs: Rama Bhat, Rydon Camilo, Pradip Gaonkar, Tapen Khadkar and Nitin Andrade.

The winners of all-Goa bodybuilding championship at Britona.

Ramchandra Azgaonkar, Girish Kakode, Mukund Kochkar,

Durgesh Naik, Dilip Narvekar and Sidesh Falari were the

judges.

Prajyot and Elvis compered.

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Win over Australia restored Pak image: Afridi AFP COLOMBO, MARCH 21

Pakistan's World Cup victory over Australia has restored the team's battered image and boosted their credentials as champions-in-waiting, skipper Shahid Afridi told AFP on Monday.

Pakistan upstaged Australia by four wickets to end the defending champions' unbeaten 34-match streak in the World Cup stretching back to 1999.

It also meant Pakistan finished top of Group A and gave them a quarterfinal clash against the West Indies in Dhaka on Wednesday while Australia tackle India in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

"We knew that beating Australia would be very important for us and this win has enhanced our image, sending a good signal to the cricket world

that we can win despite our difficult situation," Afridi told AFP. Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of a spot-fixing scandal which led to lengthy bans on former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

The three men are also facing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.

Pakistan has also been a no-go area for international teams since the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore two years ago.

Those attacks, which killed eight people and injured seven Sri Lankan players and their asistant coach, forced the International Cricket Council to strip Pakistan of its 2011 World Cup co-hosting rights.

Afridi said Pakistan still has a deep

Djokovic, Wozniacki clinch Indian Wells titles AFP INDIAN WELLS, MARCH 21

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic won the ATP Indian Wells title on Sunday, rallying to beat world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and improve his record this season to 18-0.

Djokovic, who took over the No. 2 world ranking by beating Roger Federer in the semi-finals, avenged a loss to Nadal in the 2007 Indian Wells final.

The 23-year-old Serbian has looked invincible this season and Sunday's victory in the California desert underlined that.

Djokovic fired four aces, including two key ones to hold serve in the second set, in the two-hour, 25-minute match to capture his second Indian Wells crown.

In the women’s section World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki claimed her 14th career title, outlasting France's Marion Bartoli 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

Denmark's Wozniacki captured her second title of 2011 and becomes the eighth different women's champion in eight years at the $4.5 million WTA hardcourt tournament.

well of natural cricketing talent.

"Despite all the problems Pakistan is blessed with talent and it's because of this talent that we are a dangerous team and can win against anyone. We now hope to carry on the momentum," said Afridi.

The Pakistan captain disagreed that the West Indies, who squeezed into the last eight on run-rate, will be easier opponents.

"They have qualified for the quarter-finals after some good play, so we have to do well in all three departments because it's a knockout stage from here," said Afridi, the leading wickettaker with 17 in six matches so far.

Afridi said he was not thinking of a potentially high-voltage semi-final clash against India if the two Asian rivals come through their last-eight tests.

Luiz lifts Chelsea above Man City AFP LONDON, MARCH 21

Chelsea climbed above Manchester City into third place in the Premier League after David Luiz's late goal inspired a 2-0 win on Sunday.

Luiz sunk City with 12 minutes to play at Stamford Bridge and Ramires added a second goal in stoppage time as Carlo Ancelotti's side moved one point ahead of Roberto Mancini's men.

The Blues are also nine points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.

In Sunday's other game, Dirk Kuyt scored a controversial penalty as Liverpool bounced back from their Europa League exit with a 2-0 win at 10-man Sunderland.

Chelsea's clash with City was a meeting between the two most expensively assembled squads in Premier League history, with over £500 million ($812 million) lavished on star players by both clubs' billionaire owners.

For long periods of a scrappy encounter, there was little reason to believe the money had been well spent.

City suffered a blow before kick off when Carlos Tevez failed

Rakitic strike sinks Valencia la liga

AFP MADRID, MARCH 21

Valencia fell to their third successive defeat with a 1-0 home loss to Sevilla on Sunday dealing a blow to their Champions League hopes.

Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic scored the decisive goal on 70 minutes to leave Valencia, who hit the woodwork twice, emptyhanded as Sevilla did their European hopes the power of good.

Valencia surrender third place to Villarreal, who won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, while Sevilla move level on points with sixth-placed Bilbao.

Villarreal benefited from Valencia's slip with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames lifting them into third on goal difference.

Other results: Osasuna 4 beat Hercules 0; Santander 2 beat Real Sociedad 1; Malaga 2 beat Espanyol 0; Levante 1 beat Deportivo 0; Sporting Gijon 1 beat Almeria 0.

Inter close gap on Milan serie a AFP ROME, MARCH 21

Inter Milan closed the gap on leaders AC Milan to just two points ahead of the top of the table city derby in two weeks time with a 1-0 victory over lowly Lecce on Sunday.

Giampaolo Pazzini scored the only goal of the game seven minutes into the second period to close even further a gap that once stood at 13 points.

And it now means that Inter could go top for the first time this season if they beat their bitter rivals when Serie A resumes after next week's international break.

It has been a remarkable comeback for Inter as they search for a sixth scudetto crown in a row having appeared out of the title running in December.

And, following Milan's shock

1-0 defeat at Palermo on Saturday, Italy now have a three-way fight for the title as third-placed Napoli closed the gap to the leaders to three points with a 2-1 win over Cagliari.

Inter were far from their best against Lecce as they struggled to raise their game following their dramatic late efforts in the 3-2 success at Bayern Munich in midweek that saw them through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals.

In Naples Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani was the star of the show as he scored both goals.

He converted a 49th minute penalty after strike-partner Ezequiel Lavezzi was felled in the box.

And although Robert Acquafresca restored parity with a shot from an angle, Cavani hit the winner as he ran onto Marek

Hamsik's scooped ball over the top and lobbed goalkeeper Michael Agazzi.

Earlier Francesco Totti scored his 200th Serie A goal for Roma but it wasn't enough to inspire his team to victory at Fiorentina.

Twice the hosts led through Adrian Mutu and Alessandro Gamberini, who scored his first goal since 2007, but Totti netted from the spot and then added his 201st league strike after the break.

One-club man Totti, who is sixth on the all-time Serie A scoring list, just four goals behind Roberto Baggio, said there's plenty more to come.

Udinese went back above Lazio into the Champions League qualification positions with a 2-0 win over Catania while Juventus won for only the fourth time in 14 league games with a 2-1 success against second-bottom Brescia.

a late fitness test on a groin injury, but they had the best moment of the first h a l f w h e n Ya y a Toure's low drive forced Petr Cech into a sprawling save.

There was an injury scare for reappointed England captain John Terry as the Blues defender needed treatment on a knee problem, but he was able to continue, to the relief of Fabio Capello ahead of next week's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales.

Collingwood’s daughters wanted England to lose AFP NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

England's Paul Collingwood has revealed his daughters wanted the side to lose their must-win World Cup match against the West Indies because they were missing their father so much.

"We hope you lose tomor-

row, daddy," Collingwood's girls told the all-rounder via Skype on the eve of England's final group match against the West Indies.

"Then you can come home."

Collingwood told the Daily Mail website: "That was quite tough and I had to think quickly.

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india, Pak close to collision

n After what we have achieved against Australia, now it’s a knockout system so we've got to really start building up again.

-- Pakistan coach Waqar Younis AFP NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan are on a World Cup collision course, but first the two neighbours have quarter-final hurdles to overcome as the marathon tournament enters its sixth week.

India take on defending champions Australia in Ahmedabad on Thursday while Pakistan face an inconsistent West Indies in Dhaka to kick-start the last eight stage on Wednesday.

Victory for both Asian giants would set-up a semi-final blockbuster in Mohali on March 30.

New Zealand and South Africa meet in Dhaka on Friday before Sri Lanka and England clash in Colombo on Saturday as the World Cup, which staged its opening ceremony on February 17, comes down to the world's e i g h t t o p - r a n ke d sides.

India's 80-run win over the West Indies in Chennai on Sunday handed Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men a quarterfinal against Ricky Ponting's team in Ahmedabad.

India have lost to Australia in nine out of 15 matches played on home soil in the last five years.

"Australia are a very strong side and very expressive on the field," said Dhoni.

"But it's about how we prepare. Preparation is very important and we are just thinking about that particular day and

match rather than thinking about the result."

Pakistan, meanwhile, topped their qualifying group with 10 points.

They will be overwhelming favourites to defeat West Indies who squeezed into the quarterfinals by virtue of a superior runrate to Bangladesh.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has cautioned his team against over-confidence after they secured top spot in Group A by ending Australia's 34-match unbeaten World Cup run.

"After what we have achieved against Australia, now it’s a knockout system so we've got to really start building up again," said the coach.

"We have to make sure we enjoy this victory, forget it and go to the next one fresh and think of the team we are going to face."

The West Indies are enduring a roller-coaster tournament.

They were on the brink of victory against England in Chennai when, chasing a modest target of 244, they were comfortably placed at 222-6 before losing their last four wickets for three runs.

Against India on Sunday, they caved in again as eight wickets

fell for 34 runs after they were 154-2 and lost by 80 runs.

The West Indies have now lost 18 successive matches against the leading nations.

New Zealand are hopeful that captain Daniel Vettori will be fit to face South Africa in Dhaka on Friday.

Vettori was sidelined for the win over Canada and defeat against Sri Lanka after hurting his knee while fielding against Pakistan in Pallekele nearly two weeks ago.

England have had a topsytur vy tournament and will be underdogs against Sri Lanka who will be playing on home soil in Colombo on Saturday.

Ashes winners England tied with co-hosts India and beat a highly-fancied South Africa yet lost to both Ireland and Bangladesh in the group stage.

They were then on the brink of elimination from the World Cup when the West Indies, chasing 244 for victory, were 222 for six at Chennai last Thursday.

Yet England took four wickets for three runs to stay in the tournament.

"In the last 12-18 months,

after pummeling West Indies by 80 runs today with Yuvraj putting up a fine all round show by scoring his maiden World Cup century and taking two wickets.

"They have won five games.

The teams are equal at the moment. Whosoever plays better on the particular day will win the match. No doubt, Australia

is a top side having won the title for last three years.”

"However, players like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist are not there in the team. Ricky Ponting has not been in his form. We will focus and try to win the match by exposing their weakness," Yuvraj, adjudged man-of-the-match, said at the post match press meet.

Yuvraj, who scored 113 said, batting up the order helps in getting a big score since you could bat for a long period.

"I wanted to get 100. You bat at four you get to play more balls than at five. I thought I

would not hit the ball in the air and keep it to the ground. I have been looking on the game and this is the first game that I was hitting the ball well.

"It is a big moment for me and Indians and the nation. I feel happy. I need to continue the form in the quarterfinal. It was very hard…tough times for me. As I say tough people stand out even during tough times."

Yuvraj also oozed confidence of facing the fearsome pace attack without any trouble.

"We do not have any issue with the short ball. We have been a number one test and one day side in the world. If we had problems with the short balls, we cannot be on top. We know definitely that they have pace and get wickets on their pace.

We are prepared for it," he said.

"If you are thinking of winning the world cup, it does not matter (who you play). You need to beat the best sides such as Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to win the Cup." On India not being able to bat the quota of 50 overs, he said, "It will be an issue for you (media), if we do not win the games. We are happy that we are getting ready for the quarter-final.

Asked whether he felt dehy-

n It’s about how we prepare.

Preparation is very important and we are just thinking about that particular day and match rather than thinking about the result.

-- Mahendra Singh Dhoni

when we've had matches we've got to win we've come out well," said England batsman Ian Bell.

"I'm sure there are a lot of teams around that don't really want to play England -- because they don't quite know what they're going to get at the minute."

India can beat Aussies: Yuvraj PTI CHENNAI, MARCH 21

Indian batting star Yuvraj Singh reckons that India have a good chance to beat Australia in the World Cup as the defending champions are not the same intimidating force due to retirements of some key players.

India set up the last-eight clash with Australia on Thursday

Five Magic MoMents...

Kevin O’Brien’s record century

the crease just as Tait went into his next delivery stride, before the speedster had his man next ball, courtesy of a slip catch.

Irish whirlwind Kevin O'Brien scored the fastest-ever World Cup century, off just 50 balls, as Ireland completed a stunning Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal's calamitous performance behind the three-wicket win over England. stumps against New Zealand unleashed a stream of criticism and paved the way for younger brother Umar to take over. That was until Umar hurt his finger and ankle in two training accidents and was accused by sections of the Pakistan media of feigning injury to save his brother's job.

Brother bother

Malinga’s hat-trick Sri Lanka's king of sling claimed a second World Cup hat-trick in a six-wicket haul against hapless Kenya in Colombo. Malinga sent back Tanmay Mishra, Peter Ongondo and Shem Ngoche in successive balls. In 2007, he had taken four in four balls against South Africa.

Shoulder to shoulder after quake tragedy Australia and New Zealand players stood shoulder to shoulder and observed a minute's silence in Nagpur on February 25 in honour of the Christchurch earthquake victims. "We are neighbours and brothers," said Australia skipper Ricky Ponting.

Tait v Tillakaratne Aussie speedster Shaun Tait and Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan squared up in Colombo and Tait won hands down. Dilshan edged through the slips to enrage the fiery Tait. The Sri Lankan then pulled away from

India trounce Chinese Taipei AGENCIES NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

India were off to a winning start in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers as they scored a facile 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in a Group B encounter at MPBJ Stadium, Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

The game began on brisk note with Chinese Taipei initiating some good moves in the first 15 minutes, but India were not to throw in the towel and once they had their noses in front, there was no looking back.

Jeje Lalpekhlua carried his great run of form and opened the scoring for the Bob Houghton-coached side in the 32nd minute. Steven Dias’s cross was neatly possessed by Sunil Chhetri, who headed it for Jeje to do the rest.

It was India, who dictated terms in the first session and once again gave a better account of themselves to put their opponents on the backseat notching up two goals in the second half.

Sunil Chhetri, making his debut as captain, combined once again with Jeje to double India’s account in the 76th minute before substitute Sheikh Jewel Raja who replaced Steven Dias, found the back the net from the top of the 18-yard box to seal the deal for the Indians scoring just two minutes from the end for a well deserved win.

India’s back-four as well as custodian Subrata Pal gave a good account of themselves and had a good day at the office.

India will now take on arch rivals Pakistan on March 23.

drated during today's knock, "It was not dehydration but stomach cramps. Couple of guys are having some problem with stomach bug."

Asked about reaction when Sachin walked back to pavilion despite umpire signalling not out, he said, "Not surprised. He felt that he has to walk and he walked. It is a personal decision.

It should be left to the person concerned."

Pawar impressed with standard of game in Cup PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 21

The International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar today praised the excitement generated due to the ICC Cricket World Cup calling it potentially the "greatest and most dramatic event where the standard of game has been impressive."

"We have surely been treated to a real feast of 50-over cricket with some outstanding games.

"The standard of cricket has

been impressive and there is no doubt that 50-over cricket has a real attraction and an amazing appeal for players, spectators

in the grounds and the hundreds of millions watching on television around the world," Pawar added.