App-based taxis to be available in Goa by November: CM Pramod Sawant

Times of India | 1 hour ago | 29-09-2022 | 11:11 am

PANAJI: CM Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that app-based taxis will be available in Goa “soon, by November”, and that work has already started by the government. “Actually, we wanted to make app-based taxis available in Goa, before the tourist season for the year began,” Sawant told TOI. “As per our promise earlier, work on it has started. App-based taxis should be available in Goa soon, by November.” Goa’s tourism season officially kicks off from the first week of October. Introduction of app-based taxis in Goa is being resisted by local private taxi associations in the state, who claim that their business will be severely affected. tnn

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Goa govt’s Purple Fest to honour disabled persons

Times of India | 7 hours ago | 29-09-2022 | 04:56 am

Times of India

7 hours ago | 29-09-2022 | 04:56 am

Panaji: The Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities in association with directorate of social welfare and Entertainment Society of Goa, will be hosting first of its kind inclusive festival ‘The Purple Fest’ in Panaji from January 6 to 8, social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai said on Wednesday.Stating that it is “a fantastic opportunity to illustrate that disabilities are not barriers,” Phal Dessai called for people’s participation in the event which will feature art, innovation and educational activities.“The three-day inclusive event aims to illustrate how people can unite to support and make everyone in our society feel included,” he said. The event will feature live performances, grand exhibitions, sporting events, immersive experience zones, and an innovation mela. It will also include exciting competitions, accessible movie screenings, a mega car rally, and discussions on vital subjects like inclusive education, employment, tourism, and independent living.“The biggest barrier for people with disabilities is how society disables them. People with disabilities deal daily with challenges such as discrimination, stigma, and stereotypes. To become an all-inclusive and accessible society, we need to change the way we view disability and collaborate with the disabled community to break down barriers,” Phal Dessai said. He further said people “should see disability as the attitudinal, physical, systemic, communication, and technological barriers created by society. We do not deny the impact of an individual’s impairment, but as a society, it is our responsibility to accommodate people living with disability, rather than expecting the individual to accommodate for society,” he said. In recent years, purple has been increasingly associated with disability, symbolising a new positive narrative about the contribution of persons with disabilities in the workforce and the wider community, said state commissioner for persons with disabilities Guruprasad Pawaskar.

Six writers to be awarded by Konkani Bhasha Mandal at its 60th anniversary

Times of India | 8 hours ago | 29-09-2022 | 04:37 am

Times of India

8 hours ago | 29-09-2022 | 04:37 am

Panaji: Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Goa is celebrating its 60th anniversary from September 30 to October 1 wherein six veterans will be honoured for their contribution to Konkani at the function to be held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.Writers Damodar Mauzo, Pundalik Naik, Naguesh Karmali, Uday Bhembre, Meena Kakodkar and Hema Naik will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.Chief minister Pramod Sawant will be the chief guest. Dr Ashwani Kumar, writer and dean, School of Development Studies, The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, will be the guest of honour. Singers Lorna Cordeiro and Pt Ajit Kumar Kadakade, governor of Himachal Pradesh Rajendra Arlekar, industrialists and philanthropists Avdhut Timblo, Dattaraj Salgaonkar, Shrinivas Dempo and Kamlaksh Naik will be presented with the honorary membership of the mandal on the occasion. A special issue of ‘Konkani’ will also be launched by the dignitaries as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations.The formal programme will be followed by a musical play titled ‘Konkanichi Mathi Kartavyachi Sathi’ conceptualised by Ravindra Kelekar Dnyanmandir, Margao.

Tourism officials review facilities at Canacona beaches

Times of India | 20 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:40 pm

Times of India

20 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:40 pm

CANACONA: Aimed at reviewing and creating tourist-friendly facilities to help improve the local tourism industry along Canacona's coastline, a five-member team of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) officers and engineers from the Tourism department, along with a consultant recently visited Canacona beaches. Tourism plays an important role in the taluka's economy. It may be recalled that tourism minister Rohan Khaunte had sought cooperation of MLAs and panchayat bodies along coastal regions to improve the tourism sector under the integrated beach management policy of the government. The team of officials visited Khola, Agonda, Palolem, Patnem-Colomb, Galgibaga, Talpona and Polem to look for land to set up changing rooms, toilets, illumination spots, building new roads or expanding existing ones, parking lots, installing surveillance cameras and beach-benches, temporary sheds and other beautification works as well as high mast lamps. The team held meetings with panchayat members for availability of land along beach destinations in the south Goa taluka. Agonda sarpanch Fatima Rodrigues spoke about the need for proper beach illumination and setting up of CCTV cameras for the 2.8km long coast, besides an approach road as well as toilets and changing rooms. Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar briefed the team about infrastructure needs for Palolem. Two more high mast lights at Ourem and Monko, proper beach illumination, retaining walls for the entire beach, multi-storey parking and road widening works were proposed. Poinguinim deputy sarpanch Sunil Paingankar requested for similar facilities at Talpona beach, especially illumination behind the temple. Similar infrastructure demands were made for the Galgibaga coast, including proper illumination at the turtle rehabilitation and nesting centre. The Polem, panchayat team listed out requirements to improve the infrastructure and beautification works.

Goa: With shaky foreign markets, domestic visitors spell hope

Times of India | 20 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:40 pm

Times of India

20 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:40 pm

PANAJI: Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) along with Skal Goa and Goa tourism celebrated the 42nd edition of World Tourism Day on Tuesday on the optimistic note that all segments in the sector will see healthy business now that the challenging times are over. International tourism is set to begin by mid-October, but TTAG is keeping its fingers crossed in the hope that the e-visa issue pertaining to UK travellers will end. "With the e-visa issue not sorted out as yet, and Russia and Ukraine still at war, nothing can be said at present, but we expect the season to be good for all segments of the industry," TTAG president Nilesh Shah told TOI. He said that early estimates show there will be some charter flights from the UK, Kazakhstan and Russia from next month. However, the numbers may not be big. Even if the foreign arrivals are low for yet another season, Shah said that the industry will be driven by domestic footfalls - weddings, conferences, families and others. Throughout the four monsoon months, Goa saw a steady flow of domestic tourists, and starred hotels fared extremely well. "We had events to bring about awareness about negative environmental footprints left by tourism activities and what care should be taken as we proceed further," Shah said. Tourism secretary Ravi Dhavan said that Goa is a brand by itself. The state has bounced back well post-pandemic. "The Mopa international airport will be a game changer for tourism in Goa and the season ahead looks bright," Dhavan said. The new airport is likely to be commissioned before the end of this year. Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ganesh Gaonkar said that the beauty of Goa lies in its hinterlands and extensive efforts will be made to explore this segment. During the day, a series of events were held to emphasise the importance of a sustainable approach to tourism. A boat ride for specially-abled children was held. A walking tour at the 88-acre Raj Bhavan estate as well as heritage walks in Panaji, Saligao, Margao and Old Goa were also held.

‘Special mention’ of Vasco town in centre’s Swachh Bharat list

Times of India | 20 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:40 pm

Times of India

20 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:40 pm

VASCO: The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) has shortlisted Vasco town in its 'special mentions' for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiatives in the 50,000 to 1 lakh population category. In a letter to the director of municipal administration (DMA), the joint secretary and mission director of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Roopa Mishra, complimented the state and city teams for their enthusiastic participation in the Indian Swachhata League (ISL) and for displaying strong commitment towards the vision of garbage free cities. Mishra further instructed the authorities concerned to nominate a representative to be part of the delegation attending the Swachh Shehar Samvaad and the Azaadi@75 Swachh Survekshan Awards to be held from September 29 to October 1 in New Delhi. Reacting to the honour, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chief officer Jayant Tari said, "Getting selected and shortlisted in the rigorous evaluation of hundreds of cities from all over the country is a very proud moment for Vascoites. I am thankful to Mishra and to the steps initiated by the state government, under the leadership of chief minister Pramod Sawant, to make Goa a model state by adopting the Swachhata Mission, other projects for upliftment of people and the state."

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