Page 2 - Pramod Sawant

CAA rules: Goa CM lauds PM Modi for accelerating way for implementation

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for notifying rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and accelerating the pathway for citizenship rights. The Centre on Monday announced the implementation of the CAA 2019, a move coming four years after the contentious law was passed by Parliament and paving the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. With this, the government will now start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from the three countries. In a post on X on Monday, CM Sawant hailed the Centre's move. "It is a remarkable day in the history of Bharat, as the Citizenship Amendment Act rules are notified!" he said. "I thank and congratulate Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, for notification of CAA rules, accelerating pathway to get citizenship rights to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians of Pakistan, Bangladesh,

BJP will win more than 10 LS seats in Telangana: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

Earlier on February 11, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Telangana unit announced 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra 'that will cover five regions in the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

Efforts to set up delimitation commission for Goa seats for ST quota: CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that efforts are on to form a delimitation commission before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls for reservation of some of the Goa assembly seats for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community members. Talking to reporters in Porvorim near state capital Panaji on Monday evening, Sawant said he would make detailed statement on the issue in the House on Saturday during ongoing budget session. As of now, no seat in the 40-member Goa assembly is reserved for the ST community, one seat is reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SC) community. The ST community has been demanding that four out of the 40 seats in the Goa assembly be reserved for them during the 2027 state polls. The community members held a protest in Panaji on Monday after which the chief minister met a group of their leaders. "A delegation of the ST leaders met me. I have given them the assurance," Sawant said. He said the file on the issue of reservation of seats in the Goa assembly is pending

Goa will remain preferred destination for global investors, says CM Sawant

Goa will remain a preferred destination for global investors across all sectors, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday. "We will remain a success story in the country and a preferred destination for global investors across all the sectors," he said at the Invest Goa 2024 summit here. The chief minister also said that the coastal state has benefitted from the support of the central government. "Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is now the fastest growing economy in the world. Goa has benefitted considerably due to the support of (central) government and state government," he said. He further said that his government has "given maximum attention for upgradation of skills of our young workforce through constant academia, industry dialogue and the newly launched apprentice scheme". Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu in his address said that Goa can become a hub of research and development considering a robust presence of pharma industries in the state. He said th

Investigation underway in murder of 4-yr old boy: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

On Tuesday, the CEO of a start-up company in Bengaluru identified as Suchana Seth was arrested for allegedly murdering her minor son at a hotel in Goa

Goa's GSDP grew by 33% in last two decades, says CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of the coastal state has grown by 33 per cent over the last 20 years. Addressing a programme on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day here, the chief minister said the per capita income in the state has risen by 30 per cent in the last two decades. The Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 to mark the success of 'Operation Vijay' undertaken by the Indian Army to liberate the state from the 450-year-long Portuguese rule in 1961. "The state has been witnessing growth post the liberation. The GSDP has increased by 33 per cent in the last 20 years, and the per capita income has gone up by 30 per cent in the same period," Sawant said. The government has started Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which is being taken to different parts of the state, he said, appealing to all sarpanchs and panchayat members to take advantage of the initiative. The chief minister further said that the state governmen

Nurturing thriving startup ecosystem is priority for Goa: CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said nurturing a thriving startup ecosystem is a priority for Goa, and the state government's goal is to help turn ideas into high-growth startups and attract funding. Addressing "Goa Innovation and Startup Times" (GIST), an event at the BITS Pilani campus at Vasco, Sawant said the state will focus on its strengths around industries, tourism, and sustainability and leverage various Central schemes to boost startups. Nurturing a thriving startup ecosystem is a priority for Goa. Our goal is to enable ideas to turn into high-growth startups and attract funding, he said, expressing confidence about the state's potential to become a startup hub. Goa can produce the next generation of job creators by providing mentoring, infrastructure, and market access, he said. We must make entrepreneurship more aspirational for the youth of Goa and spotlight local startup success stories to inspire many more, the chief minister said. The state government

Goa poised to become nurturing ground for startup creativity: IT minister

The Goa government will introduce a number of initiatives to provide support to startups as the state is poised to become a nurturing ground for startup creativity, a minister has said. Addressing the closing ceremony of three-day-long Tech Media Startup 2023 event on Thursday, Goa Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte also said the government's aim is to position the state as a premier startup destination in Asia. "Goa, with its vibrant spirit, is poised to become a nurturing ground for startup creativity. In the coming months, we will introduce a spectrum of initiatives to further catalyse business growth and provide startups with the support they need," he said. "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the aim is to position Goa as a premier startup destination in Asia...The state's unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage and burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit sets the stage for the convergence of startups and information technology," he said. The

International Film Festival of India begins Nov 20 in Goa: Key details

As many as 270 movies would be screened during the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which will be inaugurated on November 20 at an indoor stadium in Bambolim near here in Goa. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the opening ceremony of the nine-day-long film festival will be held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium at Bambolim at 5 pm. He said the infrastructure for hosting the multi-venue festival, where a total of 270 films would be screened, was "99 per cent" ready and some final touches were being given. Sawant informed that 198 international films would be screened at the event of which 13 would be premiered. The chief minister said all the festival venues would be accessible for differently abled delegates. Sawant said the newly inaugurated Kala Academy building in Panaji will host master classes and other events, but there will be no screening of films at the refurbished venue. The CM

Goans burn effigies on Diwali; CM Sawant asks people to buy local products

People of Goa burnt giant effigies of demon 'Narakasura' in the early hours of Sunday to begin Diwali celebration, while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant extended greetings to the people and urged them to buy local products to celebrate the festival. Goa has a long held tradition of making the effigies of Narakasura and burning them on Diwali, marking the victory of good over evil. The 'Narakasur Vadh' (killing of the demon) competitions were held across the coastal state to celebrate the festival. It symbolises the victory of good over evil. An artiste dressed as Lord Krishna performs Narakasura Vadh in the early morning hours. This is how we celebrate Diwali, said Panaji-based historian Sanjeev Sardesai. The tradition of performing 'Narakasura Vadh' existed even during the Portuguese rule in the state but remained subdued due to restrictions on religious freedom, he said. After liberation from the Portuguese rule, this tradition has been followed by the young generation of Goa, he .

PM Modi to inaugurate National Games on Oct 26, says Goa CM Sawant

"I welcome all the athletes coming to Goa. PM Modi will be inaugurating the National Games here on October 26..." CM Sawant told ANI on Thursday

Goa will get wings with new airport, set to clock double-digit growth: CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the coastal state is expected to clock a double-digit economic growth after the commissioning of a new international airport which is expected to provide a fillip to tourism. The Manohar International Airport at Mopa in North Goa was inaugurated in December last year and it started commercial operations in early January. Addressing a Western Zonal Council meeting in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sawant said Goa's economy did not suffer any major setback during the COVID-19 pandemic due to smart initiatives taken by the state government. The CM said a double digit economic growth rate is expected in Goa due to the commissioning of the Manohar International Airport which will enhance global connectivity through new routes to meet increasing travel demand. He said the tiny state has secured the 4th position by garnering 72 points in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index Report .

Goa to ensure 100% renewable electricity supply by 2050: CM Sawant

Goa will ensure 100 per cent renewable energy-based electricity supply to all the demand sectors by 2050 or even much earlier, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Saturday. The chief minister was speaking at the launch of Goa's clean energy roadmap 2050 during the ongoing G20 Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 8th Mission Innovation (MI) Meeting. Guided by Goa's Energy Vision, and following the Clean Energy Roadmap's analysis, Goa is certain that it will ensure 100 per cent renewable-based electricity supply to all demand sectors by 2050, or even much earlier, Sawant said. He said Goa is on the path of optimally harnessing solar power and the state Solar Policy is focused on household generation of clean energy. "We have already increased solar power generation sevenfold since 2019, the chief minister added. Sawant said his government was committed to transforming Goa's tourism sector, making it among the first global green tourist hotspots. A strategic roadmap for this is alrea

NEP 2020 being implemented in foundation stage of school education: Goa CM

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is being implemented in the foundation stage (one) of school education in Goa from the academic year 2023-24, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said. The NEP for higher education is being implemented in a phased manner as per directives of the Ministry of Education, UGC, NITI Aayog and recommendations of the Chief Secretaries' Conference held in Dharamshala, Sawant said in a written reply in the Goa assembly on Tuesday. He was responding to a question tabled by the opposition members on the implementation of NEP 2020. In a written reply tabled in the assembly, Sawant, who also holds education portfolio, said the new NEP 2020 academic structure has been implemented starting from the first year (2023 onwards) at the under graduate (UG) level in all non-technical colleges in Goa. The monsoon session of Goa legislative assembly began on Tuesday.

Youth registered for apprentice scheme can join depts by July 15: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that 5,000 youths who register for the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) will be able to join the state government departments directly by July 15. Addressing a virtual event on Saturday, the chief minister said the central government has been focusing on skilling, reskilling and upskilling youths. Five thousand youngsters who register on the NAPS portal will directly join various departments of the state government as apprentices by July 15, he said. As of now, only 1,200 applicants have registered on the portal, Sawant said, appealing to youngsters to take advantage of the opportunity. There are openings for jobs in data entry, accounting and for drivers, cleaners among other sections, he said. The chief minister further said that panchayat members and municipal councillors should take over the work of registering youths for NAPS.

Central govt spent Rs 30,000 crore on Goa's development: CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that in the last nine years, Rs 30,000 crore has been spent by the Central government on the developmental works of the coastal state

Goa plans to adopt 'best' practices of three other BJP-ruled state

He said that officials of the Goa government will visit these three states that are, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, for better understanding

CM Sawant: Iron ore mining in Goa may resume in 2023-24

Iron ore mining in Goa may resume in 2023-24, said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday and asserted that the coastal state has turned the G20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings into opportunities to promote its tourism industry. Speaking at a meeting of the NITI Aayog, the Centre's apex public policy think tank, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sawant said Goa has taken steps for the auction of iron ore blocks to resume mining activities. The industry, which used to be one of the major revenue earners for the state, had come to a standstill in 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. The first auction of four iron ore mineral blocks has been successfully completed in December 2022 and the government has received an upfront payment of Rs 43 crore from them. It is expected that these four mineral blocks may start mining activities in the financial year 2023-24, he said. The CM said that the second auction of five more mining blocks

Goa CM Sawant hands over catamaran built by a private shipyard to Maldives

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday handed over a catamaran built by a private shipyard here to the Maldives government. The 30-metre long vessel named "Thinaaveshi", built by Vijai Marine Services, was handed over to representatives of the Maldives government at a function here. This is the largest catamaran vessel built in India, Sawant claimed. "Handing over of this vessel to the ministry of environment, climate change and technology of Maldives indicates the strength of the 'Make in India' initiative," the chief minister said. Goa's shipping industry has been contributing to this sector since 1961. Sawant said, adding that handing over the catamaran to the Maldives government is a proud moment for the state. Representatives from the Maldives government will take the vessel to their country on Tuesday. The ship can travel up to 100 nautical miles in the sea and will be used for monitoring and research, a senior Vijai Marine Services official said.

Goa declares paid holiday on K'taka poll day; Oppn, industry bodies fume

The BJP government in Goa has declared May 10 as a paid holiday, which will also cover private establishments and industrial workers, in view of voting for the Assembly polls scheduled in neighbouring Karnataka. However, the Pramod Sawant government's decision has not gone down well with Opposition parties and industry bodies. Goa State Industries Association said they may have to take legal recourse against the holiday. But, a senior official from Goa Chief Minister's Office said it is a practice to give a holiday when there are elections in neighbouring states. He claimed a holiday was declared in Karnataka on the day of polling in Goa last year. The Goa government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said. Goa State Industries Association president Damodar Kochkar ...