log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 151 2 Salcete underpasses under strain to meet traffic demand 3 GOA Residents of Arpora-Nagoa to oppose Sunburn festival Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO How to boost energy naturally without caffeine AMID JOBS-FOR-CASH CONTROVERSY… >> pg 6 Maha polls, FPIs among 7 factors set to shape markets this week IN SHORT >> GMC mulls two new post-grad courses PANAJI: The Goa Medical College is contemplating starting two new post-graduate courses -- in Oncology and Psychiatric medicine -- and will soon apply to the Goa University for permission. This was announced by GMC Dean, Dr Shivanand Bandekar while addressing students and faculty at the College's annual scientific meet -- Scientifica.  >> See pg 3 `  0 L fine for ground 1 water pollution PANAJI: You could end up coughing up a mammoth, million-rupee (Rs 10 lakh) fine if authorities establish that a leaking soak pit, tank or a contaminated well in your property is polluting natural aquifers. The government, has notified rules under the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act, envisaging stringent measures.  >> See pg 3 UP man arrested for escort website PANAJI: The Crime Branch has made yet another arrest of a person from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly running an escort website containing sexually explicit pictures and videos. This is a third arrest made in the crackdown against escort websites.  >> See pg 3 Violence continues to rock Manipur IMPHAL: The National People’s Party on Sunday withdrew support from the BJPled government in Manipur, even as violence continued to rock the State as offices of the Congress and the saffron party were ransacked in the hill district of Jiribam.   >> See pg 7 Delhi transport minister quits NEW DELHI: In a setback to the AAP, its senior leader and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot quit the party on Sunday. In his resignation letter, Gahlot, a prominent figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), cited recent controversies facing the party and unfulfilled promises.  >> See pg 7 Govt announces nearly 2000 jobs through SSC 69 VACANCIES FILLED UP VIA SSC TILL DATE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amidst on-going multi-crore jobs-for-cash scam, the State government on Sunday announced that over 1900 vacancies across various departments would be filled up shortly through Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Constituted through legislation, the Commission, since December 2023 till date, has selected candidates for 69 vacancies through computer based recruitment test. The concerned departments have already appointed the selected candidates. According to government sources, 33 vacancies for positions such as Network Engineer, Laboratory Technician, Librarian, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Technician, and others were advertised in 2023. A total of 2,059 applications were received, and the selected candidates have been appointed by the respective departments. This year, another 36 vacancies for the post of SSC: THE WAY FORWARD „„Staff Selection Commission since December 2023 till date has selected candidates for 69 vacancies through computer based recruitment test „„Concerned departments have already appointed selected candidates „„Commission had framed regulations in 2023 to govern recruitment process „„As per regulations, all departments have to submit requisition for recruitment once in a year in January „„Commission then scrutinizes the requisition and commences recruitment process Trained English Teacher in the Education Department were advertised and the selected candidates have already been issued an offer of appointment. A total of 1540 applications were received. “The process for advertising 1925 vacancies will be completed shortly,” government said. The Commission had framed regulations in 2023 to govern the recruitment process. As per the regulations, all departments have to submit the requisition for recruitment once in a year in January. Thereafter, the Commission scrutinizes the requisition and commences the recruitment process. Clarifying on the functioning of the SSC, the government said that an agency, through open tender, was selected to give a complete online solution right from Beef crisis: Shortage hits Goans as festivities loom IMPORT BAN TOO FRUSTRATES BUYERS, SELLERS CLINTON D’SOUZA THE GOAN I PANAJI While beef shortage continues to hit consumers in the State ahead of the festive season, meat traders blamed it on the spike in demand for beef coupled with the ban on imports from neighbouring States like Karnataka. With the onset of celebrations and feasts across the State, local meat traders too are feeling the pressure as demand surges, leaving both sellers and buyers frustrated. The Goan spoke to President of Qureshi Meat Traders Association, Manna Bepari to delve into the reasons behind the beef shortage. Bepari attributed the issue primarily to a ban on importing meat from neighboring States, especially Karnataka, a key supplier of beef to Goa. "There is no beef coming from Karnataka, which has disrupted the supply. Currently, most of the meat in the market comes from local BEEFING UP THE PROBLEM „„Supply of beef disrupted as there is no meat coming from Karnataka „„Most of the meat in Goa comes from local slaughterhouses, particularly Goa Meat Complex „„Only 50 to 60 animals are slaughtered each day at GMC which is significantly insufficient to meet high demand „„Despite high price slaughterhouses, particularly the Goa Meat Complex, where only 50 to 60 animals are slaughtered each day. This is significantly insufficient to meet the high demand, especially during the festive season", Bepari explained. The current price of beef in Goa is Rs 380 per kg for boneless meat and Rs 280 per kg for meat with bones. Despite these rates, demand remains of beef in Goa the still demand remains strong „„Traders feel if govt allows beef import from Karnataka it will also generate revenue strong across both districts. Bepari emphasized the need to import beef from neighboring States like Karnataka to meet demand and generate revenue for the government, especially the Animal Husbandry Department. Without these imports, the limited supply in Goa makes it challenging for traders to >Continued on P5 Govt to alter office of profit law for MPs PTI NEW DELHI he government plans to repeal a 65-year-old law which lays ground for disqualification of MPs for holding office of profit and bring a new one which is in sync with present requirements. The legislative department of the Union law ministry has floated the draft ''Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Bill, 2024'' prepared on the lines of recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit (JCOP) then headed by Kalraj Mishra in the 16th Lok Sabha. The proposed bill seeks to rationalise section 3 of the existing Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 T THE NEW PROPOSED DRAFT BILL „„Seeks to rationalise Section 3 of existing Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 „„To remove negative list of offices provided in schedule containing offices, the holders of which would incur disqualification „„Proposes to remove conflict between existing Act and certain other statutes which have an express provision for not to incur disqualification „„Proposes to omit Section 4 of the existing law relating to “temporary suspension” of disqualification in certain cases, and in its place empower the central government to amend the schedule by issuing a notification and to remove the negative list of offices provided in the schedule containing offices, the holders of which would incur disqualification. It also proposes to remove the conflict between the existing Act and certain other statutes which have an express provision for not to incur disqualification. The draft bill also proposes to omit Sec 4 of the existing law relating to “temporary suspension” of disqualification in certain cases, and in its place empower the central government to amend the schedule by issuing a notification. Seeking views of the public on the draft bill, the department recalled that The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 was enacted to declare that certain offices of profit under the government will not disqualify the holders for being chosen as, or for being, a member of Parliament. However, the Act contains both the aspects of enumerating the offices, the holder of which would not incur disqualification and those offices the holders of which would incur disqualification. submission of application of candidates to conducting online test. The question papers are set by the experts identified by the commission from the field of academics/ literature etc. The Commission advertises the post based on the requirement, and if there are common posts of various departments they are clubbed together. After the candidate clicks the submit button on the question/answer paper, the score will be displayed immediately on the computer screen. Within 24 hours of the CBT, the Commission will publish the results on its website. The following day, or the same day, the question paper along with the candidate's answers will be made available in their login. The Commission also allows candidates to raise grievances, which are then viewed by experts before declaring final result. The recruitment process is completed in two weeks. 9 SPORTS Carlsen secures double at Tata Steel Chess India Se Cathedral, Basilica shut for tourists for three days THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Days before the opening of the 45-day decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, the North Goa Collector, Sneha Gite, IAS, has barred the entry of tourists and the public from gaining entry into the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Se Catedral at Old Goa from Monday. Gite's order states the ban will be in force until November 20, a day prior to when the Exposition is slated to open with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on the foreground of the Basilica of Bom Jesus on Thursday morning. Gite said that these restrictions have been imposed to facilitate the preparations for the Exposition. The relics of the sixteenth century Jesuit priest anointed a Saint by the Catholic Church, lies in a silver-glass casket on a mausoleum in the Basilica of Bom Jesus. At the decennial Exposition, the relics are solemnly taken to the Se Cathedral where it is kept for veneration for 45 days. Meanwhile, with just three days to go for the start of Exposition, contractors on Sunday began work at a frenzied pace to repair and relay the old Ribandar road a crucial access for pilgrims from North Goa. 12 NEP: Govt explores school clusters for ‘secondary stage’ STUDENTS TO GET VARIETY OF SUBJECTS, FLEXIBILITY FROM CLASS IX THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommending the entire stage from Class IX to XII be termed as Secondary Stage, the State government is currently reviewing the feasibility of forming clusters of high schools and higher secondary schools, where students have choice and flexibility in subjects right from Class IX. The government-constituted committee has recommended forming school clusters until such time that proper restructuring of schools is carried out to realize the objectives of the NEP. Presently in Goa, Classes IX and X are considered as high schools or secondary stage whereas classes XI and XII are running in the Higher Secondary Schools. The Committee, in its report submitted to the Government, noted that NEP has recommended that the entire stage from Class IX to 12 be termed as Secondary Stage and that within 5 to 10 years students should be able to get a wide variety of subjects from Class The committee report says unified secondary stage will be possible only if all the four Grades, i.e., Class 9, 10, 11 and 12 are integrated in a single unit over a period of 5 to 6 years IX onwards. “All this will be possible only if all the four Grades, i.e., Class 9, 10, 11 and 12 are integrated in a single unit over a period of 5 to 6 years. The idea of forming clusters could be used until such time that proper restructuring of schools is carried out to realize the objectives of the NEP,” the Committee recommended. Sources informed that the proposal is currently being reviewed for feasibility before putting it across adding that consultation with the stakeholders like school managements, PTAs would be held to seek their views and possible implications. Sources said that the cluster schools will help in offering improved facilities, access to high-quality teachers and a >Continued on P5