Central team coming to study status of Dhangars PANJIM: A team of the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, will visit Goa within the next two months to study the status of Dhangars community before taking a final decision on its inclusion in the Scheduled tribes list. This was decided at a meeting of the Goa delegation led by Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil at Delhi on April 17. (GT)

GOA, HOME TO FEW SPECIES OF ORCHIDS BY DANIEL D'SOUZA Orchids form one of the largest of plant families with nearly 24,000 species and thousands of man-made hybrids. Orchids can be found in extreme temperatures from deserts to snow covered hills of the Himalayas. Orchids are on the decline in many parts of the country. The Himalayan belt itself is home to more than 750 species, thus calling it a paradise for orchids. Goa too is a home to several species of Orchids contributing to its rich bio-diversity in the Western Ghats... MORE...

Murdered in the Caribbean, the body of Goan lad yet to reach homeland
MARGAO: A 32-year-old Goan lad, Carmo Dias of Aleamvaddo, Chinchinim, had proceeded to Cayman Islands in the Caribbean on September 4, 2005, after paying the agent Rs.5 lakh. The youngest of four siblings, Carmo was the only son of 57-year-old Ana francisca Dias. He was brutally attacked by two unknown assailants on january 5 before succumbing to the injuries in hospital on march 8. "Carmo had left Goa on September 4, 2005 and commenced duties on September 8 as a security guard," says his distraught mother. He was hospitalized for two months , neglected by his employed. And on March 8, I received the heartbreaking news that Carmo was o more," she sobs. Ana claims that she approached Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica KL Aggarwal, South Goa MP Churchill Alemao and Labour MP Keith Vaz of UK for help but to no avail. The authorities now claim that Carmo had entered the country without possessing a work permit. (GT)

NRI Commissioner unaware
PANJIM, Apr 17: Speaking at the 'Phone-in' programme of Panjim Doordarshan which was telecast yesterday evening, the newly appointed NRI Commissioner, Eduardo Faleiro, said that he was unaware of the incident involving Carmo Dias, who died in the Cayman Islands after being assaulted by two unknown thugs. However, he promised to look into the matter and urged the person, who had asked the question on the issue, to provide him with the necessary details within the next two days, to take up the matter with the concerned authorities at the Centre. (GoaNewsClips)

Konkani film "Just a Minute" released
A Konkani Film 'Just a Minute', produced by Maachi Mogi and VP Sinari, was released yesterday on the occasion of Easter by Director of Information and Publicity, Menino Peres, at a function held at the Kala Academy, Panjim. A premiere show of the film was held after the release ceremony. Speaking on the occasion Peres said that the film is an effective medium for mass communications and considering its importance to educate the masses, the Goa government has formulated a scheme for providing assistance for production of films in Konkani, Marathii, English and Hindi. Menino Mario Araujo, Suresh Sinari and the director of the film, Dnyaneshwar Moghe, were present on the occasion. Peres also released a book on Konkani drama 'Torsad' written by Menino Mario Araujo at the function. (GT)

Parrikar asked to face trial
PANJIM, Apr 17: The Leader of the Opposition, Manohar Parrikar, was today asked to face trial in the defamation case suit filed by Vishwajeet Rane. Perhaps for the first time in recent times, Parrikar appeared before JMFC on April 17, in the case. Charges were read out against him to which he pleaded not guilty. (H)

“Diaspora and Literature” PANJIM, Apr 18: CLP/Institute Camoes-Goa and the Portuguese Department of the Goa University in collaboration with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation organize a series of conferences under the theme ‘Diaspora and Literature’. This theme will be developed during this year through ten talks by experts and teachers of literature and Portuguese culture in Portugal, France, Spain, Brazil and India. The first session will be on 20th April, at 17.30 pm., with a talk under the title “Exile and Longing: an unstable frontier in the Poetry of the Portuguese Community in France”, by José Manuel da Costa Esteves, professor responsible for the chair Lindley Cintra of the University of Paris-Nanterre. The students of the Department of Portuguese and members of CLP/IC as well as the public in general are invited to participate in this session that will take place in the premises of the Centro de Língua Portuguesa/ Instituto Camões in Panjim (Agva House. Dr. Dada Vaidya Road – tel: 5647737).

Sketches by Premjit Baria PANJIM, Apr 17: The Consulate General of Portugal will present 'Portuguese Influence in the Architecture of Diu', an exhibition of sketches by Premjit Baria, Diu. The exhibition shall be inaugurated on April 21 in the cultural space of the Consulate General of Portugal, Altinho-Panjim. Premjit Baria started his career as an art teacher and is presently the Director of Bal Bhavan Board-Diu. He was greatly influenced by Portuguese architecture since his childhood and has been sketching since then by focusing on the architecture of Diu. The exhibition will remain open for public viewing from 22nd to 28th April between 9 A.M. and 7 P.M. (cgpinfo@sancharnet.in)

Long service award to Gurudas Gadekar
ASSAGAO: Scout Master of Assagao Union High School, Assagao, Gurudas B Gadekar, was awarded the long service award from Bardez taluka on April 9. In his 25 years service he served as an executive member, assistant commissioner for state from Bardez district, in the scout/guide movement. He was actively involved in jamborees, rallies and other activities like awareness about malaria, environment friendly programme, plastic hatao, in Assagao. (GT)

Betim fire crackers tragedy toll rises to 5
PORVORIM: The fifth victim of Betim fire crackers explosions tragedy succumbed to injuries on April 17 morning at around 5.30 am at the GMC Hospital. The deceased was studying in ninth standard in the Dona Leonor Memorial High School, Porvorim. (GT)

Room where Vivekanand lived to be thrown open
MARGAO, Apr 17: Nearly 114 years after he set foot on Goan soil, the Ramakrishna Vivekanand Seva Samiti will throw open the room where Swami Vivekananda stayed in Margao, near Damodar Sal, on the Abade Faria Road, here on April 22. It was on October 14, 1982 that Swami Vivekananda visited Margao before his revolutionary speech at the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago. The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Seva Samit says that the Swami visited Goa and stayed here for a week at a devotee's house in Margao. He also visited a few temples and churches, including the Rachol Seminary to know more about Christian theology. (H)

Cultural award to Ravindra Amonkar
PANJIM, April 178: Ravindra Amonkar, a noted theatre personality, has been bestowed with the prestigious State Cultural Award by the Directorate of Art and Culture for his contribution to theatre for more than 40 years. Amonkar, who is a member of theatre group Navrang Stars, has won several awards for the state in the field of Marathi and Konknni drama and has directed more than 290 plays to date. CM Rane will honour Amonkar on April 25 at Ana Fonte Garden, Margao. Currently, Amonkar is working as a resource person for theatre training at Bal Bhavan. (H)

Mediclaim can be extended upto Rs.3 lakh
PANJIM: Apr 17: The State government in a notification has amended the Goa Medical Scheme. The amendment is a made to Clause (ii)(a), wherein genuine cases, the Minister for Health shall be competent to sanction Mediclaim upto Rs.three lakh, says a DI press release issued here. (H)

O B I T U A R I E S

17 Apr: Calangute-Saunvtavaddo: SANTAN FERNANDES: Son of Lawrence/late Florinda, brother of Azarino/Aurolina, Francis/Joanita, Rosy, Abelina. 17 Apr: Vasco-Pixi Dongri: MILAGRES MASCARENHAS: Husband of Josephine, father of Jack/Maria, Seby, Rosita/Romeo, Edwin, Alvona. 17 Apr: Tivim-Ponxem: MATILDA D'SOUZA: Mother of Pascoal/Regina. Chandor: FELIZINHO (FELIX) VICTOR D'CRUZ: Husband of late Lauzarina, father of Justina/late Santana, Anthony/Lisbeth, Cypriano/Veena, Maritte/Felix, Edvigio/Alivia. 17 Apr: Margao-Comba: HIRABAI GURUDAS HEGDE; mother of late Damodar, Datta, Krishna, Divakar, Udai, Deepak, late Meena Umesh Keni, Kusum Yeshwant Kamat, Shalini and Durga, mother-in-law of Milan Hegde.