From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network Goa

Margao, August 11, 2006

Marathi Bachav

Marathi Bachav Andolan, on Thursday staged a dharna here in front of Collector Building in the interest of Marathi language and to preserve the Goan culture with Marathi.
 
Stalwarts of Marathi literature and linguistics took an active part in the dharna and shouted anti-education department slogans as the minister of education Luizinho Faleiro has introduced English from Std. I in the state. The agitators demanded that the government cancel the introduction of English subject from Std I as it would take today’s generation away from the Goan culture, which one could get only if a person knew read Marathi.
 
Erstwhile editor of Rashtramat daily published in Marathi, Sitaram Tengse said that this was an alarm to Goans, and they should awake now to preserve goan Identity and culture with Marathi.  

Lions' plan for eye hospital

The Lions Club International have its 200 eye treatment hospitals across the world, now it would add one more in Goa if state government provide them land to construct the building.

The District cabinet of District Governor Ln. Balachandra R Yaji, Lions District 324-D2 will be ceremonially installed at Majorda Beach resort, on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 4.00 p.m.

In this connection, Yaji addressed a press conference in a city hotel and said that he would try his best to build the eye treatment hospital through Lions Club International in Goa with the help of Government.

324-D2 is a District of Lions Club International from Pednem-Goa to Belapur-North Karnataka. This installation ceremony will be attended by over 600 delegates from the states of Goa and Karnataka. The District cabinet with around 280 members, and the Vice District Governor Ln. Shrikant Shanbhag will be administered the oath of office. The District Governor Ln. Yaji has already been ceremonially installed at the International Convention at Boston, USA on July 4, 2006.

The chief guest on the August 12 function will be Digamber Kamat, minister for power and mines, and the installing officer is Lion K. G. Ramkrishnamurthy, International Director, Lions Club International.

Lions Clubs International has the largest service organization in the world. It was established in the year 1917. Today it has 45168 clubs with 1,317,614 members across the world.
 
The motto of the organization is ‘We Serve’, and in keeping with this many humanitarian and service activities are regularly undertaken such as campaign Sight First, help in times of natural calamities, floods and others, Yaji further said.
 
He said that he has also propose to arrange special Olympic for physically challenged persons.

Steps against thefts in prayer-houses
 
To curb the thefts and burglaries taking place in religious and domestic places in the state, the police department has taken suitable steps and  has joined hands with the priests, Mhajans (members of temples) and Maulanas of masjids.
 
South Goa Police officials had convened the meeting of all the priest of Salcete area churches, members of temples and Maulanas of Masjids and they were told that they should opt for their own security personals, as police cannot give individual security to all the religious places. But the police assured them a good patrolling system will work throughout the week, month and the year.
 
All the heads of religious places are told to keep their valuable articles or gold Items in a safes and they should be taken out only during the festivals, said DySP Salcete Tony Fernandes, while speaking to Daijiworld Correspondent.
 
There is a shortage of around 160 police staff in south Goa, including 34 sub inspectors. When contacted regarding this, DIG Ujwal Mishra said the posts would be soon filled by recruitment. 
 
A spate of theft cases was witnessed in the churches in last eight months in South Goa, but so far no one has been arrested with this connection.