Latest news with #PramodSawant
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Goa plans global capability, AI excellence hubs to boost startups
Panaji: Plans to set up a Global Capability Centre and a Centre of Excellence in AI and machine learning are firming up, said chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday at the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 — Market Access Expo. He also announced that the proposed State Data Centre will help provide secure, scalable infrastructure for e-governance, GIS (geographic information system) mapping of govt assets and services, and the delivery of essential govt services. 'I am pleased to share that there are plans to set up a Global Capability Centre in Goa. It will support IT firms, startups, and new industries,' he said. 'This major project will help create jobs, attract investment, and push Goa's ITES (information technology enabled services) and digital economy over time.' The CM added, 'A Centre of Excellence is also being planned to develop advanced skills, encourage research, and promote collaboration between the industry and educational institutes, especially in the areas of AI and machine learning.' Sawant said Goa has 635 startups recognised by the Centre's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, with 281 certified under the state's IT promotion cell, and financial assistance of Rs 3.9 crore being disbursed to 147 startups so far. The chief minister also said that the coding and robotics programme for schools has already reached over 65,000 students in more than 440 schools. He said that the support being offered through various schemes such as the Rs 10 lakh startup assistance, Rs 15,000 salary support, and incubation opportunities will benefit local startups. The Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 — Market Access Expo provides mentorship, market access, and momentum for startups. 'Young Indians are being encouraged to create their own opportunities. Govt of Goa is working to create the right environment where startups can get funding, guidance, and real-world testing opportunities to grow and scale,' Sawant said. He urged startups, venture capitalists, innovators, and the IT ecosystem not to underestimate Goa. 'Start small here and scale across India. We are building not just for ourselves, we are building for India,' Sawant said.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
IIT Goa on mind, govt begins land demarcation at sugar factory site
Panaji: State govt started the demarcation of land at Sanjivani sugar factory site in Dharbandora to set up a permanent campus for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Goa. A senior govt officer said they will complete the demarcation soon. The demarcation of land is being done, keeping aside the encroachment on the land. Once the demarcation is completed, the proposal will be sent to Union govt. The site inspection team will then visit the site to decide whether it is suitable for setting up the permanent IIT Goa campus. State govt directed the South Goa collector to conduct a field survey of the land belonging to the sugar factory to detect any encroachment. Initially, govt decided to restart the sugar factory and reserved the surrounding area for it. Then, govt approved the setting up of the permanent campus of IIT Goa. A senior officer said that a plot of 10 lakh sqm is necessary for setting up IIT Goa. Chief minister Pramod Sawant ordered a field survey to ascertain encroachment claims, if any, and the submission of a report so that the plot can be handed over to IIT Goa, the officer said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 75% off installation for LeafFilter LeafFilter Gutter Protection Learn More Undo TOI reported that state govt shortlisted the land belonging to Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd at Dharbandora to execute its plan to set up the permanent campus of IIT Goa. State govt first transferred the land belonging to the sugar factory to set up the campus of International Law University, but now, it has decided to shift the university to Mayem. The land allotted to the university, as well as additional land, will be utilised to set up IIT Goa's permanent campus. IIT Goa became operational in the state in 2016 and has been functioning from a temporary campus on Goa Engineering College premises at Farmagudi. Several land parcels identified for the permanent campus project over the years were either rejected by the Union education ministry's site selection committee or faced protests from locals due to several reasons.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
International Yoga Day: Goa govt plans sessions at 15,000 locations
Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that Goa will see its biggest-ever International Yoga Day celebrations this year on June 21. Yoga sessions have been planned in every school, college, police station, fire station, panchayat, govt office and primary health centre in the state. He said that yoga will be performed at 10,000 to 15,000 locations across Goa, including public places like bus stands and sports complexes. 'We will ensure that not a single village is left without a yoga session being conducted there on the day. I call on every person to at least make it the start of their yoga journey. Those working on the day can observe yoga breaks, yoga at the workplace, yoga at the chair, yoga for workaholic protocols. Yoga can be performed using the protocol even while sitting in a chair,' said Sawant. Every yoga event held on the day by any person in the state should be registered on the central Yoga Sangam portal so that the real extent of Yoga Day celebrations held in Goa is visible, he said. The CM said that the directorate of higher education conducts yoga through Art of Living instructors for its staffers every day and said that the state wants to see more govt offices incorporating this practice. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch xu hướng AUD/USD? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'It will help reduce non-communicable diseases if one observes day-to-day practice. We have a target of conducting yoga at 10,000 to 15,000 locations,' said Sawant. The state-level event, where hundreds will perform yoga at one location, will be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium for common yoga protocol from 6am to 8am, where the PM's speech will also be telecast live, said the CM. The department of sports and youth affairs has also organised yoga sessions at 11 taluka locations at the different sports complexes. The theme for this year's Yoga Day is 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health' to protect Mother Earth and health. Aayush Goa state deputy director Dr Meenal Joshi said that her department will be holding Harit Yoga sessions at beautiful locations like plantations and iconic locations. 'Yoga sessions for divyang, children, senior citizens, and marginalised sections will be held at schools and senior citizen homes, etc. During Harit Yoga sessions, we will also be distributing herbal plants,' said Joshi. Isha Foundation will hold sessions for the Indian Navy at Verem and Vasco, police stations at Calangute and Anjuna, Sanjay School for Special Children, for Goa Shipyard and municipality staff in Margao, among others, said their representative. Yogasana Sports Association will hold power yoga competitions like handstand walk competition, contests to hold yoga poses over an extended time, and Suryanamaskar competition for higher secondary school students. Brahmakumari Vanita said that her organisation will hold yoga sessions at the Goa State Pollution Control Board and Colvale Central Jail, among others. 'In Goa, 26% of the population is diabetic and this figure could touch 50% in the next decade or so. Daily practice of yoga can keep us safe from these diseases. Last year, 604 programmes were organised by us on Yoga Day. This year we will cross that figure. Special yoga programmes for women in four talukas will also be organised by us,' said Bharat Swabhiman Trust's Kamlesh Bandekar. Goa Council of Ayurveda and Other Allied Systems of Medicine's Dr Sneha Bhagwat said they will hold yoga sessions at Selaulim Dam. Dr Anura Bale said Gomantak Ayurveda College, Shiroda, will hold a yoga session at Goa Medical College.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Ministers removal from Goa cabinet: Oppn hits out at govt over corruption
Agency: PTI Panaji, Jun 19 (PTI) The opposition parties in Goa have targeted the Pramod Sawant government over alleged corruption after the removal of Art and Culture minister Govind Gaude from the state cabinet. Gaude was on Wednesday dropped from the state cabinet, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The notification issued by state Under Secretary (General Administration) Shreyas DSilva did not mention the official reason for his sacking. Speaking to reporters late Wednesday evening, Goa Congress chief Amit Patkar claimed several ministers in Sawant-led cabinet were involved in corruption and needed to be removed. AAP Goa president Amit Palekar in a post on his X handle welcomed Gaude's removal and claimed his party, with the help of people of the state, will bring down the Sawant government. Goa Forward Party head Vijai Sardesai said the minister was never removed in the past when there were allegations of corruption against him. 'But, now when he raised allegations of corruption in the tribal department, the government acted against him," Sardesai said. First Published: June 19, 2025, 09:15 IST
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Will tackle exploitation in private sector, ensure job security: Sawant
Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant held a review meeting with industry representatives on Wednesday to discuss employment opportunities available in the private sector in Goa. Sawant said that state govt will come down heavily on industries if any private employer is found exploiting workers. He said the state will also ensure that from July 1, the private sector passes on the benefits under employee welfare funds to its workers. He said that around Rs 600 crore of welfare funds are awaiting disbursal at present to employees. 'The industry associations are saying that jobs are available on a large scale in Goa, from welder to postgraduate levels. We saw that there is no safety and security in the jobs,' the CM said. 'We have spoken to industries and tried to resolve these issues. Once a youth joins apprenticeship, we have told the industry that they should retain the youth only if they intend to keep him in the company, otherwise they should let him go. ' He added, 'Labour exploitation should not be done by any company. Henceforth, govt will act on anyone trying to exploit labour. Minimum wages should be implemented 100%. Labour commissioner will act against those who do not pay these wages.' He said that the state will also ensure that for supervisory or engineering-level jobs which require high skills, the company should pay a scale higher than the minimum wage of Rs 560 per day. 'We are holding discussions and will get it done. Another issue was the transportation of workers. We will provide transport facilities from the main bus stands to the industries across Goa,' Sawant said. 'We have also told industries to appoint only Goan contractors.' Labour welfare fund and construction worker welfare fund to the tune of Rs 600 crore are waiting to be utilised by companies for the welfare of their employees, the CM said. 'From July 1, the companies will be asked to give the funds to their employees under 16 different schemes from house construction to scholarships. We will see that Pradhan Mantri Bhima Yojana is implemented for 100% of employees of the private sector,' Sawant said. He added, 'We will ensure that private sector employees also get 100% of their employee provident fund. We will introduce health checkups for them and coaching classes for NEET and JEE for the children of employees of the private sector.'
