Mining trucks and trucks from Karnataka carrying 'sugar' are OK in Goa

Mining trucks and trucks from Karnataka carrying 'sugar' are OK. Nothing surprising many Goans know how your government works as much as you and I do.

My heart goes out to feel sorry for you more than it does to all the lesser privileged Indians fighting for their daily bread in this covid times.

 *The #hypocrisy of the Goa government led by #PramodSawant*

All Goans stay at home, as per PM's request. However, hundreds of air polluting mining trucks allowed to transport ore with no precautions during lockdown and in violation of existing guidelines of 25 trucks per hour.

Better way to kill people than Covid19.

Here's an email appeal from the tribal population of Caurem and the Tribal Association of Goa (GAKUVED). Please share on all Goa groups:

"We are are writing this e-mail on behalf of Villagers of Caurem of *Quepem* taluka which is a mining affected village. Caurem is a tribal village and we have experience of our past that when it comes to the rights of the

tribals, all the laws are being compromised to benefit few powerful and rich people.

Grievance raised by the Caurem villagers Today (22.04.2020) we are observing uncontrolled mining transportation from TC 59/51 which is being carried out by Minescape Minerals Pvt Ltd. Hundreds of laden and unladen trucks are plying on the village roads and it is very difficult for the villagers to even cross the road. The present transportation is posing high risk to the life and health of the villagers.

The authorities are well aware that the Nation is following a lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore we as a villagers are very shocked to see  the gross ignorance of the authorities which has failed to notice that the mining company, Minescape Minerals Pvt Ltd (TC 59/51) is allowing the mining trucks to violate all the traffic rules making roads congested and also undermines the other laws in force. Overtaking by the trucks is an all time event happening at high slope at 'Bhindivoil - Caurem'. To justify  this, We have a case. You may ask the mining company or Megasoft to provide records such as time of loading, time of trip sheet generated, numbers of trucks overtaken during the route on 22.04.2020 by the truck bearing registration number GA - 09 - U - 0869. The said truck was found overtaking other trucks.

Beside this, there is no social distance is bbeig maintained by the truck drivers as well as by the mine staff at the mine site. The truck drivers are usually seen in groups without wearing masks during their waiting period. Many of these drivers are not native of this State and there are chances of spreading the infection of COVID-19 through these non-native drivers.If any untoward incident happens, then the authorities should be held responsible.

Recently, a news was circulated through local dailies that only 25 trucks per hour will be allowed on village roads. Contrary to this, we are observing about 200 laden trucks plying per hour on the village roads. This makes the mockery of lock down. We all are aware that the COVID-19 positive cases in our neighboring States are increasing day by day especially in Belagaum district of Karnataka State, we were expecting the authorities to be very cautious about the movement of people. But unfortunately we are shocked to see such a negligence by the authorities when it comes to the greed of the mining corporates.

In view of the above GAKUVED FEDRATION demands that the authorities should take urgent necessary urgent steps at their end. If any law and order situation arises due to panic situations, then the authorities will be held responsible.

Anticipating your early action in this regard to avoid the occurrence of any untoward incident.

Thanking You

#RupeshVelip

General Secretary, 

#GAKUVEDFEDERATION

Caurem village in Goa on boil as mining resumes during Coronavirus lockd...

Made to bound as a slave by my Manglorean madam, says Udipi girl

     
Made to bound as a slave by my Manglorean madam, says  Udipi girl
Indians constitute the largest work force that the oil-powered economies of the GCC countries employ in various segments. But the low-income groups of migrant workers have often being denied their employment rights, in majority of the cases.

The most harassed and neglected lot who face abuse and denials of rights are the house maids. Here another Mangalorean maid Lessy (name changed) tells us why she took up the job in spites of the dangers involved in it, taking the illegal route to Qatar from Mangalore, to escape an alcoholic husband and his beating and to give the children, good education.
I am a mother of two children – a girl and a boy. My husband left me ten years back. He turned his back to me for another woman. Leading a life with him was a living hell. During the day time when he was sober, he was perfect gentlemen, a perfect husband and father.
But the devil in him came out when he got intoxicated. Every night he use to come home in an inebriated state, break all the utensils, beat me and spoiled the sleep of the children. Finally after twelve years of marriage and beatings, I decided enough of the torture. I walked away from him with the children, but then he accused me of having an illicit affair.
I had nowhere to go. The doors of my parental house had closed on my face, when I decided to marry outside my caste. Ours was a loved marriage and a forced wedlock, as I became pregnant and to escape the social disgrace of being an unwed mother, we married.
I was in the eleventh standard of higher secondary education, which is one class after the school education. He was in his final year of graduation. After working completing his studies he changed many jobs and finally after three years he got a government job.
With marriage and child birth, the education dreams died a painful death for me- which are some of the regretful , impulsive decisions, which I took and falling in love and having unprotected sex were some of them.
After moving out of his house to sustain myself and my two children, sold whatever golf ornaments I had and took a room on rent and the rest of the money (Rs.20,000) I paid to the agent, who promised me to look for a job in Qatar. If I wanted him to pay for my and the children’s maintenance, I would have to go for a lengthy process of approaching the courts which I was not prepared. So I took the easy option out.
After one month, he finally found me a job with a Mangalorean Christian - Mumbai Muslim husband and wife who had two children. No contract, no signing of papers. It was mutual trust and the word of the agent which I trusted. I was promised Rs. 8000 per month. In Goa I got only Rs.120 per day for a day’s work.
My job was to cook and look after the children, wash the clothes, wash the floor, clean the surroundings outside the villa - well almost a twenty-four job.
After working here for the last ten years, I now know that I have to get one month’s leave every year and there should a weekly off day for me. And that $500 has been fixed as the minimum remuneration by the Qatari government for maids and by the Indian government. But that is only on paper and not for me. But most maids get paid $200 to 300 per month.
I start my day at six in the morning and my duties end at eleven in the night. No break in the middle- back breaking task indeed. I am fortunate that there are no physical abuse which many of my Indian maids have been recounting to me whenever I meet them for the Friday mass at the Roman Catholic Church.
But I am constantly verbally abused by madam and my day’s salary is cut whenever the food is not to my sponsors liking.
But like most maids here I have come through the illegal route here, I cannot complain now, I was in a desperate situation. I was ready to take the risk. But I want other Mangalorean and Indian maids to be educated of their rights and not to fall trap to the agents. Most of the maids coming to work here want a secure further for their children and most complain about having a chronic drunkard husband back home.
In Goa, the police agents are running a racket by which the politicians, police all get paid for sending the maids illegally to different GCC countries. A system called “pushing” thrives at the Goan airport, where maids are pushed through the immigration channels by the corrupt police officials, for a fee. The Indian government has banned maids below the age of 30 but age restriction continues to be floated.
When a new maid reaches here, she is fortunate if she knows someone, otherwise it is a mental torture, if she lends in a messy situation. The so-called social organizations of Indians and of Konkani –speaking people based in different GCC countries are of little help. They play succor to only the rich and the fabulous, organizing dances and parties, football events. If you ask them if they have data base of any Indian maids or domestic helps working in a particular country, they are blank.
The other problem is Indian government does not mention about such organization in any of their publicity material, to whom the distressed maids can look forward to help in a land of alien language, and culture. I have heard of the Non Residents India (NRI) cells being set up to help Indians in different countries, but all that only on paper

Over 2000 German citizens evacuated from India

Around 600 German tourists who were stranded in Goa have been air lifted thanks to the special arrangements made Air India and the German Embassy in India.

The German evacuation operations spread across several cities and states saw over 2100 German and European countries flying out from India during the last few days, German authorities said.

“With so far 7 evac flights we brought home 2100 stranded travelers from Delhi & other Indian cities to GER. Working 24/7 with IND authorities in Delhi & States & AI to bring home more. Currently airborne: our 8th evac with 315 people (2nd ex Goa). Check your mails if registered!,” tweeted @AmbLindnerIndia, Walter J. Lindner, German Ambassador to India.

Besides Goa, the German embassy in India was able to get its national from several places like Rishikesh and Jaipur and put them to flights heading to Germany from Delhi.

A day earlier Linder tweeted: “Another 1100 stranded travellers (GER & appr 10% EU) on way to Frankfurt from various IND cities on special repat flights chartered by GER Gov. Thanks for very close coop Air India & IND Gov (esp MEA). Registred GER travellers: please check emails constantly for more evac flights.”

Among the many passengers stranded in Goa was a German-born girl of Goan lineage, who was a brief holiday in the coastal resort state, and who took the Tuesday early morning flight to Frankfrut.

“The parents were anxious when the news of the first lockdown came from India and they got more worried when the lockdown was extended. Their concerns grew with the Indian government banning all flights originating from India,” said Trevor Antao, whose friend’s daughter was one of the lucky ones to board the flight from Candolim.

The German embassy arranged buses from all over Goa and the tourists were picked up from the designated meeting points and were house at the Verna evacuation camp.

“The parents are happy and relaxed to see her back,” added Candolim –based former Sesa Goa SC footballer Trevor.

The German nationals were thankful to the Goa Chief Minister of Goa, for the swift action and permissions granted to allow the German and other Europeans to travel to Goa airport from their current location and Lufthansa planes and affiliated companies to receive permission to land in Goa.

The tourists were allowed to board the planes, regardless whether they have previously arrived in India by scheduled or chartered flights.

Those passengers with temperature over 37.3° were not allowed to board the flights.

One German Tome Heine, from Munich Germany, who was based in Arambol was critical of the arrangements made as no social distancing was maintained during the evacuation by the embassy people.

“Absolute madness. No Indian would dare right now. But Germans don't care, like at.all...,” he said.

The first flight with German passengers took off on 31^st March from Dabolim airport with the last of the scheduled flights taking off on Thursday morning.

A few German nationals from Kerala were also able to return to their home country.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan @vijayanpinarayi took to tweeter to say : “232 German and other EU nationals were able to return to their homeland from Kerala. We are happy to learn that they have reached safely. We hope that, once this ordeal is finished, they will visit our State again. Danke”.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility of more flights taking off from Goa with German depending on how many are left behind,” said one German.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, with an aim to extend support to the foreign tourists who are stranded in our country because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has set up a portal to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by them.

The portal is titled ‘Stranded in India’ strandedinindia.com and it is also hosted on Incredible India website incredibleindia.org.

The portal will help tourists get information/details of State Tourism departments and Regional offices of Ministry of tourism to help you to stay safe and healthy while in India.

It will also has information on ways of getting back to your home country.

In Goa, the State Executive Committee (SEC has appointed Superintendent of Police, FRRO Shri Bosco George frrogoa@nic.in as Nodal Officer for all foreigners related matters such as evacuation, movement or otherwise.

Life of a locked down Sailor #Lockdowndiaries from #Goa

Life of a locked down Sailor

#Lockdowndiaries from #Goa

The Lord of the sea will never ever abandon his daring sailors and with this in mind, we the sailors set on a voyage. Long sailings itself is a sort of quarantine and we the sailors have been doing it for ages.

In my 22 years of life at sea, I have done several voyages of about 30-45 days at sea and still remember  a voyage during the beginning of my sea career somewhere in 1999 wherein we sailed from a Port(cannot remember the name) to Santos in Brazil which was known as a "Seamen Paradise" those days. The sailing itself was 45 days and with 30 more days at anchorage the total passage was of 75 days.

We survived on fish which we fished at anchorage and our potable water tanks almost went dry and that too in those days where we all hardly heard of so called internet and people like me had to wait for months to say hello to my mother who was anxiously waiting to hear my voice and with those wages, beginners like me couldn't even think of a radio call. Imagine 75 days at sea, same faces, same routines with abuses sometimes, no contact with the family, nothing called as face book or whatsapp,no live TV, rationed water, survival on fishing luck and we did it.

Not just once but  several times. Can’t we do it just for just 21 days and that too for very valid reasons for our own safety and of our near and dear ones with so much internet entertainment at our disposal? It’s not worth blaming the central or state government. We get what we deserve and we all have elected them. Let us stay home and avoid venturing out for no valid reason. It is the best opportunity for us, Catholics to repent and pray as we are in the season of lent. Prayers can make miracles.

Presently 22 of us are self-quarantine on a vessel at Mossel Bay in South Africa.Vessel.still sails between on/offshore. Situation on board is not easy and comfortable as before because the vessel has a local crew on board and they are not allowed to go on shore leave when the vessel is fast alongside. The management level officers are handling the situation in a very professional manner. A friendly environment is the need of the hour at this time of crisis and we succeeded in convincing the locals and making them aware of the present day scene created by the deadly invisible Virus.

Lock-down is the need of the hour and needs to be handled in a very professional manner with due respect to humanity and the general public as responsible citizens need to support this lock-down sportingly. Unnecessary high handedness by the people in power can have a reversible effect and in this present kind of crisis, ugly human acts can lead to an instant disaster.

Last but not the least, from miles away from my Goa, request my fellow goans and countrymen as a whole to stay at home,repent and pray if you believe in prayers. Let mother Earth rest and breathe peacefully for some days. We harmed her a lot for our selfish personal gains but I am sure she will never abandon her children. This phase  will pass off shortly. The creator of the earth just wants to make us aware of where exactly the human power stands. Hope the mankind will be renewed once this Virus passes off.

Stay home, Stay Safe.

Viva!

Joel Morais

Master Mariner

P.O.Cuncolim,

Bencleamvaddo,

Salcette,Goa.

Mob-9970561727

#Russian citizens to be evacuated from Goa

#Russian citizens to be evacuated from Goa, the Britishers are still awaiting the dates, sad indeed.

Flights from South India
I. For Russian citizens who are in the state of Kerala, the export flight from the #Trivandrum airport will be carried out by the company # Ural Airlines on April 4 at 14:00.
# Kerala State Contact: Honorary Consul Ratish Nair, tel. +919847324024.
Organized transfer to the airport will be carried out from: Kochi, picking up on April 4 at 02:30 (contact person: Mr.Vincent, tel. +917995107021),
Place of collection: Regional passport office building, near IDBI corporate office, Shihab Thangal road, Panampilli nagar, Kochi; Vizhinjam, collection on April 4 at 06.15,
Place of collection: KSRTC Bus Stand; Kovalam city, gathering on April 4 at 06:30, Gathering place: Kovalam bus stop (Leela hotel junction); Varkala town, gathering April 4 at 06.45,
Place of collection: near Varkala Helipad; Trivandrum, gathering April 4 at 07:00, Collection point: Uday Suites - The Garden Hotel, address: T.C. 34, 757/3, Watts Ln, Shangumukham.

II. For Russian citizens who are in the states of #AndhraPradesh, #Karnataka, #Tamilnadu, #Telengana and the Union Territory #Puducherry,
the Ural Airlines will take out the flight from #Chennai airport on April 5 at 20:00.
Organized transfer to the airport will be carried out from: Tiruvannamalai, collection on April 5 at 07:00,
Place of collection: at the cafe Pravish cake palace, address: Vettavalam Road, New bypass, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu; Puducherry, gathering April 5 at 10:00, Place of collection: in the square in front of The Sacred Heart Basilica, address: South Boulevard, Near Railway Station, MG Road Area, Puducherry; Mamallapuram, gathering April 5 at 12:30,
Place of collection: at the entrance to the Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay Mamallapuram, address: 57 Covelong Road, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu; Puttaparthi, gathering April 5 at 01:00,
Place of collection: Kota Function Hall address: Kota Function Hall, Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh; Bangalore, gathering April 5 at 06:00, Place of collection: Sree Krishna Travels, address: 323, below Muthoot Finance, near Police Station, Madiwala, Venkatapura, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

III. For Russian citizens located in the northern state of # Karnataka (Gokarna, Kumta, Uduppi), Ural Airlines will take off from #Dabolim Airport (Goa) on April 6 at 17:00. Information about places and time of collection will be published additionally. #Lockdowndiaries from #Goa