Author: Team Admin

Goemkarponn Desk SALCETE: In a bid to ensure food safety and hygiene, the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Goa, conducted a series of surprise inspections across Salcete taluka, targeting chicken-selling outlets and food retail units. As part of the drive, ten chicken-selling units located in Varca, Orlim, and Carmona were inspected for compliance with hygiene standards and regulatory licensing. Officials found that the majority of these establishments were operating without valid licenses issued under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). According to FDA sources, several units were functioning from makeshift structures without basic infrastructure such…

Almost every day now, Goa’s newspapers and online news portals carry yet another grim headline: “Senior Citizen Duped of Lakhs,” “Job Seeker Loses Savings,” “Man Cheated in Online Investment Scam.” The stories have become so frequent that they no longer shock. This normalisation of cyber fraud is perhaps the most alarming aspect of all. What is happening in Goa? Why, despite repeated warnings by the Goa Police, public advisories by the state government, and nationwide campaigns by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, do we continue to see fresh victims falling prey to the same old tactics? The reality is…

By Irfan Iqbal Gheta We have long treated teachers as nothing short of gods. Every Teacher’s Day, we honour them for moulding us into who we are. No one disputes the role a teacher plays in shaping society. But the job of a teacher today is far more complex than it once was. Technology, information overload, and increasing student assertiveness have altered classroom dynamics. Authenticity of online information is rarely questioned, and often, teachers find themselves defending their teaching methods or — worse — their competence. This constant scrutiny places teachers under tremendous stress. And while stress is no excuse,…

Team GPN I Panaji: There is something undeniably melancholic about watching an old landmark take its final bow, not in a dignified retirement but in a shroud of decay. The order to evacuate Junta House within 30 days has come as no surprise to anyone who ever set foot inside those worn corridors. In truth, this building should have been demolished decades ago. But like so many things in Goa, it was allowed to limp on – an architectural relic turned bureaucratic hazard. For years, Junta House has stood as Panaji’s tallest building, its pale facade visible from every corner…

By Suraj Nandrekar Long before the days of Prime deliveries and instant noodles, I remember hearing a story that always made my uncles at the chai shop roar with laughter. It was about three old friends meeting after years apart. One had settled in America, another in Japan, and the third had stayed back in India. Over plates of stale wafers and endless cups of tea, they began the inevitable comparison game. The American boasted: “Brother, in the US, anything you order arrives in 30 minutes. That’s how developed we are!” Not to be outdone, the Japanese friend sniffed: “Thirty…

By Satyavatinandan Satrekar As heavy monsoon showers drench Goa this year, the state is enjoying an early respite from the punishing summer heat. But while the rains bring relief, they also lay bare an unfolding crisis in Goa’s hinterland—one that threatens fragile ecosystems and the very wildlife that makes this landscape special. From Beaches to Forests: The Tourism Shift In the decades after Goa’s liberation, tourists began flocking to the state’s once-pristine coastal belt. In no time, these serene beaches transformed into bustling hotspots. Unplanned cement constructions, traffic congestion, untreated sewage, and mounds of garbage soon followed, burdening coastal communities…

SURAJ NANDREKAR In a vibrant democracy, the legislative assembly is the pulse of the state — a place where elected representatives deliberate, question, legislate, and uphold the will of the people. But in Goa, the numbers paint a disturbing picture: over the last six years, the State Legislative Assembly has met for just 142 days. This amounts to an average of barely 23 sitting days per year — a figure that is not only well below national recommendations but also a worrying indicator of democratic backsliding. For a government that claims to be “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” this…