Ten processing centres to get annual funding support for sustainable rural economy
PANAJI
The Goa cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday approved the appointment of ‘Goa Livelihood Forum’ as the agency for implementing for GoVan, a Goa State Biodiversity Board initiative, for sustaining rural livelihoods.
The agency will manage and operate ten multi‑product processing centres set up across the State.
Sawant said that the cabinet approved the sanction of Rs one-crore annual fund for each of these centres to ensure that these function uniformly and are sustained.
GoVan, is an initiative of the Goa State Biodiversity Board and promotes sustainably harvested local products besides supporting rural livelihoods.
Fintech tie-up
Meanwhile, the cabinet also cleared a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mumbai‑based fintech firm InstaPe Synergies Pvt Ltd, in a move to modernise financial services for government staff.
Under the MoU, the company will provide earned wage access and advance facilities for salaries and pensions to the staff, Sawant said.
These services were earlier handled exclusively by the Directorate of Accounts.
PG quota
In other decisions, the cabinet’s Thursday meeting took up the issue of rules for admission to postgraduate degree courses at Goa University’s Goa Medical College for 2026. It granted its stamp of approval for the changes which will now provide quotas in PG seats for the OBC category.
Healthcare
Senior neurosurgeon Dr Ponraj K Sundaram whose one-year appointment post his superannuation is nearing an end has also been granted another year of contract service as consultant neurosurgeon in the premier healthcare institution of the State.
Yet another cabinet decision sanctioned the creation of 23 permanent posts under the Goa Rehabilitation Board.
CM rules out changes in cabinet
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday ruled out any changes in his cabinet saying there were no such plans.
Sawant who was addressing his customary press conference after Thursday’s cabinet meeting said: “There are no plans to induct any minister or drop anyone.”
He made the comment in response to a query from journalists related to reports suggesting that one minister from the current team is likely to be dropped and two more MLAs are to be inducted in his cabinet.
Sawant’s cabinet is currently one member short of the permitted size of 12 ministers. The vacancy caused by the death of Ravi Naik in October last year is yet to be filled.
Meanwhile, Sawant said he will be travelling to Guwahati and Kolkata to attend the swearing in ceremonies of the new BJP chief ministers in Assam and West Bengal.
