PANAJI
A child who had once expressed dissatisfaction over the development of Panaji and had aspired to bring about some change in the town is now helping plan United Nations Environment Programme for the world.
Relatives of newly-appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General Dr Ligia Noronha are not only proud of her achievement, but said she has made Goa and India proud.
“I discovered a spark in her when, at age 12 or 13, she told me she was absolutely dissatisfied with the way Panaji town was being developed and that she was aspiring to be on the Town Planning Commission in order to bring some change,” recalled Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, a cousin of Dr Noronha and secretary to Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrao.
“Today, she is helping plan our Planet Earth!”
Another close relative and social activist Adv Savio Correia said Dr Noronha’s elevation as UN Asst Secretary General is unprecedented, one that no Goan has accomplished before.
“She has made India and Goa proud. UNEP stands at the core of action in the fight against climate change. Her appointment as head of its New York office comes at a time when climate change is displacing vulnerable populations, which in turn is threatening global peace and security,” said Correia.
Hailing from Panaji, Dr Noronha is the daughter of Carmo Noronha, a prominent civil servant in the Portuguese government.
She completed her secondary education at the Our Lady of Rosary High School (Dona Paula) and graduation at the Sophia College in Mumbai.
She briefly worked at the Carmel College in Nuvem and Sophia College, before securing a central government scholarship to pursue her Master’s degree in Sea Use Law, Economics and Policy from the London School of Economics.
Dr Noronha is married to Professor Peter Ronald de Souza, former HOD of political science at Goa University and presently the DD Kosambi visiting professor at Goa University. Their three children, Siddharth, Gayatri and Roshni, are pursuing their doctoral studies in UK and Germany.
