Minister for Tribal Welfare, Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar, attended the day-long 7th Adivasi Vidhyarthi Sammelan, organised by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Director of Sports Dr. Ajay Gaude, Director of Tribal Welfare Nilesh Dhiagodkar, Chairman of the Goa State Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation Ltd. Vasudev Gaunkar, and President of the North Goa Zilla Panchayat Dhaku Madkaikar, along with other officials and representatives.
The Sammelan focused on motivating tribal students, highlighting educational opportunities, and reinforcing the government’s commitment towards the academic, social, and overall development of students from tribal communities.
The programme served as a platform for interaction between students and policymakers, aiming to strengthen awareness about welfare schemes and initiatives designed for the upliftment of Scheduled Tribe students in Goa.
Vedanta Sesa Goa, one of India’s most established mining companies with a seven-decade legacy in Goa, observed National Girl Child Day and the International Day of Education by conducting meaningful student-centric programmes at Shri Mahamaya High School, Maem. The initiative reflected the company’s continued focus on empowering girls and promoting holistic educational development among young learners.
As part of the engagement, students interacted with Ms. Simran Narvekar, a player from the Sesa Football Academy, who shared her personal journey in sports. Her story of perseverance and self-belief served as a source of motivation, especially for girl students, encouraging them to pursue their aspirations with confidence, resilience, and determination.
The session was followed by an interactive quiz competition, providing students with an opportunity to showcase their knowledge, critical thinking abilities, and enthusiasm for learning in a lively and engaging environment.
Speaking on the occasion, Navin Jaju, CEO of Vedanta Sesa Goa, said that the company remains committed to empowering the nation’s future through inclusive education, skills development, and equal opportunities. He highlighted initiatives such as Project Vriddhi, Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarships, the Sesa Technical School, and the Sesa Football Academy as key platforms enabling youth—especially young girls—to realise their potential and aspirations, while contributing to the vision of a developed India.
Suman Gaonkar, Principal of Shri Mahamaya High School, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, noting that the interaction with Ms. Narvekar was highly motivating for students, while the quiz encouraged active participation and critical thinking. She added that such engagements play a significant role in building confidence and supporting the overall growth of children.
In a parallel educational initiative, students and teachers from Holy Cross High School, Siolim–Bardez, visited the Sesa Technical School and the Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines. The exposure visit offered valuable insights into vocational and technical education pathways, along with sustainable mining and land reclamation practices, enriching the participants’ academic understanding.
Through continued engagement with schools and educational institutions, Vedanta Sesa Goa remains focused on fostering learning, inclusion, and youth empowerment. These initiatives underline the company’s commitment to creating enabling environments that encourage education, confidence, and positive social impact across communities.
The Bicholim Free Legal Aid Cell successfully organised a one-day “Jan Seva Camp” at the Village Panchayat Hall, Sal, Goa, providing a range of essential public services to local residents. The initiative witnessed active participation from the community, with over 80 residents availing benefits during the camp.
The camp offered assistance for several key services, including Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) registration, Aadhaar card correction, and ABHA card issuance. In addition, citizens received support for online residence certificates, divergence certificates, DDSSY card renewal, PAN card services, and drafting of affidavits, among others.
The programme was conducted under the guidance of Faculty In-charge, Assistant Professor Rhucha Garde, and coordinated efficiently by students-in-charge Miss Diya Deulkar and Miss Maithili Gawas. The camp also received support from Sarpanch Mrs. Neeta Raut, whose presence added to the smooth conduct of the event.
The Jan Seva Camp served as an effective platform to bring government schemes and legal assistance closer to the people, reaffirming the Free Legal Aid Cell’s commitment to community service and access to justice at the grassroots level.
St Xavier’s High School, Moira, has taken an important step in strengthening its commitment to inclusive and quality education with the inauguration of a dedicated Academic Resource Room, established with the support of the PACT Foundation. The inauguration was held in the presence of Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Purificacao Fernandes, Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Founder of the PACT Foundation, Headmistress Noreen Dias and Manager Fr Alexander Pereira. The ceremony began with a solemn welcome, followed by prayers and blessings over the new facility. A marble plaque was unveiled and the ribbon was cut to mark the formal opening of the room. Students presented a prayer dance and a reflective monologue, creating an atmosphere of dignity and inspiration.
In his message, Bishop Fernandes drew on the example of St Francis Xavier, highlighting the acronym SFX – Space, Fostering and ‘Xtra’. He explained that the new space was created to nurture curiosity, encourage growth and provide students with the tools, support and guidance they need to learn without struggle. He emphasised that the room is designed to foster excellence not through comparison, but through collaboration and the discovery of individual potential. Whether for remedial learning, creative projects or skill development, the space invites both teachers and students to go the extra mile and to embrace lifelong learning. He also recognised Dr Ashwin Fernandes for his dedication in extending similar educational initiatives across several schools in Goa.
Dr Fernandes expressed his appreciation for the school’s commitment to student welfare and outlined the purpose behind the new Academic Resource Room. He described it as a safe haven for students who require additional academic support and a vital space for specially-abled children, made accessible by its location on the ground floor. He shared that the project forms part of the PACT Foundation’s Happy School Project, an initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of education in rural Goa. Since 2023, the Foundation has been working to strengthen under-resourced schools by improving infrastructure, integrating technology and promoting inclusive learning environments. He reaffirmed the Foundation’s mission to provide every child with access to quality education and highlighted the room’s role in supporting students who wish to use it for extra study, equipped with a smart board and modern facilities.
Headmistress Noreen Dias expressed deep gratitude to the PACT Foundation for its consistent support through multiple projects, including the renovated pre-primary playground, the smart classroom and now the Academic Resource Room. She shared that creating such a room had long been her dream, especially for the children with special needs at the school. She noted that the use of modern technology, including the smart board, white board and improved furniture, would motivate students and significantly support their learning. She was particularly relieved that the room is located on the ground floor, making it easily accessible for a specially-abled student who previously struggled to reach the earlier resource space on an upper floor.
Fr Alexander Pereira, Manager and Parish Priest of Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Moira, described Dr Fernandes as a blessing to the school and highlighted the numerous projects the PACT Foundation has supported, including the playground for pre-kindergarten students and the smart classrooms. He expressed his hope that this meaningful collaboration would continue to enhance the facilities available to children in Moira and the surrounding areas. The launch of the Academic Resource Room stands as a testament to the school’s vision of providing an environment where students feel respected, supported and encouraged to reach their fullest potential.
Panaji, November 2025: Classic Konkani melodies came alive for a special audience of students and differently-abled adults during a unique musical outreach concert held as part of Cantaram for the Community—an initiative by the Dona Paula-based Communicare Trust celebrating its 20-year legacy of cultural engagement.
Held at Santa Cruz High School on November 8, the concert welcomed over 60 enthusiastic participants, including visually-challenged students from the National Association for the Blind (NAB), differently-abled adults from Little Angels Home, Chorao, and students from the host school. The programme aimed to revive timeless Goan musical heritage and reconnect younger generations to legends whose melodies have defined Konkani culture for decades.
A Journey Through Goan Musical Roots
“This objective of the concert was to reach out to communities like the NAB and the specially-abled wards from the Little Angels Home,” shared Nalini Elvino de Sousa, Manager at Communicare Trust. She added that the hands-on interaction helped children understand the charm of music from past generations:
“NAB students got to touch and feel the vinyl and shellac discs that played popular Konkani songs. Only one percent of children today know this music, and we hope to change that.”
Blending live performances with rare archival recordings, the concert was a nostalgic experience crafted through a thoughtful collaboration. The beloved band Entre Nos—featuring Omar de Loiola Pereira, Nigel Vales, Nadia Rebelo, Ginelle Fernandes, and percussionist Nahil Flores—performed classics like Molbailo Dou, Claudia, Pixem, and the lesser-known gems Pipirmit and Moga, Aiz Pasun Hanv Ankvar.
Complementing the live music, record collector Leaxan Freitas played original vinyl and shellac discs featuring works of iconic musicians such as C. Alvares, Joe Rose, Frank Fernand, Ophelia Cabral, Oslando de Souza, Robin Vaz, and Antonette Mendes. He also demonstrated how a gramophone works and shared fascinating stories of Goa’s music greats.
Music, Memory and Inclusion
The sessions struck a chord with the audience, many of whom were experiencing gramophone music for the first time. Teacher Gioma Rodrigues expressed,
“It brought back a lot of memories and gave our students an unforgettable learning experience.”
Mizba, a visually impaired student who touched the vinyl discs, shared her excitement:
“I could feel the tracks and hear the music. I had never heard these songs before, but now I think I will.”
Celebrating Goa’s Cultural Heritage
‘Cantaram for the Community’ continues to expand its outreach with the mission of preserving and passing on Goa’s rich musical history to the next generation—through schools, community groups, and inclusive cultural experiences.
