MONTHLY MEETING OF BETALBATIM CIVIC & CONSUMER FORUM

BETALBATIM CIVIC & CONSUMER FORUM (BCCF)
39/A, Nagvaddo, Betalbatim, Salcete, Goa 403 713
Ph. 2880332 29th Sept 2010

MONTHLY MEETING OF BETALBATIM CIVIC & CONSUMER FORUM

The monthly meeting of Betalbatim Civic & Consumer Forum will be held on Saturday the 2nd October 2010 at 5.00pm at St. Jude’s H. School, Betalbatim.
The issues to be discussed are the state of the utilities - Electricity, Water, LPG, Phones,Posts, Health, Bank, Gram Sabha, Garbage - going to the next level, 5 years of RTI, Computer training for volunteers and other consumer related issues.
Residents of Betalbatim are requested to attend.

Xavier Cota
(Convenor)

Sattari youth beats all odds to become a pilot

from Herald by HERALD CORRESPONDENT

VALPOI, SEPT 18
When Saish, the son of a postman and hailing from a poor family and from a remote village in Sattari taluka, expressed his desire to become a pilot, no one outside of his family took him seriously.
Saish Anant Naik (24) of Nagargao-Sattari overcame various obstac les and turbulent times to succeed in becoming a commercial pilot, earning him the distinction of being the first pilot from Sattari taluka.
Saish, who recently completed his training from the Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt Ltd at Baramati-Pune, now plans to either join an airline company or become a pilot for a private chartered airline company.
Hailing from a poor family, Saish completed his primary education from a Marathi-medium school at Nagargao-Sattari and pursued his secondary education from the Shree Hanuman Vidyalaya, Valpoi, and Vidya Prabodhani school at Porvorim.
Saish then completed his HSSC at Bhumika Higher Secondary School at Poriem-Sattari and later his BSc at Government College, Sanquelim.
“I first played with a toy plane given to me by my uncle, Sudhakar Naik, from Dubai. He gave me details on real planes and flights, sparking off my desire to fly a plane one day,” recalled Saish.
Burning with the desire to become a pilot, Saish approached a number of organisations and financial institutions for financial support.
“They not only discouraged me by refusing to sanction a loan for these studies, but some organisations even claimed that I did not have the capability to become a pilot, as I come from a poor family and from a remote village in Sattari taluka,” said Saish.
“They advised me to opt for another profession. This did not deter me from my goal, and on the contrary, I was more focussed on achieving my dream.”
“I finally approached the State Bank of India branch at Valpoi and the bank granted me an education loan,” Saish added.
Saish admitted that he had to encounter various obstacles during his studies to become a pilot.
“Some of these obstacles included the fear of flying and ragging from seniors, but I faced all the obstacles and did not run away like some of my friends,” said Saish.
“I never thought of returning home due to these obstacles I faced during my training, simply because I was determined to become a pilot and now my dream has come true.”
“I can now confidently tell people that any person, irrespective of his family background, can succeed in achieving his/her goals, provided they are focussed and work hard to achieve these goals,” opines Saish.
He also expressed his gratitude to North Goa member of parliament Shripad Naik for support him during the last two years of his training at Pune.
Saish father’s Anant, who is a postman at Panjim recalled that Saish had always been a hard-working person and was determined to be successful in life.
“I thank my close relatives, including brother, Sudhakar, who supported me financially. In fact, I would not have encouraged my son to pursue his pilot training without financial support from my relatives.”
“Though we have had to bear the educational expenses of about Rs 22 lakh, I am proud that my son has become a pilot, despite hailing from a poor family and from a remote village in Sattari,” Anant added.
According  to Saish’s mother Kalpana, and uncle, Sudhakar, Saish’s achievements will be an inspiration not only to family members or relatives, but also to other youth from other remote villages in the State.
Saish’s brother Juben, who recently completed his MSc in  Mumbai, was also proud of his brother’s achievements.
In recognition of his achievement, the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal of Thane-Sattari also felicitated Saish for bringing honour to Sattari taluka.

Inter-School Elocution on Teachers Day at Betalbatim

Joseph Afonso Memorial Trust, held its XVth Annual Felicitation of SSCE & HSSCE toppers of the village on Teachers Day at Dr. Cota Memorial Hall, Betalbatim. The Inter-school Elocution Competition themed Can Goa Still be Saved, held on the occasion,  drew nine leading schools from S.Goa, and was won by St. Judes, Betalbatim, while Regina Martyrum, Assolna and St. Mary’s, Varca were the first and second runners-up respectively. Chief Guest retired Principal Cheryl Colaço complimented the Trust for holding the event on such an important day. Earlier, former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco, the Guest of Honour gave away the Awards for the student toppers of Betalbatim. He also felicitated Teacher Lorraine Godinho who was conferred the Best Teacher Award by the Trust. Rev. Dr. Victor Ferrão, speaking on behalf of the jury, comprising Dr. Afonso Botelho and Mr. Emanuel Furtado, congratulated the students for the high standard of their eloquence and their strong concern about Goa. Parish Priest Fr. Ubaldo D’Cunha who presided, spoke about Joseph Afonso’s qualities as an educationist and Sarpanch. In a unique gesture, the Trust felicitated each and every teacher present, with a rose. Sarpanch Minguel Pereira and Zilla Member Nelly Rodrigues were the special invitees.