Most young Goa Medical College docs are stressed
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Young doctors at the Goa Medical College are highly stressed. According to a study, more than 80% doctors in the age group of 23 to 30
suffer from high levels of stress and tension. To help these doctors cope better, GMC has started stress management workshops and will be introducing counseling sessions for them.
The present study was undertaken with the intention of examining the causes and level of stress among doctors. A group of 100 junior and senior residents and consultants working at GMC served as sample for the study conducted by head of pathology department Dr Wiseman Pinto and intern Dr Amar Jain for the Medical Education Cell of GMC. The age of the doctors studied ranged from 23 to 50 years.
"Consultants reported more satisfaction with work and less stress. On the other hand, resident doctors who are just starting their career complained that they are stressed out. About 75.7% said that they were under stress everyday," said Dr Pinto. The study revealed that about 54% had medium stress levels while around 33% complained that they suffered from high levels of stress.
The major cause of stress among doctors are long duty hours, dealing with death, suffering and pain on a daily basis, frequent night duties and calls and overburdened with work. While about 90% said that the major causes for stress were long duty hours (36 hours), no post duty offs, overburdened with work, lack of sleep due to frequent night duties or calls, irritable behaviour of patients or relatives and study tensions, few others said that dealing with high risk patients, lazy junior staff, harassment from seniors, partiality and departmental politics stresses them out. Some also said that they had exam and operation theater tensions.
"Stress levels among young doctors have definitely increased. Though the number of patients have increased over the years, the number of doctors in GMC have remained steady", said Dr. Pinto. On an average, a resident has to handle 50 to 70 patients at GMC in a day, especially in busy departments like surgery, medicine, neurosurgery, ICU, casualty, orthopedics, anesthesia, gynecology and trauma.
While the number of patients has increased over the years, the number of posts have not increased. In 2008, there were 4 lakh OPDs, 52,111 admissions, 16,061 surgeries and 5,665 births in GMC. On the other hand, the number of vacant positions for junior residents are 2, for senior residents 28 and consultants 27.
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, April 17, 2009
BJP winning Catholic hearts
BJP winning Catholic hearts
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is moving away from its hardline Hindutva image and trying to woo the Christians. And what's more, the BJP workers claim that this election they have been able to penetrate into Catholic hearts, which have so far been considered staunch Congress supporters.
"I am witnessing a big change this year. Unlike in the past when Christians in North Goa used to avoid the BJP candidates, this time they are actually inviting us to address meetings in the village," said BJP's north Goa candidate and state party president Shripad Naik.
Naik is also working hard to reach out to the Christian population. Sources said that Naik generally starts his day's campaigning in a village after offering prayers. In the past, majority of village meetings and house to house visits started with paying obeisance in a temple. But this time, in several villages, the day started after praying at a church.
"I have started my day's campaigning after praying to God in a church or chapel in more than 10 to 12 places this time. The number is higher than last year. But it was not a deliberate attempt to woo the Christian hearts. It happened because the Christian population eagerly welcomed us," he said.
Of the 678 booths in north Goa, Naik has visited over 600 booths. He has also finished his one round of campaigning in almost each and every village panchayat, except in four or five.
BJP workers reveal that even the hardcore Congress areas are slowly warming up to the idea of a BJP leader and they are inviting BJP leaders to address people. Take the case of Girkarwado in Arambol, which has more than 90% Catholic population. Despite winning the assembly elections twice from Mandrem constituency, BJP's Laxmikant Parsekar has never been able to penetrate into the village vote-bank. But this time its a different scenario.
"I have never got votes from Girkarwado. But this time, the Catholics organized a public meeting and invited us to address a crowd of more than 400," said Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar. This, Parsekar believes, is a sign of the changing image of BJP in the Christian minds.
"The image that the BJP is a Hindutva party is changing. People have realized that BJP maybe a Hindu party, but we are definitely not against Catholics. People from the minority community are coming out in large numbers for the village meetings organized by us and extending their support to bhau (Naik)," said Parsekar.
Fr Francisco Caldeira, director, Diocesan Centre for Social Communication Media said, "Catholics are open to BJP. Even in the past, they had come to power with the help of Catholic votes."
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is moving away from its hardline Hindutva image and trying to woo the Christians. And what's more, the BJP workers claim that this election they have been able to penetrate into Catholic hearts, which have so far been considered staunch Congress supporters.
"I am witnessing a big change this year. Unlike in the past when Christians in North Goa used to avoid the BJP candidates, this time they are actually inviting us to address meetings in the village," said BJP's north Goa candidate and state party president Shripad Naik.
Naik is also working hard to reach out to the Christian population. Sources said that Naik generally starts his day's campaigning in a village after offering prayers. In the past, majority of village meetings and house to house visits started with paying obeisance in a temple. But this time, in several villages, the day started after praying at a church.
"I have started my day's campaigning after praying to God in a church or chapel in more than 10 to 12 places this time. The number is higher than last year. But it was not a deliberate attempt to woo the Christian hearts. It happened because the Christian population eagerly welcomed us," he said.
Of the 678 booths in north Goa, Naik has visited over 600 booths. He has also finished his one round of campaigning in almost each and every village panchayat, except in four or five.
BJP workers reveal that even the hardcore Congress areas are slowly warming up to the idea of a BJP leader and they are inviting BJP leaders to address people. Take the case of Girkarwado in Arambol, which has more than 90% Catholic population. Despite winning the assembly elections twice from Mandrem constituency, BJP's Laxmikant Parsekar has never been able to penetrate into the village vote-bank. But this time its a different scenario.
"I have never got votes from Girkarwado. But this time, the Catholics organized a public meeting and invited us to address a crowd of more than 400," said Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar. This, Parsekar believes, is a sign of the changing image of BJP in the Christian minds.
"The image that the BJP is a Hindutva party is changing. People have realized that BJP maybe a Hindu party, but we are definitely not against Catholics. People from the minority community are coming out in large numbers for the village meetings organized by us and extending their support to bhau (Naik)," said Parsekar.
Fr Francisco Caldeira, director, Diocesan Centre for Social Communication Media said, "Catholics are open to BJP. Even in the past, they had come to power with the help of Catholic votes."
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Other extreme: An LS aspirant who owns nothing, almost
Other extreme: An LS aspirant who owns nothing, almost
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Amidst the crorepatis contesting the Lok Sabha polls is a slum dweller who has neither savings nor movable assets. In fact, Martha D’Souza, an independent in fray for the North Goa seat is so poor that her contact point is a coin box pay phone outside her only immovable asset—an old, two-storied home in the middle of the Indiranagar slums in Chimbel, about 3 km from Panaji.
But poverty has turned into a poll USP for the 55-year-old widow of a police constable.
“I am poor and therefore I understand the pains and needs of the poor. I don’t have a manifesto that woos people before the elections. My aim is to work towards the upliftment of the poor. That’s my election manifesto,” says Martha. Her only source of income, according to her affidavit before the Election Commission, is a monthly pension of Rs 2,000.
Well aware that her competitors are not as poorly placed, the SSC educated Martha, who unsuccessfully contested two Assembly elections from Santa Cruz constituency in the past, says “money doesn’t matter”.
“What have the lahkpati and crorepati politicians done for the poor? Absolutely nothing. I have won the hearts of the poor here and they have contributed Rs 20,000 for my campaign. I will use the money to display banners and announce my candidature on a mobile loudspeaker,” says the candidate whose symbol is a coconut.
Quizzed about why she’s in the race, she shoots back, “If you want change you need to come out and contest the elections. Even if you don’t have money or muscle power, you need to contest to bring a change in the existing system. If you have the will to change today for a better tomorrow, then God will show you the way.”
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Amidst the crorepatis contesting the Lok Sabha polls is a slum dweller who has neither savings nor movable assets. In fact, Martha D’Souza, an independent in fray for the North Goa seat is so poor that her contact point is a coin box pay phone outside her only immovable asset—an old, two-storied home in the middle of the Indiranagar slums in Chimbel, about 3 km from Panaji.
But poverty has turned into a poll USP for the 55-year-old widow of a police constable.
“I am poor and therefore I understand the pains and needs of the poor. I don’t have a manifesto that woos people before the elections. My aim is to work towards the upliftment of the poor. That’s my election manifesto,” says Martha. Her only source of income, according to her affidavit before the Election Commission, is a monthly pension of Rs 2,000.
Well aware that her competitors are not as poorly placed, the SSC educated Martha, who unsuccessfully contested two Assembly elections from Santa Cruz constituency in the past, says “money doesn’t matter”.
“What have the lahkpati and crorepati politicians done for the poor? Absolutely nothing. I have won the hearts of the poor here and they have contributed Rs 20,000 for my campaign. I will use the money to display banners and announce my candidature on a mobile loudspeaker,” says the candidate whose symbol is a coconut.
Quizzed about why she’s in the race, she shoots back, “If you want change you need to come out and contest the elections. Even if you don’t have money or muscle power, you need to contest to bring a change in the existing system. If you have the will to change today for a better tomorrow, then God will show you the way.”
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Coastal police in Goa yet to get high-speed patrol boats
Coastal police in Goa yet to get high-speed patrol boats
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The coastal police will have to wait till after the Parliamentary polls to put to use the sophisticated skills they recently learnt.
Trained to operate high-speed, bullet-proof boats fitted with machine guns, the 65 policemen attached to three coastal stations will have to instead be content with patrolling the state’s 105-km coastline on four old, worn out boats.
This is because the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), which has an order to prepare 116 GRP patrol boats for the western state coastal police, is yet to supply the state government with the high-speed patrol vehicles.
After the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, with a view to improve coastal patrolling, the central home ministry decided to allocate high-speed boats to states on the west coast. Goa, accordingly, is due to receive four five-tonne ‘Invaders’ and four 12-tonne ‘Hell Raisers’, all highly sophisticated machines, capable of withstanding terrorist strikes.
“We are yet to get the high-speed boats from GSL. But we have been told that we will be immediately allotted one five-tonne speedboat as soon as a formal order is issued by the central ministry,” said a senior police official.
Officials at GSL, wishing anonymity on account of the election code of conduct, told TOI, “The boats are being built at GSL unit II in Goa. About 30-odd boats are ready and will be handed over to the government of India and the respective coastal police including Goa soon.”
While the five-tonne petrol vessels can hold 16 persons each, the 12-tonne diesel boats can accommodate 20 each.
Moreover, the former vessels feature two outboard motors, wireless systems and bullet-proof cabins that can withstand an AK47 charge from 10 m.
The latter boats, on the other hand, have jet propulsion engines, can travel up to 40 nautical miles and can be used for deep sea patrolling. These 12-tonne vessels are called the mothership and can’t be detected on radar.
“The boats are unsinkable, designed for the patrol party’s safety. Not only can they be used for patrolling, they can also be used for rescue operations and are very popular with the European coastal police,” said sources.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The coastal police will have to wait till after the Parliamentary polls to put to use the sophisticated skills they recently learnt.
Trained to operate high-speed, bullet-proof boats fitted with machine guns, the 65 policemen attached to three coastal stations will have to instead be content with patrolling the state’s 105-km coastline on four old, worn out boats.
This is because the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), which has an order to prepare 116 GRP patrol boats for the western state coastal police, is yet to supply the state government with the high-speed patrol vehicles.
After the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, with a view to improve coastal patrolling, the central home ministry decided to allocate high-speed boats to states on the west coast. Goa, accordingly, is due to receive four five-tonne ‘Invaders’ and four 12-tonne ‘Hell Raisers’, all highly sophisticated machines, capable of withstanding terrorist strikes.
“We are yet to get the high-speed boats from GSL. But we have been told that we will be immediately allotted one five-tonne speedboat as soon as a formal order is issued by the central ministry,” said a senior police official.
Officials at GSL, wishing anonymity on account of the election code of conduct, told TOI, “The boats are being built at GSL unit II in Goa. About 30-odd boats are ready and will be handed over to the government of India and the respective coastal police including Goa soon.”
While the five-tonne petrol vessels can hold 16 persons each, the 12-tonne diesel boats can accommodate 20 each.
Moreover, the former vessels feature two outboard motors, wireless systems and bullet-proof cabins that can withstand an AK47 charge from 10 m.
The latter boats, on the other hand, have jet propulsion engines, can travel up to 40 nautical miles and can be used for deep sea patrolling. These 12-tonne vessels are called the mothership and can’t be detected on radar.
“The boats are unsinkable, designed for the patrol party’s safety. Not only can they be used for patrolling, they can also be used for rescue operations and are very popular with the European coastal police,” said sources.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
New witness in Scarlett case: Fiona
New witness in Scarlett case: Fiona
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In a major development, Fiona MacKeown, mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that she has a new witness who claims he saw Scarlett on the night she died.
Speaking to TOI from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona refused to give details of the new witness "for I fear for his life", but said, "He is a local and told me that Scarlett was crying on the night she was murdered (on February 18, 2008 at Anjuna beach) and had asked him to take her home. He agreed but was stopped by a group of men he was afraid of."
Fiona further said that the witness contacted her and told her that he "has not been able to forgive himself since Scarlett was found dead, but is very afraid of a group of men".
Claiming to have the witness' name, address and photograph, she however, wants to know from the CBI "whether they can still proceed with the case without my statement". It may be recalled, that the Goa children's court refused the CBI request to issue a Letter Rogatory (LR), letter of request, to record Fiona's statement in the UK. Fiona has said repeatedly that she is scared to come to India to meet the CBI to give her statement, because she would be arrested following a case of negligent parenting being issued against her.
"I want the investigations in India to be over fast or the UK coroner will not release my daughter's body for burial. I desperately want to bury my daughter so we can move forward with our lives," said Fiona.
Meanwhile, even as she has written to the police to assure her that she will not be arrested or detained in India and would be allowed to meet the CBI in Mumbai, Fiona has also replied to the questionnaire sent by the Goa police.
The Goa police had raised questions about Fiona's children, her source of income, purpose of visit to India along with her children.
Her replies have been very brief. To a question on whether Scarlett was consuming drugs or liquor, Fiona has replied: Drugs, no. Drink, she was permitted to have a small drink on special occasions with a meal. She has further stated that she was not aware if Julio and Scarlett were visiting nightclubs, nor did she visit nightclubs with her children. As for whether Julio or Scarlett were in love with each other, Fiona's answer has been in the negative.
She has also termed the relationship
between Julio and Scarlett, "platonic, working and friends". She insists she did not leave Scarlett alone with Julio in Goa. "She was not alone. She was in the care of Julio Lobo, an adult man, who was in the care of his aunts. She wanted the experience of working in Goa," Fiona has said in her reply. She has further said that Scarlett stayed in Goa "on her own wish".
To a question on whether she was aware that Julio was looking after Scarlett's day-to-day expenditure, she said, "No. I used to give her money when she visited us and I understand he was paying her for working."
11 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In a major development, Fiona MacKeown, mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that she has a new witness who claims he saw Scarlett on the night she died.
Speaking to TOI from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona refused to give details of the new witness "for I fear for his life", but said, "He is a local and told me that Scarlett was crying on the night she was murdered (on February 18, 2008 at Anjuna beach) and had asked him to take her home. He agreed but was stopped by a group of men he was afraid of."
Fiona further said that the witness contacted her and told her that he "has not been able to forgive himself since Scarlett was found dead, but is very afraid of a group of men".
Claiming to have the witness' name, address and photograph, she however, wants to know from the CBI "whether they can still proceed with the case without my statement". It may be recalled, that the Goa children's court refused the CBI request to issue a Letter Rogatory (LR), letter of request, to record Fiona's statement in the UK. Fiona has said repeatedly that she is scared to come to India to meet the CBI to give her statement, because she would be arrested following a case of negligent parenting being issued against her.
"I want the investigations in India to be over fast or the UK coroner will not release my daughter's body for burial. I desperately want to bury my daughter so we can move forward with our lives," said Fiona.
Meanwhile, even as she has written to the police to assure her that she will not be arrested or detained in India and would be allowed to meet the CBI in Mumbai, Fiona has also replied to the questionnaire sent by the Goa police.
The Goa police had raised questions about Fiona's children, her source of income, purpose of visit to India along with her children.
Her replies have been very brief. To a question on whether Scarlett was consuming drugs or liquor, Fiona has replied: Drugs, no. Drink, she was permitted to have a small drink on special occasions with a meal. She has further stated that she was not aware if Julio and Scarlett were visiting nightclubs, nor did she visit nightclubs with her children. As for whether Julio or Scarlett were in love with each other, Fiona's answer has been in the negative.
She has also termed the relationship
between Julio and Scarlett, "platonic, working and friends". She insists she did not leave Scarlett alone with Julio in Goa. "She was not alone. She was in the care of Julio Lobo, an adult man, who was in the care of his aunts. She wanted the experience of working in Goa," Fiona has said in her reply. She has further said that Scarlett stayed in Goa "on her own wish".
To a question on whether she was aware that Julio was looking after Scarlett's day-to-day expenditure, she said, "No. I used to give her money when she visited us and I understand he was paying her for working."
11 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
NGO Sangath to conduct study on autism
NGO Sangath to conduct study on autism
PANAJI: The non-governmental organisation Sangath will conduct a study on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children in India, as part of
Autism Research and Training Initiative (ARTI) project in collaboration with Jyot, a Goa based support group for families affected by the disorder.
"Studies in the US, where most work has been done, suggest that up to 1 in 150 children have this disorder. However, there is no reliable data on ASD in India, nor are there any tools to help community health workers identify children with these disorders," said Gauri Divan from Sangath. "As a result, ASD remains a little understood condition in the country," she added.
ASD affects the development of language and communication, social interaction and restricts interests. While development of language and communication deals with the way a child learns vocabulary and describes his needs, social interaction deals with how a child interacts with others and restricted interests means the limited activities that a child is interested in.
Sangath is one of three south Asian organizations to have been awarded grants by the US based NGO Autism Speaks to launch a research program to improve the understanding of ASD in the region.
The ARTI project was launched recently and a two-day meeting was held with the stake-holders in Goa on Thursday, wherein it was agreed to strengthen regional collaboration to improve the understanding of ASD.
12 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: The non-governmental organisation Sangath will conduct a study on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children in India, as part of
Autism Research and Training Initiative (ARTI) project in collaboration with Jyot, a Goa based support group for families affected by the disorder.
"Studies in the US, where most work has been done, suggest that up to 1 in 150 children have this disorder. However, there is no reliable data on ASD in India, nor are there any tools to help community health workers identify children with these disorders," said Gauri Divan from Sangath. "As a result, ASD remains a little understood condition in the country," she added.
ASD affects the development of language and communication, social interaction and restricts interests. While development of language and communication deals with the way a child learns vocabulary and describes his needs, social interaction deals with how a child interacts with others and restricted interests means the limited activities that a child is interested in.
Sangath is one of three south Asian organizations to have been awarded grants by the US based NGO Autism Speaks to launch a research program to improve the understanding of ASD in the region.
The ARTI project was launched recently and a two-day meeting was held with the stake-holders in Goa on Thursday, wherein it was agreed to strengthen regional collaboration to improve the understanding of ASD.
12 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
30 rape cases reported in '08
30 rape cases reported in '08
PANAJI: There were more rape cases reported in 2008 than the previous years. In 2008, there were 30 rape cases reported as compared to 20 cases
in 2007 and 21 in 2006. Data reveals that more minors were raped as compared to majors in the state.
Statistics available with the police department show that in 2005 there were 20 cases of rape, of which 15 victims were minors while five were majors. In 2006, there were 21 cases of rape, of which 14 were minors and seven majors.
The situation was not very different in 2007 when 20 cases of rape were registered. Of these, 15 were minor victims while five were major. The number of rape cases rose to 30 in 2008, with 18 minor and 12 major victims.
Even though the rate of detection has improved, the conviction rate remains low. In 2004, about 48 persons were accused of rape. While in 2005, 33 were accused of rape, in 2006, 19 were arrested. In 2007, 24 were arrested for rape and the number increased to 39 in 2008.
In 2004, six accused were convicted in a rape case, while in 2005, only one person was convicted. The trend continued in 2006 with one person being convicted for rape. In 2007, two persons were convicted for rape. In 2008, there was not a single conviction of rape, the records revealed.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: There were more rape cases reported in 2008 than the previous years. In 2008, there were 30 rape cases reported as compared to 20 cases
in 2007 and 21 in 2006. Data reveals that more minors were raped as compared to majors in the state.
Statistics available with the police department show that in 2005 there were 20 cases of rape, of which 15 victims were minors while five were majors. In 2006, there were 21 cases of rape, of which 14 were minors and seven majors.
The situation was not very different in 2007 when 20 cases of rape were registered. Of these, 15 were minor victims while five were major. The number of rape cases rose to 30 in 2008, with 18 minor and 12 major victims.
Even though the rate of detection has improved, the conviction rate remains low. In 2004, about 48 persons were accused of rape. While in 2005, 33 were accused of rape, in 2006, 19 were arrested. In 2007, 24 were arrested for rape and the number increased to 39 in 2008.
In 2004, six accused were convicted in a rape case, while in 2005, only one person was convicted. The trend continued in 2006 with one person being convicted for rape. In 2007, two persons were convicted for rape. In 2008, there was not a single conviction of rape, the records revealed.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Modi grounded
Modi grounded
Narendra Modi arrived two hours late for his rally at Bicholim on Wednesday and apologized saying, “I was supposed to come by helicopter. But
they refused to take off stating that it was dark. Therefore, I had travel by road.”
Police sources said, “He got late in Maharashtra and as it was dark when he arrived in Goa, it was not advisable to move him in a helicopter from Dabolim to Bicholim.”
An AAI official said, “I think the Navy should be contacted about this as it was the their Air Traffic Controller on duty at that time.” Queries with the Navy drew a similar response. “It is the AAI who has to answer this. It is the AAI who had stipulated rules on no flights after sunset,” a navy official said.
16 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Narendra Modi arrived two hours late for his rally at Bicholim on Wednesday and apologized saying, “I was supposed to come by helicopter. But
they refused to take off stating that it was dark. Therefore, I had travel by road.”
Police sources said, “He got late in Maharashtra and as it was dark when he arrived in Goa, it was not advisable to move him in a helicopter from Dabolim to Bicholim.”
An AAI official said, “I think the Navy should be contacted about this as it was the their Air Traffic Controller on duty at that time.” Queries with the Navy drew a similar response. “It is the AAI who has to answer this. It is the AAI who had stipulated rules on no flights after sunset,” a navy official said.
16 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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