Journals, periodicals contributed to immense growth of Konkani literature: Dr Austin Prabhu
Kittall Youth and Arso Journalism Awards ceremony held
Mangaluru: Konkani journals and periodicals have contributed greatly to the growth of Konkani literature, Ln Dr Austin Prabhu, editor-publisher of Veez Konkani, the single digitally illustrated Konkani weekly from Chicago for five years, has said.
Addressing the ceremony to confer senior Konkani journalist Avil Rasquinha with the 'Arso Journalism Award 2022' at the Maria Jayanti Mandir, Jeppu, Mangaluru, Dr Prabhu said, “Konkani journalism has a history of 110 years. The commitment of Konkani editors and publishers in shaping the careers of today's celebrated Konkani writers is worth recognizing. By bestowing a journalism award on a senior Konkani journalist, Arso is doing a great job. Along with senior journalists, young and upcoming Konkani journalists should also be recognized and honored.”
Abu Dhabi-based Indian entrepreneur C A Valerian D'Almeida honored Clive D'Souza Boliye with the 'Leo Rodrigues Family Kittall Youth Award 2022', on behalf of the Leo Rodrigues family.
He appreciated the contribution and support of Leo Rodrigues, who was an NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist, for the growth of Konkani language, literature, art, music and culture in India as well as abroad. D'Almeida said that he had known Rodrigues since his student days.
He also stressed on the need for applied media education and urged journalists to focus on villages where many talented youth are growing.
Senior banker Stephen Pinto and educationist Oswald Rodrigues were guests of honor on the occasion.
H M Pernal, editor-publisher of Kittall.com; Wilson Kateel, editor of Arso; poet-thinker Titus Noronha, chairperson of the award selection committee, were also present on the dais.
A host of Konkani writers, artists, well-wishers of Arso and Kittall and family members of awardees were present during the ceremony.
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Karnataka government employees demand return of Old Pension Scheme
Bengaluru: Government employees in Karnataka have urged the state government to scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and bring back the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), The New Indian Express reported.
The demand was made by the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, whose leaders met senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan on Monday and submitted a memorandum. The association asked the NPS Review Committee, headed by senior IAS officer Anjum Parvez, to recommend the reintroduction of OPS in the state.
Association president C.S. Shadakshari reportedly said the review committee has already visited Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where NPS was revoked and OPS re-implemented. The committee is yet to submit its report, but has told the government it will do so soon.
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Shadakshari allegedly said NPS has been in force in Karnataka since 2006. He pointed out that West Bengal never adopted the scheme, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana replaced NPS with a contributory pension model.
States including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jharkhand have already scrapped NPS through cabinet decisions or budget announcements.
“Under NPS, 10% of the employees’ basic salary and DA, and 14% contribution from the state is credited to the employees’ fund. It constitutes 24% of the total which is non-withdrawable. This is invested in the share market and the final amount depends on the ups and downs of the market,” TNIE quoted Shadakshar as saying.
As per the report, he said that by limiting its contribution to 14%, the government could save up to ₹1.87 lakh crore annually if all vacancies are filled, strengthening the case for bringing back the old pension system.
