Michael D Souza to lead Reception Committee for 25th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan
Mangalore: Prominent Konkani supporter and advocate for the 'Vision Konkani' program, Michael D Souza, will be leading the Reception Committee for the upcoming 25th All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan as its President. The event is scheduled to take place at the Basti Vaman Shenoy Stage within the premises of the World Konkani Centre on November 4th and 5th. This marks the first time that Mangalore is hosting the All India Konkani Parishad's event in its 84-year history.
CA Nandagopal Shenoy, President of the World Konkani Centre, and Sahitya Akademi awardee Gokuldas Prabhu have been appointed as Vice Presidents, adding to the distinguished lineup. Konkani poet and thinker Titus Noronha will serve as the General Secretary, while journalist H. M. Pernal will take on the role of Working President within the Reception Committee.
The event is expected to draw approximately 650 delegates from various parts of India, making it a significant gathering for Konkani literature and culture enthusiasts. Sri Michael D'Souza, an NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Abu Dhabi, has been instrumental in supporting Konkani activities and programs both in India and abroad. His 'Vision Konkani' initiative has empowered Konkani writers and artists, providing substantial grants for Konkani book publications, music productions, and feature films.
Under his visionary program 'Vision Konkani', D'Souza has contributed Rs. 40 Lakhs for Konkani book publication grants, Rs. 10 Lakhs for Konkani music grants, and Rs. 25 Lakhs for Konkani feature film grants. He has also established the EDU CARE scholarship program, benefiting 3,500 Konkani-speaking students for higher education under the supervision of CODP, Dioceses of Mangalore.
Various sub-committees have been formed to ensure the smooth functioning of the event, with prominent figures like Poet Melvyn Rodrigues, Chetan Acharya, and Dr. Kasturi Mohan Pai guiding the efforts. Committees have been established for finance, food, venue, front office, volunteers, accommodation, transport, program planning, stage management, media promotion, printing, and souvenir creation.
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HC seeks govt reply on tourist vehicles blocking tigress' path in Maharashtra sanctuary
Nagpur (PTI): The Bombay High Court has taken a dim view of an incident where safari vehicles carrying tourists obstructed the movement of a tigress and her cubs in Maharashtra's Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary on New Year's eve.
Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi of the HC's Nagpur bench on Monday issued notice to the state's principal chief conservator of forests and sought a detailed affidavit on action taken and preventive measures.
The bench will hear the plea on Wednesday.
In the viral videos of the December 31, 2024 incident, safari vehicles are seen crowding around the tigress, identified as F-2, and her five cubs from both sides of a road in the buffer zone of the sanctuary here to help tourists capture their photos and videos.
The HC took suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the videos and news reports on the incident.
The state forest department on Monday suspended four drivers and guides involved in the incident for three months.
A fine of Rs 25,000 has also been imposed on the gypsy SUV drivers, while nature guides have been fined Rs 1,000 each. Besides, cases have been registered against them under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Pench Tiger Reserve (Nagpur) deputy director Prabhu Nath Shukla in a release said the tourists violated the sanctuary's rule by blocking the path of the tigress F2 and her five cubs with multiple safari vehicles at Gothangaon in Kuhi wildlife range.
Tourists involved in this incident have been permanently banned from future visits to the sanctuary and a committee, headed by the deputy director, Bor Tiger Reserve, has been constituted to recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Shukla stated that field officers and staff have been instructed to increase regular patrolling along safari routes to prevent such incidents. Additionally, special meetings and workshops are being organised for nature guides and gypsy drivers to raise awareness and sensitivity toward ecotourism.
