Locals worry as Davorlim education hub shows no progress
The ambitious education hub project at Davorlim, proposed several years ago to decongest Margao by relocating its schools, continues to languish without significant progress. This has raised concerns among locals about its future.
The project involves 1.15 lakh sqm of land acquired by govt and transferred to the education department.
It was highlighted nearly three years ago when authorities began demarcating boundaries to prevent encroachments. However, since that initial activity in 2022, tangible development on the site has been conspicuously absent. 'The traffic congestion around Margao schools keeps getting worse, and this project could have been the solution,' a Margao-based businessman said.
The education hub was initially conceptualised during former Margao MLA Digambar Kamat's tenure when the land was acquired.
In July 2022, chief minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio, assured the assembly that govt would proceed with establishing an educational complex in response to concerns raised by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar.
At that time, several school managements in Margao expressed support for relocating to the new hub, recognising the difficulties posed by traffic congestion in Margao, particularly during school opening and closing hours. The education department indicated that proposals from various school managements for land allocation were under consideration.
Tuenkar said that he held discussions with the chief minister over the issue and that the project would soon see further development. 'Relocating all the schools to Margao is a pressing need. I am sure govt will take steps towards the execution of the project,' he said.
Nevertheless, as Margao continues to struggle with traffic congestion around its educational institutions, the fate of the
Davorlim education hub
remains uncertain. This leaves citizens wondering if this promising solution will ever materialise or join the list of stalled govt initiatives in South Goa.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rs 95 crore: HCLTech's Vijayakumar is highest-paid Indian IT CEO
Bengaluru: HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar has emerged as the highest-paid Indian IT CEO, crossing the $10 million mark and topping the compensation charts. US-based Vijayakumar earned Rs 94.6 crore in the 2024–25 financial year, which comprised a base pay of Rs 15.8 crore, a performance-linked bonus of Rs 13.9 crore, long-term RSUs worth Rs 56.9 crore, and a bonus of Rs 1.7 crore. Vijayakumar's peers include TCS CEO K. Krithivasan, who earned Rs26.5 crore for the 2023–24 financial year, marking a 4.6% increase from the previous year. Infosys CEO Salil Parekh received a 22% hike, taking his total compensation to Rs 80.6 crore. Wipro CEO Srinivas Pallia, who took over in April last year, earned Rs 53.6 crore; since this is his first year in the role, there is no prior comparison. According to the firm's annual report, Vijayakumar received a salary increase of 7.9% compared to the previous year. However, the average salary hike for employees excluding managerial personnel in the last financial year was 3.1%. Vijayakumar's salary was 662.5 times the median remuneration of employees in the 2024–25 financial year. The Board, on the recommendations of the NRC, has approved Vijayakumar's re-appointment as the CEO & MD of HCLTech from September 1 this year to March 31, 2030. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The annual report highlights that under Vijayakumar's leadership, HCLTech delivered strong performance from FY16 to FY25, with a revenue CAGR of 9.3%—the highest among peers; an EBIT CAGR of 8.1%, ranking second highest; and a net income CAGR of 6.9%, also the second highest in the peer group. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo According to the company's annual report, the Board has approved a more than 71% hike in his remuneration, raising it to $18.6 million (around Rs 154 crore) for the current financial year. "The revised compensation acknowledges C. Vijayakumar's successful and long-tenured leadership as CEO, recognizing his significant contributions to the company's growth and sustained performance over the years." Under his leadership, from FY16 to FY25, the number of $100 million clients increased from 8 to 22, $50 million clients from 19 to 52, and $20 million clients from 75 to 138. C. Vijayakumar has driven significant growth through a client-centric approach, expanding HCLTech's global footprint and strengthening service excellence. From FY16 to FY25, the number of $100 million clients increased from 8 to 22, $50 million clients from 19 to 52, and $20 million clients from 75 to 138. "This growth reflects rising client relevance and deepening strategic partnerships, marked by increasing wallet share among HCLTech's top accounts. It was enabled by a 'One HCLTech' approach, underpinned by an increasingly integrated go-to-market model offering all HCLTech services under a verticalized organizational structure that enhanced client alignment, execution agility, and responsiveness," the firm said in its annual report. HCLTech chairperson Roshni Nadar said, "Looking ahead, the demand environment is expected to remain challenging as clients continue to exercise caution due to uncertainties around global trade frameworks and geopolitical tensions. We remain focused on navigating these challenges and ensuring that HCLTech remains well-positioned to leverage the opportunities available," she said. "Technology evolution, driven by AI, is accelerating, and the IT services industry is at an inflection point. The industry will need to reinvent itself to stay relevant. HCLTech is prepared to adapt to these shifts." The percentage increase in the median remuneration of employees during the financial year was 17.6%. The company has 1,67,316 permanent employees on its rolls. In addition, there were 56,104 employees on the rolls of its subsidiaries. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Gujarat races ahead in IPO rush, tops Q1 listings and fundraising
Ahmedabad: Gujarat has surged ahead in the IPO race, topping the charts for the highest number of listings in the first quarter of FY26. A total of 14 companies from the state went public across the NSE and BSE platforms, collectively raising over Rs 3,495 crore, edging out heavyweights like Maharashtra and Delhi. Data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) shows that nine Gujarat-based firms listed on both the mainboard and NSE Emerge, mobilised Rs 3,374 crore during April-June 2025. Maharashtra matched Gujarat in terms of the number of NSE listings but trailed slightly in proceeds at Rs 3,300 crore. Meanwhile, four companies from the NCT of Delhi raised the highest capital among states, mopping up Rs 3,657 crore. On the BSE SME platform, Gujarat again led in terms of company count, with five firms raising Rs 121.6 crore, nearly a third of the total SME IPOs during the quarter. "Among the companies listed in Q1, Gujarat led with the highest number of nine listings, reflecting the state's growing dominance in capital market activity," the NSE noted. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Nationally, the sectoral breakdown of IPO activity reveals broad-based investor interest in sectors such as industrials, consumer discretionary, and energy. The industrial sector led with 13 companies raising Rs 2,176 crore, followed by consumer discretionary players, who raised a whopping Rs 9,033 crore from eight firms — the highest in terms of proceeds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The energy sector saw just two listings, but raised a sizeable Rs 2,873 crore, putting it second in terms of capital raised. According to BSE SME data, 12 companies listed on the exchange's SME platform in Q1, raising a cumulative Rs 387.26 crore. Gujarat led with five listings, followed by Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Vaibhav Shah, director at the Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI), attributed the trend to strong governance and rising equity awareness among Gujarat's entrepreneurs. "Gujarat-based companies have seen rapid growth in recent years. Many are now eyeing aggressive expansion, and IPOs are the natural route. Strong governance frameworks and a solid understanding of equity markets are driving the surge in SME IPOs," he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
HC upholds ITAT order granting 80G approval to Raipur-based society
Raipur: In a significant judgment, the Chhattisgarh High Court upheld a decision by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) that allowed a Raipur-based society to receive tax exemption benefits under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. The court ruled that since the society already had a valid registration under Section 12AA—which confirms its charitable status—the Income Tax Department could not deny 80G approval by questioning its activities. The court dismissed the department's appeal, stating that the ITAT followed legal precedent and committed no error in granting the relief. The High Court ruled that the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) was correct in directing that a society should be granted approval under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, as long as its registration under Section 12AA of the Act is in existence. The court dismissed an appeal filed by the Income Tax Department, stating that no illegality or irregularity was committed by the ITAT in setting aside an order from the Commissioner of Income Tax (CIT). Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 provides tax deductions to individuals and companies who donate to charitable institutions and funds in India, while Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 deals with the registration of trusts and other charitable or religious institutions to avail tax exemptions on their income. The case involves a society that applied for approval under Section 80G of the Act on 28 Feb 2014. The CIT, Raipur, rejected the application on 25 Aug 2014, finding that the society was engaged in commercial activities and could not be considered a charitable organisation. The CIT noted that the society was running institutes on commercial lines, took large bank loans for infrastructure, and rented out its buildings for commercial purposes. The society filed an appeal with the ITAT, Raipur Bench, which allowed the appeal on 15 Jan 2019. The ITAT set aside the CIT's order and directed that the society be granted approval under Section 80G. The Income Tax Department, challenging the ITAT's decision, argued that the tribunal failed to appreciate that the society was providing vocational education for a fee, which it said did not qualify as "education" under Section 2(15) of the Act. The department contended that the society's work was commercial and not charitable. Counsels for the society, Sumesh Bajaj and Rishabh Bajaj, supported the ITAT's order. They argued that benefits under Section 80G of the Act cannot be denied if registration under Section 12AA is valid and has not been cancelled. They stated that the society's registration was renewed until Assessment Year 2026-27. The counsel cited judgments from the Supreme Court and the High Courts of Gujarat and Punjab and Haryana to support their arguments. After hearing both sides and reviewing the orders, Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru ruled in favour of the society. The court noted that the ITAT's decision was based on a precedent from the Gujarat High Court, which held that once registration under Section 12AA of the Act is granted, the benefits cannot be denied. The court observed that the department had not presented any material to show that the decision relied upon by the ITAT was set aside by a higher judicial forum. It held that the ITAT had not committed any illegality or irregularity. The High Court answered the substantial question of law in favour of the respondent and against the appellant. It upheld the ITAT's decision, ruling that as long as the registration under Section 12AA of the Act is in existence, the Income Tax Department cannot make a further enquiry into the genuineness of the society's activities and whether they are charitable. The appeal filed by the Income Tax Department was dismissed. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
