Lone woman legislator Alina Saldanha flashes a thumbs-up sign from the red
beacon car after been sworn in as the cabinet minister at Raj Bhavan on Friday.
PANJIM: Cortalim BJP MLA Alina Saldanha was sworn–in as cabinet minister in the Manohar Parrikar government, at a simple ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Friday evening. Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo administered the oath of office to Alina, the lone woman minister in the cabinet.
Most ministers, BJP MLAs as well as its alliance partners were present at the ceremony that was held at Durbar hall of Raj Bhavan. Speaking to mediapersons after the ceremony, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, said portfolios will be allotted to her on Monday.
Replying to a question, Parrikar said all corporation heads and their board members will be appointed by June 20.
The Chief Minister also declared that he has decided to retain the agriculture portfolio as he wishes to see that agriculture which is presently on the decline grows by at least 6-7 per cent.
“I have retained the agriculture portfolio as I want agricultural production to go up 6-7 per cent,” said Chief Minister while rationalising his decision to retain the portfolio. Goa has seen a steady decline of agricultural production in the last decade or so, and there has been no significant increase in paddy yield, as well as other crops despite Agriculture department offering subsidies to promote agriculture and horticulture production in the State.
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