PRESIDENT'S MEDAL FOR JOHN AGUIAR

Government of India on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 announced President's Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal for meritorious services to Mr. John Aguiar, Hon. Company Commander of Home Guards, Panaji Division. Mr. Aguiar who is an officer in the State Department of Information & Publicity is recipient of Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for meritorious services in the Home Guards in 2007.

Secretary (Home), Shri R. K. Singh has congratulated Shri Aguiar on his name being approved for the Preidents Medal. Director of Information & Publicity, Shri Menino Peres has also congratulated Shri Aguiar on his achievement and has said that it is a honour for the Department of Information & Publciity that an officer of the department has worked hard to achieve this distinction.

Shri Aguiar since his enrollment in the Home Guards Organization has displayed utmost dedication and professional competence of a very high order while carrying out his duties. His idea to organize cycle rallies to commemorate the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking on 26th June, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was well supported by his superiors which brought good PR to the organization. He organized International Day of peace on 16th September, 2006 under the guidance of Dy. S.P Umesh Gaonkar. He also organsied and participated in several skits/Street Plays on message against Narcotic drugs and also presented some on Doordarshan Panaji on behalf of the Home Guards organization. It was because of his initiative and supported by Dy.S.P. Umesh Gaonkar that CM's Medals were instituted in the Home Guards. He wrote inspiring articles on Home Guard and Civil Defence in Local newspapers papers and periodicals.

Shri Aguiar has done VVIP bandobast duty, elections duty and others apart from the regular schedule of the organization. He has also conducted lectures on several occasions for Civil Defence volunteers, College students and during NCC Annual Training Camps and NSS camps for the benefit of the students. He has been awarded cash rewards and GST’s, participation certificates of sports, blood donation and several appreciation letters.

Shri Aguiar is Journalist/Media official by profession. He also worked in New Delhi for 8 years as APS to former Union Minister Shri Eduardo Faleiro in the Ministries of External Affairs, Finance, Chemicals & Fertilizers. He is outstanding, hardworking, punctual and highly devoted officer. He has worked for local newspapers like Herald, Gomantak and erstwhile West Coast Times, Goencho Avaz. He is also a Konkani poet and lyricist. His songs are on All India Radio and and on CD's.

He has on several occasion conducted career guidance programmes and competitions to motivate Goan youths to join the armed forces and civil services. His favorite hobby is photography. Ponda Taluka Patrakar Sangh felicitated Mr. Aguiar, for completion of over 25 years in the field of Journalism on August 1, 2006. Mr. John Aguiar was felicitated on August 1, 2009 by the Sanvordem-Quepem Journalist Association with “Patrakar Mitra” award. On June 30, 2010, he was presented with The Navhind Times, Ex-NCC Achiever Award-2010 for Literature by the State Ex-Cadets NCC Association(SENA). He was also felicitated by Antruz Shigmotsav Committee on March 2, 2010 for his valuable contribution for Ponda shigmo. Mr. Aguiar was presented with Gulab-Writer of the year award 2010- at a function held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on July 20, 2011.

Two books by Shri Aguiar were released on April 9, 2011 at GCCI Hall, Panjim namely “Gulmohar” – collection of Konkani poems and “Offside- collection of English essays and miscellaneous writings.