August 15, 2021
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant presented the prestigious President's Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal for distinguished Services to Shri John Aguiar, former Hon. Company Commander of Home Guards, Panaji Division at the state Independence day function at Old Secretariat, Panaji today. The award was announced by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from New Delhi.
Shri Aguiar was earlier also recipient of President's Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal for “Meritorious services” in appreciation of his commendable services in Home Guards which was presented in 2012 (Independence Day) at the hands of then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar. He was presented with the Goa Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for meritorious services in the Home Guards on December 19, 2007 (Goa Liberation Day). Shri Aguiar was conferred with certificate and Commendation Disc of Director General of Civil Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi in the year 2013. He was awarded Commendation by Deputy Director General NCC (Karnataka and Goa Directorate) in June 2016. He was also Public Relations Officer of the Goa Police department from June 13, 2011 to December 8, 2017. During his tenure as PRO, he displayed professional competence and liaised with Press/media personnel and carried out image building of the police department successfully. He also Assisted in editing the Goa Police News Bulletin.
Shri Aguiar is the first Home Guard personnel from Goa to be decorated with the “distinguished services medal”. He is a product of St Mary’s School, Ponda and Smt. Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science , Margao. During his college education he was adjudged “Best all Round Student”. He did his “Masters in Journalism” from Tilak University , Pune.
Shri Aguiar is a poet, writer and has written six books, four on Konkani poetry, one about essays in English and another one on essays in Roman Konkani script. He bagged Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s literary award for his Konkani poetry book “Olyo yadi” in 2017. He is also a shooter and has represented the state of Goa at the Maulankar National Shooting championship at Chennai in 2003.
Shri Aguiar since his enrolment 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 consequently in 2005, 2006 and 2007 was well supported by his superiors. This brought good PR to the organization. He also organised 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/proposal and support by Shri Umesh Gaonkar that CM's Medals were instituted in the Home Guards organisation. He wrote inspiring articles on Home Guard and Civil Defence in Local newspapers and periodicals.
Shri Aguiar 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 a Journalist/Media official by profession. He also worked in New Delhi as Assistant Private Secretary to former Union Minister Shri Eduardo Faleiro in the Ministries of External Affairs, Finance, Chemicals & Fertilizers. He is an outstanding, hard-working, 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 on CD's.
