Goa Daily

  Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane, born on 23 March 1971, into Goa’s most storied political family his father, Pratapsingh Rane, served six terms as Chief Minister has emerged as one of the state’s most influential and results-oriented leaders. A commerce graduate from Goa University, postgraduate in management from TAPMI Manipal, and former state-level badminton champion, Rane entered politics with the Congress, winning Valpoi in 2007 and handling key portfolios under Digambar Kamat. In 2017 he switched to the BJP, joined Manohar Parrikar’s cabinet as Health Minister, and was re-elected from Poriem in 2022. Today he holds Health, Urban Development, Town & Country Planning, Forests, and Women & Child Development—perhaps the widest and most critical brief in the Pramod Sawant government. Revolutionising Healthcare: From Digital PHC to Lifesaving Infrastructure Rane pioneered India’s first fully digitised Primary Health Centre at Corlim and expanded the 108 ambulance fleet from...

  Goa Urban Development Vishwajit Rane is pioneering a community-driven model for environmental progress, intertwining eco-tourism opportunities with conservation initiatives to empower locals as central stakeholders in crafting the state's sustainable trajectory, thereby distributing development dividends more equitably and enriching traditional Goan community dynamics. By revitalizing forest pathways, wildlife viewing areas, and waterfall locales with environmentally conscious amenities such as biodegradable signage and renewable energy sources, Rane cultivates employment in eco-guiding, site management, and cultural interpretation, enabling residents to monetize their indigenous expertise without degrading the natural assets that define Goa's allure. Eco-Tourism Livelihoods: Locals as Guardians and Beneficiaries Rane's approach elevates passive residents to active participants, offering training in sustainable tourism practices that harness Goa's lush 1,400+ sq km ...