Neelesh Fernandes, Janga Gohar, Aniket Amonkar and Avinash Gaonkar of Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services; were honoured with Goa Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal
for Meritorious Service/Gallantry Service, on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day (19th December 2025) today.
Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service:
• Neelesh Fernandes, Station Fire Officer, joined the Department on 05.11.2006 as Sub-Officer. He was promoted to the post of Station Fire Officer on 31.03.2012. He has completed 19 years of service in the
Department. He has actively participated in several Fire & Emergency incidents across Goa such as Naphta leakage and Fire incident, Varanapuri, Mangoor Hill, Vasco, Cyclone Nisarga Response, Cyclone Tauktae Response, Flood Relief Operation etc. demonstrating exemplary performance. He was awarded Commendatory Notes on three occasions, in appreciation of his dedication & devotion to duty and exemplary performance in executing E-Governance. He was also awarded Certificates of Merit on one occasions, for standing first in the Annual Inspection Parade for the event Best Tournout during the year 2010.
• Janga R. Gohar, Leading Fire Fighter, joined the Department on 20.09.2000 as Fire Fighter. He was promoted to the post of Leading Fire Fighter on 07.08.2021. He has completed 25 years of service in the
Department. He has worked at various Fire Stations and has exhibited keen interest in executing difficult tasks in the operational field. During his tenure he was awarded Commendatory Note on one occasion in appreciation of his dedication and devotion to duty. He was also awarded Certificate of Merit on three occasion in appreciation for standing 2nd in the Annual Drill Competition for the event Squad Drill for the year 2012-13 and appreciation for standing 1st in 32nd Annual Fire Drill Competition for the event Squad Drill for the year 2020.
• Aniket A. Amonkar, Fire Fighter, joined the Department on 16.04.2013 as Fire Fighter. He has completed 12 years of service in the Department. He has worked at various Fire Stations and has exhibited keen interest in executing difficult tasks in the operational field. During his tenure he was awarded Commendatory Note on three occasion in appreciation of his good march past performance at Parade ground Campal on 19.12.2013, Goa Liberation Day & for his good discipline and general behaviour. He was also awarded Certificate of Merit on one occasion in appreciation for his outstanding service to rendered during the natural disaster occurred on 04.04.2014 in Sattari Taluka.
Chief Minister’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry Service:
Avinash U. Gaonkar, Fire Fighter, joined the Department on 05.04.2012 as Fire Fighter. He has completed 13 years of service in the Department. On 17.09.2024 the Valpoi Fire Station received the
emergency call wherein one person had fallen in the waterfall. While attending the rescue operation, Avinash U. Gaonkar disregarding his personal safety, with the help of Rope-climber went down into the 150 feet waterfall and retrieved the dead body.
