The crazy rush of youth for a job on a one year contract in the Government service has shocked the state bureaucracy and labour and employment department. They decided to look into the problem of unemployment in the State and to study the reason.
Most of the people prefer Government service because of job security and several other benefits. Government has recently received applications from the postgraduates, engineers and even of the law graduates in a response to a vacancies notification for clerical jobs.
Why is there such a craze for government jobs?
Herald spoke to number of candidates who are highly qualified in the various fields including technical and management. Their dream job and not surprising is a government job. They would settle for a private job only if they don’t get through the recruitment process for a job in a government department.
With Goa serious in creating the job opportunities by attracting job oriented industries in the State and many young talented professionals eager to join the Government service, the situation is quite bizarre.
The reason behind this craze for government jobs is a misconception in the minds of today youth and experts feels that the youth are not ready to accept the challenge and want a secure job. The pay scale was low earlier in Government job but now after the seventh pay the scale is also high.
Former Chairman of Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC), Prakash Desai said if anybody who is aspiring to grow in life, they cannot grow in a government job. Boys and girls who don’t want to work hard and take challenges, they are going for the Government jobs, he added.
“Everybody wants white colour job with less responsibility and accountability. In Government service coming late is permitted and going early is also permitted. Lower staff have political bosses to take care of which is very dangerous. Head of the department should give total control over the staff, which is not happening. Sometimes head of the department becomes a puppet of politicians”, Desai said.
“Whether you work or not work, you will be promoted. With the pay commission you get your better salaries also”, he said reason why most of the youngsters prefer Government jobs.
He said classical example is Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) that is running losses and Government is still pushing crores of rupees in the corporation for salaries of the employees.
“Even seventh pay scale is also now implemented for them, why else would you need a Government job? Why would there not be such a craze if Government has such policies?”, Desai questioned.
Anil Powar, educationist and former Director of Education department of Government of Goa said people believe Government service jobs are more secure and they eager to join in.
“Even if the contract jobs, they join with the hope that one day they will be regularised. In Government service there is no pressure like corporate service where there is continuous pressure”, he said.
“It is easier to work in Government service, now salaries are also good. Everybody is happy, in private you are always in a pressure”, Powar said, ‘that has changed the tendency of the people in terms of working’.
Minister for Labour and Employment, Rohan Khaunte said that unemployment is a problem all over the country and it is a challenge for every state government to tackle. State like Goa which is a small state has limitation in resources.
”As you look down the gap between the industries coming down for investment and giving skilled Goan to the industries, that gap exists. Gap between the skilled people wanting the job and the type of job available in the market”, Minister said.
He further added, “Government job gives them a thought of security and employee get the advantage of all the benefits that comprise a secured life. In corporate you growth depends on performance and efficiency whereas it is not the case in the government” Khaunte said.
