TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa Tourism Development Corporation received a big setback as senior staffers opted for its Voluntary Retirement Scheme, forcing the corporation to suspend its implementation for the moment. In fact, the authorities are toying with the idea of scrapping it.
While the objective of the VRS was to save finances due to high expenditure, the GTDC received a huge shock as three of its top senior staffers applied for the same.
“This would have been a big loss for us,” Corporation Chairman Nilesh Cabral said, adding that out of the 15 applicants there were those who were already on long leave seeking benefits under VRS.
The corporation, we are told, was expecting at least 30 applications for its VRS scheme, which was approved by the Board last year. In fact sources say that the scheme may be scrapped as it saw no effective results as envisaged.
“We have decided to keep the VRS scheme in abeyance,” Cabral said, disclosing that GTDC did not process the 15 application it received after the scheme was effected in September last year. Cabral said that the corporation is trying to find avenues of generating revenue to meet its salary burden.
The GTDC is likely to place an order for its new river cruise vessel and for upgradation of its Panjim Residency to attract more tourists. Likewise development of the Tiracol fort property is also on the anvil.
Cabral disclosed further that the corporation will conduct tourism related activities for the upcoming carnival season. The wine festival is on schedule but deferred by a week on account of non-availability of the Campal venue on account of the Lusofonia Games.
