Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Calangute BJP MLA Michael Lobo has hits out at not only his government, but also Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for “letting down” the youth of Goa despite there being 3,000 vacant posts across various government departments.
In October 2016, former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar had issued a general order that the government was stopping recruitment temporarily. Since then no one has been employed. In the 2017 budget speech, Parrikar said that he would create jobs for the unemployed youth of Goa in the government as well as private sector.
“The youth of Goa have continued to remain unemployed in the government sector. The private sector has created small number of jobs. I myself have directly (facilitated) 500 jobs to the unemployed youth of Goa in the hotel, construction and interior industry. After the government sector had stopped employment till date they have not recruited,” he pointed out at a press briefing held in Calangute on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, he said, posts for 180 teachers and 50 accountants were advertised, but no one has been recruited yet.
At the press briefing, the Calangute MLA informed that he has written a letter to the chief minister, with a copy marked to the Chief Secretary, stating that there are 3,000 vacant posts in various governments departments and Goa Police have the highest number of vacant posts.
“Whenever we ask for additional police for Calangute or the coastal belt, the Director General of Police or SP tells us that the reserved battalion has to be with them in case of any untoward incident. Besides, they do not have any additional police. In 2012, Manohar Parrikar had recruited 500 constables which was the last. In the last five years so many police have retired or left and there is a shortage in Goa police,” Lobo said.
He said that several youth are unemployed and searching for a job; the youth from the mining belt are the worst hit. “The people of Goa are fed up as the government is not telling when mining will be restarted. In the police, health services and other departments there are several jobs available. In the NGPDA itself there are 27 jobs available but till today no order has been issued for recruitment,” he said.
“I do not know why the CM is sitting with all these files. Through this letter, I request him to give one of your ministers the job to give the vacancies to the youth of Goa. Some youth are sitting idle while others are giving up citizenship and going to London. They have gone because the Goa government is not taking care of the common people,” Lobo said.
He said that the lower middle class people are the biggest sufferers. “These are the same people who gave Parrikar 21 seats in the State with the hope he would bring about a change. The people have now understood that Parrikar has not kept his word,” he said.
“I am talking on behalf of the unemployed youth of Goa. The only industry that is surviving in Goa is tourism and there too people are facing a lot of problems. Even that industry is not safe. Wherever you go drugs is being sold openly. If this employment issue is not dealt with, the youth for few rupees will somehow get caught in this,” Lobo warned.
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Lobo urges alliance partners to pressurise CM to deliver on promises
MCalangute MLA Michael Lobo has urged the alliance partners to go to Delhi and pressurise the chief minister to deliver on the promises made and release some jobs for the youth of Goa. There are vacancies but the government does not want to give the jobs. “Do not go to ask for portfolios because that is not important. Goans want to stand on their own feet, they are not beggars. So many youth from Bardez approach me for jobs. Some even send me messages on Whatsapp and Facebook. I do not know in which direction this government is going and where we are heading. The people of Goa are frustrated and want to know when their work will be done,” Lobo lamented. He claimed that he had helped many youth to get self employed. “But how will I be able to help the youth from across Goa?” he wondered. He observed that though the people of Goa are sympathetic to the CM’s ailment, but at the end of the day work needs to be done.
