Larsen & Toubro has commenced the construction of a cable-stayed bridge across the Mandovi river, with no recruitment of technical staff and other skilled personnel from Goa. Till date they haven’t advertised on any leading English newspapers from Goa for technical and administrative vacancies.
We in Goa have high literacy rate. We have degree-level civil engineering colleges and diploma-level polytechnics. These professional institutes are based in Goa for many years and, therefore, we can effectively say we don’t lack the skilled professionals. What is so special about the bridge construction where Goan engineers lack technical knowledge?
Will the L&T contractor be able to carry out similar construction operations in the state of West Bengal and Kerala without employing local engineers and administrative staff ?. It will be beyond impossible for them to do so in those states.
Why then is there discrimination for employment when it comes to employing Goan engineers on projects partly funded by state and national governments? The government of Goa together with the opposition parties should question L&T about this grave injustice.
Paul Pereira, Utorda
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