Speed up applications of land conversions
The Goa Revenue Minister has admitted that there is tardiness in the processing of conversion of land cases since reports from TCP and Forest Departments to the Collector are delayed even though the points to be checked by these departments are limited. Therefore he has assured to amend the relevant rules empowering the Collector to proceed with the process if the said reports are not received by him within the given time of 20 days.
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In this regard it should be noted that where the applications for conversion of land are accompanied by a Zoning certificate from the TCP, certifying the land to be in settlement zone, then inspection and report of TCP are not required. Therefore, forwarding of Zoning certificate of TCP along with the applications should be made compulsory which will save much time and effort.
Further, the delay in the reports of Forest Department is mainly due to organisational structure of the department and delegation of powers. At present, these reports are given by the Dy Conservator of Forests Ponda even though the land may be in Pernem. The files are to be submitted to him who in turn directs the Range Forest Officer Panjim to inspect the land and submit the report to him. Only then does he send his report to the Collector.
If the powers to give the said report are delegated to the respective Range Forest Officer, the procedure would be simplified and much time and effort saved. Therefore, the government should also review the existing procedures and shorten them wherever there is scope.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Be careful whilst seeking jobs abroad
This has reference to the report ‘Seeking a job abroad?’ (Herald, November 5, 2022). Human trafficking is indeed a very serious and shameful crime committed against the gullible job seeker. The chief minister of Goa has therefore rightly cautioned the youth seeking jobs abroad, about the dangers of human trafficking prevalent in many countries today. India perhaps ranks among the top nations as victims of human trafficking.
According to the chief minister in the news report, this matter of human trafficking came to light when eight job seekers approached his office last week, complaining of being cheated by an agent. So where do we go from here?
Not just Goa, but this racket of human trafficking must be happening in several other States in the country as well. What are the authorities planning to do about it, besides cautioning job seekers?
The government needs to give this a serious thought. In the first place, why are people seeking jobs abroad? Apparently, there are no jobs available in the country and it is a matter of survival. So what does one do? One wonders, whatever happened to the crores of jobs projected over the past couple of years? Is it a mirage, a dream which may never come true?
The government has to provide the answers. In the meanwhile, job seekers will continue to run the risk of seeking jobs outside of our country. The grass, they say, is greener on the other side.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Recruitment for overseas jobs
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has reportedly sounded an alarm that job aspirants, lured by promises of high-salaried jobs abroad are sent to smaller or poorer countries where they become victims of human trafficking. With several agents preying on the vulnerable young population it is high time this illegal recruitment menace is put to an end.
It must be said that such job rackets have been going on in the State for several years and the number of cases are on the rise. The illegal recruitment agents open offices temporarily, collect money from the youth while promising them lucrative jobs abroad. However, these agents then do the disappearing act, by closing down the office.
Numerous Goan youth have fallen victims of such frauds since it is difficult to find a decent job in the State. It seems necessary for the law enforcing agency to check the credentials of the recruiting agencies operating in the State. Those which are operating illegally need to be made to shut shop. The only way to stop this menace is to make more job opportunities available in Goa so that the youth do not have to go abroad to seek employment.
Alternatively the government could start its own recruitment facility for overseas jobs and jobs on the cruise liners. This way the youth will be rest assured that they will not be taken for a ride by the dubious recruiting agents.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Name Mopa airport after Goa’s heroes
It would be very appropriate for the new Airport at Mopa to be named after Goa’s first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar and the Dabolim Airport after Goa’s first Leader of the Opposition, Dr Jack Sequeira.
Though Dayanand Bandodkar may have initially been for merging Goa with Maharashtra, he respected the people’s verdict and later with Dr Jack Sequeira as the fiery voice of the Opposition, they toiled with a vision and passion towards the development of Goa. Unlike many of today’s politicians who are self-centred, they had relentlessly raised and pursued issues concerning the backward, down-trodden, and neglected communities of Goa. Renowned for their integrity, honesty and commitment, we may never see such persons again in this arena of political pygmies.
Dayanand Bandodkar and Dr Jack Sequeira dared to speak from their heart and always walked the talk. Only a few of such politicians still remain in our midst and will also always be remembered for the good they have done for Goa. About the rest and in particular some of the current politicians in power who have been steering and navigating Goa down the tube there will be no worthwhile legacy or obituary to write and no land remaining to even raise a Samadhi, leave alone a statue.
It is imperative that students today in our schools and colleges be made aware of the very rich and invaluable contribution to Goa by Dayanand Bandodkar and Dr Jack Sequeira.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Need to improve our economic issues
The impact of the Covid pandemic has been less because of the economic policies pursued by the present government is what Modi claims. The hollowness of this statement can be checked if women employment is verified to show that it has fallen over the last 3 years as also the number of suicides that have increased among daily wage labour and in the unorganised sector workforce.
The number of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) that have closed down in the same period is alarming and signifies the distress that is widespread in the country. Unemployment is another issue that indicates the State of the economy. The proof that jobs are just not there is exemplified in the fact that Modi himself has been organising job fairs across the country lately and distributing appointment letters to more than a million unemployed. Modi and his government need to understand that they cannot continue to remain in denial about the dismal state of the Indian economy.
Apart from the urgent need to control inflation and stimulate growth, we need to improve our efforts in promoting our economic efforts. We are part of the world economic scenario and thus have to become a serious player therein. No country in the world would have done so much to feed so many to alleviate the pangs of hunger. Thus one would believe that we are not keeping the world informed about what measures we are taking and what we are doing.
The simple philosophy in this is that what works for the rest of the world should also work for India in terms of the ratings agencies and there is a need of a healthy interaction with them.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
