The recent arrest of Pooja Naik, accused of defrauding countless individuals by promising government jobs, has brought to light an extensive web of corruption involving not just job-seeking hopefuls but also government officials. As the investigation progresses, more disturbing details emerge, suggesting a longstanding and deeply embedded system of corruption that appears to involve various government employees and departments.
Among those implicated are ten individuals, including a school headmistress and four government employees, who were promptly granted bail.
Naik’s accomplice, Sagar Naik, an IRB police employee who allegedly extorted Rs 15 lakh by promising a teaching position, is now under investigation. This case appears to be only the latest in a series of government job scams that have tainted recruitment processes in various sectors over the years. It indicates that this is not an isolated incident but rather part of a much larger, systemic issue within government hiring practices.
One of the reasons so many people are willing to believe government jobs can be purchased is that, historically, these types of scandals have surfaced multiple times. Past cases in departments like PWD have shown that examination processes for government positions are often marred by corruption.
The “understanding” that jobs can be secured through bribery has led many to willingly pay large sums, believing it is the only way to secure stable government employment. Equally concerning is that many individuals who paid for these positions are seen as complicit; they knowingly entered into a corrupt arrangement, hoping to bypass merit-based hiring.
A pressing question remains: why have authorities failed to recognize the scale of this corruption? How did the government, including the Chief Minister, overlook such a large-scale fraud within its ranks? Pooja Naik’s lifestyle was a clear indication of suspicious activities: she resided in an upscale neighbourhood, owned luxury vehicles, and regularly travelled abroad, while her husband, a modest fish seller, appeared unlikely to afford such luxuries. Such overt displays of wealth should have raised red flags among government oversight bodies much sooner.
Although the Chief Minister has promised a thorough investigation and accountability for those involved, there is scepticism that this will extend beyond low-level operatives. Corruption of this scale is unlikely without political protection or connections that shield higher-ups. Minor punitive actions or suspensions for junior officials will not address the problem if influential leaders or senior officials are left untouched. Moreover, assurances that job recruitment will proceed solely through the Public Service Commission (PSC) ring hollow when similar promises have repeatedly failed to curb corruption.
The urgency for change is clear, given the social consequences. For educated youth, the belief that bribes rather than merit determine employment fosters a deep sense of frustration and disenchantment.
No matter how hard they work or study, their efforts seem futile if monetary influence can override merit. This disillusionment can push some into illegal activities or other means of financial gain, harming both society and the moral fabric of young people.
This predicament also underscores larger systemic issues, as the scope of government employment in Goa is limited. The State’s shift towards outsourcing across various sectors has reduced the number of government positions, further decreasing job prospects. As people realise the diminishing value of government employment, they may be less likely to pay brokers for fake job promises and, hopefully, demand genuine accountability and transparency in recruitment.
The government must respond by taking firm action to root out corruption at its source and introducing reforms that ensure fair, transparent, and merit-based hiring. Only when the public rejects this broken system and calls for accountability will we see a dismantling of these exploitative networks and a restoration of faith in government institutions.