PORVORIM: Almost 10,000 vacancies in various government departments would be filled by December 19 this year, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant informed the State Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Speaking during the Supplementary demands, Sawant also admitted that it would be a difficult task to achieve 100 per cent coverage of beneficiaries with both doses of the anti-COVID vaccine by October 30. The Chief Minister said, “At least 70 per cent beneficiaries can be fully vaccinated by the deadline.”
Sawant said as on date, around 8,000 vacancies have been advertised in different departments while another 2,000 vacancies would be out shortly. “All the departments have expedited the recruitment process and by December 19, 2021, we will be able to fill 10,000 vacancies, as promised,” he said.
Giving a brief on the State finances, the Chief Minister said for the current financial year, Goa’s market borrowing limit has been increased to Rs 3,200 crore. “So far, we have borrowed only Rs 1,100 crore which is only 34 per cent. The borrowing might go up to Rs 1,800 crore by the end of the financial year,” he said.
He also said the government has managed to reduce the interest rate on loans to 8 per cent from 13 per cent and many loans have also been cleared.
Sawant also said for the very first time, the government was able to submit utilisation certificates of all the projects that were pending for many years.
Further, Sawant assured the House that the Sanjivani Sugar Factory will not be shut and that the government intends to start ethanol production.
Aiming to make Goa an educational and Innovation Hub, the Chief Minister said the Central government has already introduced five courses in forensic studies at National Forensic Sciences University at Dharbandora, the third in the country after Gujarat and Tripura.
