PANJIM: Job recruitment in Goa is taking different twists. In an Accounts Department written test last year, thousands of candidates had failed, while in another, most the candidates who cleared the tests are from one constituency.
Recently, Electricity Department released a list of 65 junior engineers who have been selected for the job. The candidates were selected based on a written test and interview. Surprisingly, out of 65 candidates who cleared it, 19 were from the constituency of Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, who was inducted into the Manohar Parrikar Cabinet just three months ago.
There has been a major hue and cry by ministers and MLAs of ruling coalition government with regards to the selection of candidates.
t the December 21, 2018 cabinet meeting held at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s residence the issue was hotly debated. Sources reveal that those who expressed their resentment at the meeting were Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaocar, WRD Minister Vinod Palyekar, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte.
Apart from Curchorem, the other constituencies from where more than two candidates were selected were Vasco (6), Mormugao (4), Panjim (4) and Bicholim (4).
Speaking to Herald on condition of anonymity a cabinet minister said this is nothing but ‘fixing’. “How can 19 candidates from Power Minister’s constituency clear the exam and from the rest just one or two? The minister has to answer. This is an injustice to deserving candidates,” said the minister.
When contacted Salgaocar refused to comment on the matter saying, “I do not know anything. Even if I do under the oath we are not supposed to reveal what has been discussed at the Cabinet meeting,” he said.
Asked for his comment on the controversy Cabral said, “What do I know? This time it was around 11 or 19, even when Milind Naik was Power Minister, nine candidates of my constituency were selected. I think the youth of my constituency have become more studious and more capable.”
