PANJIM: Sports Minister Govind Gaude clarified that the four per cent jobs will be reserved only to sportspersons, born in the State and who won medals in the recently concluded 37th National Games.
Retired sportsmen expressed their happiness though some expressed their apprehension about it being exploited. Earlier this reservation was limited to the Goa police and fire departments. Goa won 92 medals in the just concluded National Games.
Gaude said, “Jobs will be provided to all Goan medal winners, and to all those who were born in Goa.”
This should put to an end to all speculations that arose following Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement that four per cent jobs would be provided to sport persons who brought glory to the State in the National Games. Many wondered whether the sport persons from other States who represented Goa and won medals would also be eligible for jobs in the government sector.
Former footballer Yolanda de Sousa Kammermeier said the proposal had to be studied. She said if an individual won a medal for the State and had settled here then he or she would deserve a job. “How can they be ignored? However, I believe that not anyone will come here and win a medal and then ask for a job.” She concluded by saying medal winners cannot be ignored.
Former Director of SAG V M Prabhudessai said “Now retired, I am speaking as a citizen. This policy is good. The Central government policy of 5 per cent was being implemented in only a few government departments.”
Prabhudessai said those who came from outside would play and go and this would be done as per the Goa government policy. The employment requires a 15-year domicile and just one National Games does not guarantee a job to outsiders. He said that there will be more clarity when the government formulates the policy and opined that a sportsperson is given government job for winning more medals over a period of time.
Another famed former footballer Francis Matari D’Souza said the move by the government was very good since it would secure some sort of future. He said earlier there was never 100 per cent surety of getting a job. This is a big boost to sportspersons in Goa. When asked if he was open to outsiders coming to Goa and taking jobs, D’Souza pointed out that there were parameters like domicile clause that cannot be overlooked.
“Every company had recruitment rules and it should give a boost to locals. It is a good move by the government to promote sports and much would depend on the policy to be framed by the government,” added D’Souza.
