EMPLOYMENT – the ‘PLOY’ this election

PANJIM: After BJP-led government failed to fulfill its promise of 50,000 job creation in the State, the political parties including the saffron front has led its emphasis on the contentious issue of “unemployment” this election. Endorsing that growing unemployment is a serious concern, the political fronts – BJP, Congress, AAP, MGP-GSM-SS, Goa Forward Party (GFP) has promised to resolve the same through various measures. 

The controversial issues – Medium of Instruction (MoI), casino, Regional Plan 2021 and Corruption free – seem to be missing from the manifesto of ruling BJP and its former ally MGP. On the other hand, the arch rivals have ensured appropriate steps in regards to all four issues. 

In a bid to woo youth and women voters- which comprises of almost 65 percent of the total electorates – the parties have offered series of schemes like rise in ongoing welfare schemes, unemployment allowance, free petrol to students, sports universities, etc. 

All the parties have underlined the need to protect Goa’s culture, identity and heritage – while some promised Special Status – few assured to introduce amendments to the State laws on those lines. The infrastructure and health is yet another sector that has attracted all the parties. 

 Congress: Subsistence allowance of Rs 5000 per month with family income below Rs 10 lakh per annum; minimum qualification in govt jobs to be reduced to 8th pass, reservation of jobs to Goans in all private enterprise, industry, business; populate govt jobs with Goan youth

BJP: Employment remains a priority area; propose to make Goa investor-friendly in industry, IT, tourism and agro-based sector

AAP: 50,000 jobs in five years; Aam Aadmi Rozgar Yojana with loan upto Rs 50 lakh for self employment; Rs 5000 per month unemployment allowance; Rs 2,500 for skill development of women 

MGP: Employment generation by promoting non-polluting industries 

GSM-SS: Special platform for entrepreneurship, skill development, upgradation of IT infrastructure, special incentives to IT start-ups for Goans

GFP: Setting up of employment promotion board, skill and business development corporation, women development corporation 

BJP – (No mention of MoI) : Improve quality of education at primary & secondary level, school complex model in Margao, Vasco, Ponda and Mapusa; completion of educational projects like IIT, NIT; effective implementation of mid-day meal; enhanced facilities 

Congress- (MoI to be parents’ choice): One-time infrastructure fund of Rs one cr to colleges; modify interest free loan; Wi-Fi services at all high schools, colleges, universities and professional institutions; free books to deserving students till university, free tailor made e-courses

AAP – (To continue grants to English medium primary schools): High quality education and infrastructure in Govt schools, teachers to be free from non-academic activities, interest-free and collateral-free higher education loan, students’ skill building, sports and agriculture university 

MGP- (No mention of MoI): Goa to be promoted as educational hub 

GSM-SS – (To withdraw grants to English medium primary schools): Upgradation of infrastructure, Goa to be educational hub, free education to poor and meritorious students

GFP- (No mention of MoI): Dr Jack de Sequeira Goa University of Agriculture and Horticulture, Bahusaheb Bandodkar College of Sports and Physical education, Dr Charles Correa Institute of pare-engineering, Dr Vithal Shirodkar Institute of para-medical courses, and Dr Ernesto Borges Medical college in South

BJP: No mention 

Congress: Set up anti-corruption board offices at district and taluka levels besides set up district offices for vigilance and vigilance officer in every govt dept 

AAP: Goa to be made corruption-free 

MGP: No mention 

GSM-SS: Zero-tolerance to corruption 

GFP: Zero-tolerance to corruption 

Congress: To restore mining incorporating the recommendations of the SC, one truck/tanker per family loan to be waived off, setting up permanent mining fund, free GPS units for trucks 

AAP: To ensure corruption-free and pollution-free mining, to send corrupt miners to jail, recovery of Rs 36,000 cr loot, allot Rs 400 crore for mining dependents, employment to mining dependents, mining corridor, zero waste mining, create people’s fund 

BJP: To promote sustainable eco-friendly mining with exclusive transport corridors 

MGP: Sustainable mining by creating special corridor for ore transport, to pursue in the SC for rise in iron ore cap 

GSM-SS: To regulate mining as per SC guidelines, mining corridor to expedite pollution-free transport of ore 

GFP: Sustainable mining 

BJP: No mention 

Congress: Floating casinos to be removed permanently from the rivers of Goa

AAP: To shut down casinos and provide alternative jobs to casino employees

MGP: No mention 

GSM-SS: Terminate licence of all casinos; amend Goa Gambling Act 

GFP: No mention 

SOCIAL WELFARE 

Congress: Griha Aadhaar benefit to be hiked to Rs 5000; scrap one family-one scheme policy; free day care service to senior citizen; state policy for senior citizens and disabled

AAP: Rs 2,500 per month for training and skill development to women; community justice centres for women; five exclusive women police stations; special women wing in hospitals; Rs 50,000 for development of girl child; Rs 2 lakh under Laadli Laxmi, Rs 3000 under Girha Aadhaar and DSSY, Rs 3000 to senior citizens and HIV patients, Rs 3,500 to people below 90% disability and Rs 10,000 to disability above 90%

BJP: Schemes like Laadli Laxmi, DSSS, Griha Aadhaar to be linked to inflation index for biennial increase in benefit; propose to enhance benefit step by step 

MGP-GSM-SS: Bhausaheb Bandodkar housing scheme for low and middle income groups; senior citizen homes

Congress: To amend RP21 & reformulate it

BJP: RP21 to be completed within one year taking into consideration all views; protect environment and agriculture land 

AAP: To complete in one year

MGP-GSM-SS: No mention 

GFP: No mention

Congress: Services to be brought under the Time Bound Delivery; to draft austere Govt vehicles policy to curb wasteful expenditure; review functioning of all govt depts.; minority commission; roll back amendment to Tenancy Act and Mundkar Act; executive magistrates to clear backlog of revenue cases; third district covering Ponda, Sattari and Dharbandora

BJP: 7th Pay Commission benefit to be extended to govt-run corporations and autonomous bodies; full implementation of service Guarantee Act, move towards e-governance, regularisation of contract wages; citizen centric administration 

AAP: Govt at doorstep; time-bound service; compensation in case of delay in service 

MGP-GSM-SS: Regularisation of contractual workers, para-teachers, withdrawal of amendment to Tenancy Act and Mundkar Act

GFP: People-friendly administration 

Congress: Universal healthcare including free medicines; to revamp mediclaim scheme; separate cell for special needs; state-of-the-art medical facilities; to reduce load on GMC; pharmacies and PHCs; strengthen 108 service

BJP: To strengthen medical insurance scheme

AAP: To build 400 waddo clinics with free treatment and free medicines; additional 500 beds in govt hospitals; state of art ambulance service; free health insurance scheme 

MGP: To improve alternate medical branches 

GSM-SS: To deliver quality health service, ayurvedic and homoeopathic doctors in PHCs

Congress: Monthly free five litre petrol to students

BJP: Goa to be garbage free – two more garbage treatment plants 

AAP:  Goa to be made Wi-Fi Zone 

MGP-GSM-SS: To reduce diesel prices by Rs 2 per litre