PANJIM: Urging youth to take up agriculture as a profession in the future, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said the State has given much employment in the government sector, which will not be possible in the future.
“Students should take agriculture as a profession in future. We should be able to harness the demographic dividend, as it is by 2025 India would be the youngest country. As such the population of youth is going to be 50 per cent of the total country’s population,” Sardesai said, addressing the valedictory function of a workshop on ‘Prospects of export of vegetables produced by Goan farmers’.
He said that considering this, Goa, which has a population of 15 lakhs at present, will soon have 7-8 lakhs as youngsters. “So I, as a minister can hundred per cent promise you, that we will not be able to give you 7 lakh jobs in the government sector. For sure we will not be able to give you that,” he said.
“As of now, we are highest per capita employed State where we have one government servant per 20 people while national average is 140. We have given heavy government employment which we will not be in a position to give in future,” he added. The State has around 66,000 government employees at present.
During the recent monsoon session of the State Assembly, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had announced that recruitment in the government sector would begin from August and that the process for the same is being initiated.
The government has also announced to come up with employment policy ensuring jobs for every youth and that in the coming one or two years, there will be no unemployed youth in Goa.
Government off late has been focusing on private sector employment by promoting information technology, hospitality and self employment through start-ups.
