PANJIM: Addressing the 111th Annual General Meeting of the Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) where Manoj Caculo was handed over the baton of president from Sandip Bhandare and seeking their help in data sharing, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced that Goa government is soon coming up with two skill development centers, one in each district.
“These two skill development centers will be like center for excellence. We also ask you to join and help it grow so that the people are skilled in our State. I feel that a strong and robust partnership between the government and the industry will help sustain the social-economic development of the State,” Sawant said.
The chief minister also mentioned that the State government has spent nearly Rs 300 crore in welfare schemes for those who were directly affected by the mining ban.
“I agree that due to certain constraints, the government in the last five years has not been really able to address certain issues and the last 15 months have been very challenging especially after the mining ban. The State exchequer was deprived of at least 25 per cent of its revenue. Despite all this, the government has intervened to avoid any human tragedy as a reason for the building desperation among the mining dependents and about Rs 300 crore were granted for several schemes. We have continued these schemes despite a jolt in the revenue collection,” Sawant said.
Revenue, IT, Employment and Labour Minister Rohan Khaunte ensured that generating employment with a respectable salary in the State is on high priority. At the same time he lambasted NGOs that are opposing the development of Chimbel.
“We are touching upon a path where the industries that are willing to come to Goa and offer respectable salaries to Goans and are taking all precautions on environment, then, why is the opposition? We must protect and help for our Goan needs. Story telling can be done, but it is time for us to give a very positive picture of the State as all responsible investors will look forward to it. I as an IT minister with my experience I am saying we need to deliver confidence in investors,” Khaunte said.
