The Ravindra Bhavan at Baina-Vasco has been engulfed in controversy since its inception, with rival political groups debating over the very purpose and location of the government-run cultural centre.
The recent inauguration of the Ravindra Bhavan may have resolved many of these issues, but the project is now embroiled in a fresh controversy.
The youth of Mormugao taluka, who had hoped of employment avenues at the new Ravindra Bhavan, were in for a rude shock when they learnt that some of these vacancies had been handed over to ex-servicemen.
According to sources, some ex-servicemen are being employed by the Art and Culture department amid allegations that these posts were not advertised in the local newspapers. The aggrieved youth are also upset that a relative of a minister has also been employed in the Ravindra Bhavan without following due procedures.
Their anger has also been echoed by the BJP workers, who have been left fuming over these appointments. They have now threatened to work against the South Goa BJP candidate in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“There are so many qualified youth in Vasco and Mormugao constituencies and instead of appointing these youth to these posts, the Art and Culture department has appointed ex-servicemen to some of the posts in the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina,” complained a youth from the BJP youth wing.
“Before election, we had promised our voters and workers that we would help them get employment if vacancies arose in any of the government departments. However, it is shocking to note that when there are vacancies in our own area, the Art and Culture department has been favouring ex-servicemen instead of employing Goans,” said the BJP worker.
“These ex-servicemen are already drawing pension by virtue of having served the Central/State government. By employing them at Ravindra Bhavan in Baina, they will be drawing additional salary from the State government, thereby depriving unemployed youth of their rightful employment.”
Incidentally, Vasco businessman and philanthropist Anna Joshi, who passed away on Saturday, had also emphasized the need to employ local youth at the Ravindra Bhavan.
While laying the foundation stone for the Ravindra Bhavan project, late Joshi had stated that the government should provide employment to the local youth. “If this is done, then my presence to lay the foundation stone will be meaningful,” late Joshi had told reporters at the time.
When contacted, Mormugao MLA and Power Minister Milind Naik said he was not aware of the issue regarding the appointment of ex-servicemen until the list became public.
Asked why Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar had not taken him into confidence during the appointment of staff at the Ravindra Bhavan in Baina, since it was located in his constituency, Naik replied, “It is the prerogative of the minister concerned to appoint staff as the Ravindra Bhavan comes under his ministry.”
When contacted, Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida suggested that the Art and Culture department may have appointed these people on the basis of guidelines and reservations for SC/ST and ex-servicemen.
However, Almeida was quick to add, “There are around 10,000 voters in wards 9 and 10 which fall in Vasco constituency. The Art and Culture department should give equal representation to the people during the appointment of jobs.”
Former minister and ex-MLA Jose Philip D’Souza, who was the brain behind the Ravindra Bhavan project, said he did not understand the need to employ ex-servicemen, when there are hundreds of unemployed youth from Vasco and Mormugao constituencies.
“The ex-servicemen may be from both these constituencies and they may even be locals, but they have already worked before and they could be drawing pension from the government. That does not mean they should be given a job even after their retirement, when there are so many unemployed youth,” added D’Souza.
Despite repeated efforts, Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar could not be contacted on his mobile phone and calls to his office went unanswered.
