Team Herald
PANJIM: Labour & Employment Minister Rohan Khaunte has hailed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s prompt action into his complaint against a section of government employees engaged in side businesses. Sawant, last Friday had directed the Personnel Department to launch an inquiry into the allegation.
“Our efforts to bring in more governance and less government have been acknowledged. Appreciate CM @DrPramodPSawant for taking cognisance of the problem raised by me. This will go a long way in bringing transparency and accountability in public service in #Goa,” Khaunte tweeted on Sunday.
On the sidelines of an industrial meet last month, Khaunte had claimed that at least 30 per cent of the government servants fall in this category and proposed that the chief minister form a task force to crack down on these employees paving way for ‘fresh blood’ to get into the government sector. He had soon moved an official communiqué to the chief minister seeking action.
“As per my estimate, 30 per cent of the government employees are involved in running side businesses. I will write to the CM seeking for a special task force and also float sentinel-like scheme to expose government servants indulging in side business. The informer will be given rewards too,” the minister had said.
“If a person has a side business and a job, it is good, but he cannot afford to do both, he has to either run the side business or remain in service. There are deserving candidates who are waiting for government jobs, if we need to give proper administration and governance, it becomes important that people who are responsible as government employees at various levels give deliveries as public servants to the people of Goa,” he was further quoted as saying.
