Nod for 737 posts to absorb PETS trainees
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 3
Trainees under the Pre-Employment Training Scheme (PETS) can finally heave a sigh of relief as the State government has approved 737 supernumery posts to absorb them into the government service.
The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, at the post-cabinet briefing Monday afternoon, said the cabinet has unanimously decided to create 737 posts to induct PETS trainees into government departments as they have worked for the government for the last couple of years.
PETS was a brain child of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and hundreds of youth were taken on training but very few were absorbed in the government. Thousands of boys and girls had gone for the scheme with some giving up good private jobs, though the government then paid them only Rs 1500 as stipend per month. The remuneration was raised by the Rane government and the present ministry increased it further last year to Rs 8,000 per month.
At one point, then opposition leader Pratapsing Rane had castigated the BJP-led ministry alleging that the scheme was a fraud played on the youth of Goa.
The PETS survived through agitation and petitions nevertheless, so much so that the Congress-led government was compelled to give them a hike in salaries from Rs 1500 per month to Rs 8000 per month.
About 80-90 PETS trainees have already been taken into service, said Kamat adding the government has fulfilled long standing demand of the trainees.
With the induction of PETS trainees into government service, the government will have to bear additional expenses Rs 30 to 35 lakh with annual total of Rs 4.50 crore, he said.
Considering that PETS have been working for the government on contract basis for the last couple of years the relaxation in age as well as educational qualification will be given to them while absorbing them into service.
