PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant took an indirect dig at some of his present and past cabinet colleagues over recruitment in the government departments, claiming he does not prefer his constituency alone for jobs.
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference to highlight the eight years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, the CM denied speculation that unemployed youth from his constituency are being considered for jobs at the soon-to-be commissioned Mopa International Airport.
“I do not have the habit of providing jobs to people of my constituency like some politicians. More than 500 people have been recruited to work for permanent posts at Mopa International Airport, and they will be given offer letters soon. I have verified all the job offers and there are recruitment offers from Pernem as well, it is wrong to say only Sanquelim people are given the jobs at Mopa International Airport,” he said.
The statement was obviously a dig at Health Minister Vishwajit Rane who is alleged to have filled up vacancies in the Goa Medical College with youth from his constituency.
Referring to eight years of Modi’s prime ministership, Sawant said that the double engine government has given a boost to Goa’s development pace. Sawant said that the coastal State has largely benefited during the past eight years.
Accompanied by BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Sawant hailed various initiatives and schemes introduced by the Modi government for the overall development of the country.
“Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi PM-KISAN launched in 2019 to provide financial support to farmers across the country, 11,894 farmers in Goa have benefited. The Blue Revolution Scheme or ‘Neel Kranti Mission’ was launched in 2014, with the objective to develop, manage, and promote fisheries to double fish farmers’ income. The Centre has allocated Rs 19.26 crore funds allocated to the State under this scheme,” he said as he reeled out a long list of welfare schemes introduced by the Central government under Modi.
The pan-India public outreach is being held on the theme of service, good governance, and the welfare of the poor.
Sawant further said that 21,867 Ayushman cards have been issued in Goa and more than Rs 33 crore have been disbursed by the Central government.
“Ayushman Bharat – health and wellness centres under the Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) component, the Union government aims to deliver comprehensive primary health care that is universal, free to the users, and offers an expanded range of services closer to the community. This scheme was rolled out in April 2018 nationwide, and by March 2021 a total of 161 Health and Wellness Centres have been started in Goa to provide comprehensive primary care and preventive health services,” he added.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – a total of 3,097 houses were sanctioned, 2,867 houses were grounded and 2,864 houses were completed. The Central government has released Rs 67.72 crore since 2014 whereas Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) has so far seen 131 houses built out of 243 sanctioned houses, and Rs 2.29 crore were utilised for the project out of Rs 23.70 crore.
Sawant further said that Goa has connected 100 per cent of the households with tap water through Rs 65.51 crore in total funds allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Central government has also released 100 per cent LPG connections in Goa for eligible BPL cardholders.
On the infrastructure front, road infrastructure has witnessed a big boost in the last 8 years of the NDA government. CM released some of the key projects including National Highway projects, the new Zuari Bridge, Manohar Parrikar Canacona Highway, Atal Setu (50% Central Support), and Mopa Airport among others.
With the government focusing on improving health infrastructure, CM Sawant said that South Goa will have a new medical college.
