Team Herald

PANJIM: In a hard-hitting speech in the Assembly, former Chief Minister and senior-most legislator Pratapsingh Rane tore into the State government for not doing enough to resolve the mining imbroglio or reducing unemployment figures in Goa.

Rane urged the government to do more in taking the education sector in the State to the next level and include the private players in this regard.

Speaking about job availability for youth, he said Goa should move from a ‘money-order’ economy where locals rely on money sent by their family living abroad as there are not enough employment opportunities for locals in Goa.

He said the government should see that Goans are able to create wealth at home and demanded answers from the government on what steps it has taken to address these issues.

He said mining has been the major industry in Goa that employed 40,000 people and allied industries.

Rane said he is saddened to see so many people suffering because of the mining impasse and gave examples of how the affected people are struggling.

He added that the government cannot simply pass the buck saying it is a Central subject given how a significant chunk of the population depends on mining.

He pointed out that there was nothing much mentioned by the Chief Minister in his financial speech or the budget about the measures it has taken or proposes to take regarding mining resumption.

He said the CM should offer clarity on the present status of mining as well as provide up-to-date employment figures in the State.

He called upon the government to ‘put the economy back on the rail’.