Herald: Tell us about your campaign of felicitating retired employees working on extension.
John Nazareth: I always felt that extensions given to retired Government servants after retirement spoiled the working spirit of those working sincerely and aspiring for promotion and also others down the line as they get a feeling that there is no reward or recognition for hard work. I had noticed that there was no criteria followed for giving extensions and those who are found influential were given extension. But, it is not true to say that only one party Government is giving extensions. So I thought if this process of making mockery of those who are begging for extension by giving them disgraceful felicitation and asking them to spell out their extraordinary qualities and achievements which can be highlighted and brought out in form of CD.
Herald: What is the response you are getting from colleagues in this campaign?
John: I can say there is very good response of the employees. So many employees call me and say that I have ignited a hope in their hearts that it is indeed possible to end service extensions. There is a fear in the minds of the employees that if they are seen openly supporting the movement, they may be harassed. With the fear of harassment, you will see employees not participating in the movement openly but if you take a survey the way election results surveys are taken, you will find the reality. The campaign has definitely made good impact on the employees who are in service and those who are on extension are working in shame by bowing down their heads in shame as they are occupying the place which belongs to someone else and they are killing the dreams and aspirations of several employees.
Herald: How do the extensions affect the promotional avenues of other employees.
John: When extensions are given, the employees in the line of promotion get denied of their timely promotions and many a times the person eligible for promotion has to retire without promotion as a retired person is occupying his rightful place. The person due for promotion will get promotion only when the post falls vacant.
Herald: What is the affect and the campaign so far?
John: The GGEA had collected 95 names of retired Government servants working on service extensions and so far around 50 persons are sent home by the Government without further extension. To name a few GGEA can confidently say that 1) Mr. S.G. Korgaonkar, former Commissioner of Commercial Taxes 2) Mr. Benjamin Braganza, Director of Animal Husbandry, 3) Mr. Orlando Rodrigues, Ex Director of Agriculture, 4) Mr. Laximanan, former Chief Electrical Engineer were denied extensions. There were 16 people working on service extensions in Electricity Department, now there are only two. The biggest achievement is that an awareness now and Hon’ble Chief Minister is returning the proposals for extension. GGEA has told CM that extensions can be given to those handling sensitive investigations and if they are likely to submit investigation report soon. Extensions can also be given to those who are doing scientific research and if they are likely to get success in the research, soldiers who join war and if they are due for retirement during the ongoing war.
Herald: You have said that the extensions are major scope for corruption can you please substantiate your allegations?
John: Yes my organization GGEA believes that those working on contract basis after retirement are not punishable under the CCS (Conduct) Rules. The examples are before us, former Chief Engineer of PWD was appointed on contract basis in JICA project and what he has done has been witnessed by the Goans. There is a retired Head Clerk named Lingu Gawde in Electricity Department in charge of Establishment work. An order promoting 31 LDCs/Meter Readers is issued on 28-8-2015 with conditions that in case promotion is not accepted the candidates will be barred from future promotion for one year and other condition being that the order has to be accepted or rejected within 10 days. There was a lady named Kiran Kambli at SR. No. 29 who is issued another promotion order within 2 and half months, which means she had not accepted the promotion. If she had accepted, there was no need to issue second order of her promotion. If she had not accepted she ought not to have been promoted for one year. After failing in his attempts Lingu finally issues a corrigendum and posting Kiran Kambli in Tivim the same office she was working before her promotion.
Herald: What is your next step in this direction?
John: Going beyond the list which we had prepared, we have written a letter to Her Excellency the Governor of Goa Mridulla Sinha to grant permission to GGEA to give (Dis) Graceful felicitation to Dr. N.Radhakrishnan, Special Secretary to Governor and Mr. Alan D’Sa, former Superintendent of Police working as ADC to Governor. The Governor was kind enough to oppose the proposal of the cabinet of Ministers to reject extension to Dr. Satish Shety so we have faith that she will permit us.
This movement is endless movement. I had proposed to the Central Committee that we will visit offices in the morning and serve BLACK TEA to those on extension. All members of the committee have been assigned the task of thinking on the issue and come up with more proposals.
Herald: Why is contract appointment system bad for Goan employees. What steps has the GGEA taken to curb this?
John: When youth are appointed on contract basis for a regular job, there is no job guarantee for them. It’s a hire and fire policy of the Government to reduce the liabilities. Those appointed on contract basis, do not give justice to the job nor they follow the rules. They merely work on the instructions of supervisors with the fear that they will be fired if they don’t fall in line. Contract appointments of youth against regular posts makes them leave Goa and the country.
