Hectic parleys and discussions have gone on within the government for the past few days about scrapping the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) which came into existence primarily to streamline and bring transparency into the recruitment process in government departments. The SSC was set up in 2019 to ensure transparency after a series of cash-for-jobs charges, although, not to the comfort of ministers seeking the direct route.
There have also been consistent calls for a centralised recruitment system that follows merit even as rising unemployment was giving the government headaches. In the recently released report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 brought out by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, National Sample Survey Office, Goa’s unemployment was pegged at 8.7 per cent against the national average of 4.5 per cent. The data had reignited the debate over the need to provide jobs and address unemployment on a priority basis.
Allegations have been levelled at ministers and political leaders for using recruitment for vote-bank gains. Goa has seen a series of irregularities in recruitment. In 2021, Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate had alleged a massive 70-crore PWD recruitment scam where he charged that jobs were being sold for Rs 25-30 lakh each. The entire process was subsequently scrapped. In 2022, the hiring process for 1,300 vacancies in Goa Medical College and the Directorate of Health Services was challenged in the High Court. In the same year, irregularities surfaced in the recruitment of 145 police sub-inspectors. In 2024, Goa Forward MLA Vijai Sardesai alleged a scam in the recruitment of LDCs in the South Goa Collectorate and slammed the government over ignoring deserving Goans. The list goes on.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant may have shown the resolve to streamline the process through SSC, but the internal pulls and pressures are imminent. If we may recall, in November 2022, stung by a series of irregularities, Sawant said that from January 2023 recruitment for all government department posts will be routed through the SSC citing the need to end the “opaque process” that involves favours from MLAs. All jobs of multitasking staff, clerks, officers and other grades would be through competitive exams conducted by the SSC.
Introducing SSC was crucial because the direct recruitment process was not only opaque but was one of the primary reasons for the failure of administration, a fact admitted by Sawant. The CM has time and again categorically expressed his displeasure about the performance of the workforce, to an extent he mentioned that 20 per cent of government employees don’t work. Heads of Departments claim helplessness in cases of non-performance because of “influential” employees.
The Chief Minister has been appealing to expedite public delivery and redressal systems, an indication of inherent failures. In August this year, Sawant asked Secretaries to instil discipline among government staff and ensure services reach people in time. The root of these problems is a faulty or biased recruitment process.
Going back to direct recruitment or diluting the Goa Staff Selection Commission Act would mean the government is taking two steps backwards. What Goa needs right now is an efficient workforce, an employment system that recognises merit and above all employees who believe in “work is worship”. Sawant who has done an excellent job in bringing in SSC, must negotiate the path and ensure that the interests of Goa and Goans stand above any political powerplay.
