Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, while cautioning people not to fall prey to fraudsters promising “jobs-for-cash”, said that government jobs are not for sale. “No government job can be obtained by paying a bribe”, thundered the CM. His statement comes against the backdrop of the arrest of Old Goa resident Pooja Naik alias Rupa Palkar after she was charged with duping a local of Rs 14 lakh on the promise of a government job. It is reported that the accused has been arrested four earlier times on similar charges.
It is no secret that corruption, bribery and jobs have walked hand-in-hand in Goa, and the Pooja Naik case is certainly not the first of its kind. The fact that this accused has made four similar attempts shows how deep the issue runs and how gullible Goans are when it comes to jobs. Or rather, it exemplifies the desperation of unemployed youth.
We do not need a Pooja Naik to understand bribes paid for government jobs, rather, the opposition has been raising the issue of, what they repeatedly called, “job scams”. Recently, Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai pointed out how candidates who answered LDC interviews at the South Goa Collectorate were being approached with proposals of bribes. A few years back, Revenue Minister Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate pointed out a scandal in the PWD where he alleged that bribes were taken in exchange for jobs. A vigilance inquiry was launched subsequently. Not too long ago, Sawant created a stir stating that bribes were being asked in his name for jobs. In March this year, a 6-minute audio clip went viral of an IT Department officer demanding a Rs 1 lakh bribe for a job aspirant.
Calling out people not to fall prey to such job offers will not end this conundrum. In times when desperation and unemployment are at exponentially high levels, people will continue to explore all avenues, even to the extent of bribing someone to get a job. Admit it or not, it has happened in the past, and that’s how the system has been working. The fruits of back door job entries are there for everyone to see, and which is why we hear time and again of an inefficient workforce.
Sawant’s comment is sincere but does not appear empty against the shady past. We need to move beyond plain rhetoric because caution lines do not help in mitigating economic challenges of the youth. It pains when there is talk of such scams because there is a grave injustice toward Goan youth who have invested precious time and resources in education. Youth will get disillusioned when they realise that merit is not taking them anywhere.
Goa is certainly facing tough times in employment generation and the data cuts out a sorry picture. As the State navigates through the path ahead, the focus certainly has to be on job creation while also ensuring transparency. The State government must demonstrate through action that such fraud on people cannot be allowed to pass. People’s trust and confidence can be won only through commitment and a water-tight system.
While this being said, Sawant's efforts to streamline the system through GSSC must be commended. It's a step in the right direction. We hope he manages to hold on to the Goa State Staff Selection Commission and not succumb to the pressure of several ministers in his cabinet. We have had enough of charges and counter-charges on corruption and scams on jobs, and it’s time to begin cleansing the system.
