The results of the 984 candidates answering the single tier computer-based test (CBT), conducted by the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC) were swiftly declared on Monday, a day after the exam. The GSSC process, after much dilly-dallying over the past several years, has finally given a new ray of hope not only to those who have answered this exam but to the thousands of unemployed youth across the State who have been disillusioned about the recruitment system.
Candidates had frequently complained about the skewed system that was fraught with political influences and money power with merit relegated to the sidelines. Monday's result should bring back a sense of confidence in the system, and probably a whole lot of positivity will return along with it. On another optimistic side, the introduction of GSSC in the recruitment process would be another accomplishment in Sawant’s name, especially since the CM was pushing for transparency all along against the pulls and pressures within the government.
Unemployment has been the stumbling block for Goa for decades with jobless youth seeking openings outside the state and even overseas. The massive out-migration to European countries is a classic example of failure to stem the unemployment rot. The serpentine queues seen for submitting forms or interviews despite the many hurdles amplify the fact that joblessness remains a dreaded nightmare even now. Add to this, the many times that processes have been kept in abeyance or withdrawn. The introduction of GSSC must be welcomed and Sawant commended for showing the spine to take it forward.
However, now that the system is in place, the government must focus on creating skilled resources to take the journey forward. Interestingly, the chief minister recently said that Har Ghar Graduate is the dream of his government and that external courses will be started at Goa University in the future. Ironically, while the move on the Goa Staff Selection Commission reflects progression, aiming to produce a graduate in every family is regressive given the reality that the industry is currently looking out for skilled personnel and not graduates. The fad of having a graduate in a family is long lost, maybe a couple of decades ago. And the idea of Har Ghar Post-Graduate, at this stage, is too far-fetched.
If the government is aspiring to tame unemployment on the road ahead, it has to be pragmatic in its approach. Transparency has been brought in by GSSC, but what about creating human resources to fill the vacuum? The biggest impediment for industries is that they are not finding manpower to match job requirements, we saw that in job fairs. Skilling, upskilling and reskilling, another initiative of Sawant, should be the exclusive focus area, going ahead.
The need of the hour is to be practical instead of being overly ambitious. The state has seen how ‘Har Ghar Jal’ became an exaggerated slogan because major parts of Goa continue to thirst for water even today. This showmanship should not be replicated on the job front because it can have disastrous consequences since careers would be at stake. In a hurry to touch meaningless milestones the State may produce graduates who have nowhere to go. The government has to evaluate job requirements and accordingly calibrate human resources.
