MARGAO
Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday has raised serious allegations of corruption in the recruitment process for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) posts at the South Goa Collectorate.
Sardesai claimed to have received unverified reports that the recruitment process, which began in October 2023, has been tainted by a "cash for jobs" scam.
The Goa Forward Chief said he tried attempted to contact Revenue Minister, Babush Monserrate to address these allegations, but received no response.
Saying he has spoken to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant telephonically on the issue, Sardesdai said the Chief Minister has assured to look into the matter.
“The complaints I have received indicate that candidates were approached by a woman who demanded money for securing the job. "The people who approached me said that because they didn’t pay the money, they were failed in the recruitment process. An investigation needs to be conducted immediately into these unverified claims," he demanded.
In a pointed remark, Sardesai reminded the Revenue Minister of a similar allegation made by him few years ago against the Public Works Department (PWD). "Babush Monserrate himself made this same allegation of ‘cash for jobs’ within the PWD. He must remember that today, it is his turn, and he needs to take action," Sardesai asserted.
Highlighting the unusually long delay in declaring the results, Sardesai questioned, "Why does it take seven months to declare the results of the recruitment exams? This recruitment must be stopped immediately, or else it will be proven that jobs meant for deserving, young, qualified candidates are being sold."
Calling for an immediate halt to the recruitment process, he has demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged scam to ensure that justice is served and deserving candidates are not deprived of their opportunities. “The first exam for the LDC posts was held in October 2023, followed by a skill test in February 2024. However, despite taking seven months to declare the results, it has now come to light that cash was allegedly demanded from candidates in exchange for securing these jobs. The jobs that were supposed to go to qualified people, mostly from poor backgrounds, have been sold off by this BJP government. This is my charge against the government”, he asserted.
