MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government will initiate the recruitment of around 700 police personnel after August 15 to address the staff shortage across police stations in the State.
Responding to concerns raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao during the Zero Hour, Sawant acknowledged the manpower crunch and said all police stations currently facing shortages will be provided with fresh recruits.
“We are going to recruit around 700 police personnel in various ranks. The process will begin after August 15, and all stations facing staff shortages will be strengthened accordingly,” he said.
Alemao highlighted that nearly 90 per cent of police stations in Goa are facing an acute shortage of staff, severely impacting policing and public safety. He specifically named police stations in Margao, Mapusa, Maina-Curtorim, Colva, Vasco, Quepem and Ponda as being among the most affected.
The opposition leader also pointed out that several key positions in the force have remained vacant for over two years. “There are 215 posts of Police Sub-Inspectors (PSI) and 28 posts of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySP) lying vacant. The High Court has even taken suo motu cognisance of the matter,” Alemao stated.
The chief minister's assurance comes amid growing concerns about law enforcement preparedness, especially with rising tourism-related demands and an increase in crime reports in some areas.
The recruitment drive is expected to bring much-needed relief to overstretched police stations and improve overall efficiency in law enforcement.
