PANAJI
In a significant relief to contract employees of the State government, the Goa cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal to permit them leave-of-absence for 15 days in a year.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who addressed the media after a cabinet meeting, said proposal was granted approval by the cabinet.
Another significant decision taken by the cabinet was to approve the appointment of former Director General of Police Indra Dev Shukla on the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) as a member.
Sawant said, the cabinet also took several other routine decisions such as approving expenditures for some specific works related to multiple departments including transformers for the electricity department, equipment for GMCH, approval of some appointments and redesignation of posts.
Responding to queries, Sawant said, the scheme for pilgrimage tours to Shridi and Velankanni under the Dev Darshan Yatra Pilgrimage Scheme will take off once the number of applicants touches 1,000.
"Last when I checked, 350 people had filled up the form,” Sawant said, adding that MoU with the Railways has already been signed and budgetary provisions have also been made.
The scheme had been announced by the BJP in the run-up to the February Assembly elections.
The forms for scheme are available at the offices of the Deputy Collector as well as the Social Welfare department, he added.
