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MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday admitted there was a shortage of around 1,800 police staff in the State and government was in the process of hiring police personnel to overcome the shortage.
“We are planning to recruit at least 1,300 police personnel in the next month or so. The new recruits will then be posted in places where there is shortfall,” Sawant said in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The chief minister was responding to Congress MLA Digambar Kamat concern about shortage of police at the Margao Police Station.
Kamat said the staff strength at the Margao Police Station had remained stagnant for several years and actually falling short of 13 head constables and 32 police constables.
“The sanctioned staff at Margao Police Station is of 2005 and it has not been reviewed till today. Since Margao is a commercial city, the staff strength needs to be increased,” Kamat said.
Responding to the Margao MLA, Dr Sawant said Margao PS had 11 beats but after the formation of the Fatorda PS, the beats at Margao PS was reduced by five.
He said the sanctioned strength of Margao PS was 159, but after the formation of Fatorda PS the strength has been reduced to 113.
The Margao MLA said that from the current strength around 52 of the police staff were delegated for other jobs.
The CM assured the Congress MLA to review the actual strength required, if need be, at the Margao PS.
Shortage of women PSIs; many wasted on traffic job: Halarnkar
MAPUSA: Tivim MLA Nilkant Halarnkar on Tuesday said although the strength of lady PSIs (LPSI) was inadequate in the State, many LPSIs were wasted on traffic cell duty.
“In Mapusa, we have two LPSIs who are issuing challans to motorists. When there is shortage of LPSIs why are they put on the traffic job,” Halarnkar asked on the floor of the House.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that in 2014 the department had advertised for 71 LPSIs, but only 32 were recruited due to stringent qualifying conditions.
He said the State has 28 police stations and seven coastal police stations.
“Panaji has an exclusive women police station. Besides, every police station has a woman helpdesk,” Dr Sawant said.
Harlankar further said recently when a woman went to complain about molestation, the lone LPSI who was busy, retorted to her saying that ‘you are not raped, but only molested’.
“I have a recording of the conversation. I can hand it over to the chief minister,” the Tivim MLA said.
The CM assured to shift LPSIs from traffic to main police station until the department gets its full strength.
“We will try to fill the vacancies to overcome the shortfall in the State,” Dr Sawant said.
IAF recruitment
rally for Goans
Male candidates born between 19 July 1999 to 1 July 2002 and those who have passed with 50 pc marks in higher secondary and English respectively are eligible to take fitness test
Indian Air Force will conduct a special recruitment rally exclusively for Goan male candidates on 27 August (non-science) to 29 August (science) at Bambolim sports athletic ground >> See pg 5
