the goan I network
MAPUSA
Minister for Housing, Jayesh Salgaonkar on Saturday said that everyone has to work to uplift one’s community, but at the same time also take all sections of communities together.
“If you are humble and work in the right way, not only Bhandari samaj, people from other communities also appreciate you. In my case, the Catholic community has voted for me in large numbers in the election. It’s fine to work for one’s community but we must also take everybody else along,” Salgaonkar said.
The housing minister was responding to the State Bhandari Samaj President Anil Hoble’s reference earlier in his speech that Bhandari samaj was largely responsible for Jayesh’s success in the election.
The minister and other leaders were speaking at a function to felicitate meritorious students organized by the Bardez Bhandari Samaj in Mapusa.
Responding to another allegation by Hoble that the Bhandari Samaj was being used by various political parties, Salgaonkar said that a lot of people after securing suitable positions tried to shift the blame by saying that they were used.
“There are a lot of comment pieces written on how some like to use and some like to get used…I do not want to go into those politics today,” he said.
Turning his attention to the students, Salgaonkar said that not all meritorious students chose science and went on to become doctors and engineers.
“In my constituency, a student who scored over 90% opted for the Arts stream and after MA has become a successful counsellor,” he said.
He said to be a successful person it was not just talent that was required, but hard work as well. He also stressed the importance of career guidance so that students could pick up the right career in life.
Former water resources minister and ex-MLA from Siolim, Dayanand Mandrekar ridiculed the education system that appreciates only meritorious students.
“Most educational institutes absorb only those students who get distinction and first class. What happens to those students who just manage to scrape through?” Mandrekar questioned and stressed the need to reserve a certain quota of admission seats in colleges for students who pass on the border.
