the goan I network
Panjim
A group of staff members of the 10 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state under the banner ‘Goa Government ITI Employees Association’ have sent a proposal to the government for the introduction of new and relevant courses to be started at the ITIs from June, which is when a fresh batch of students will enroll.
Saying that the courses currently offered at the ITIs were not all linked to employment opportunities in the state, Sayed Bashir, group instructor of ITI Vasco put forth on Saturday that if the government offered courses in the art of surveying, cosmetology, aviation, horticulture, refrigeration and air conditioning, these would help students get jobs easily.
“The courses we offer are in ‘old trades’ like fitting and turning, plumbing, welding,” said Bashir. “Students would also benefit from other courses, and we sent the proposal to the government two months ago, so they have a lot of time to scrutinise the proposal and grant approval to the courses,” he said. Mails have been sent to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, and Secretary J Ashok Kumar.
Meanwhile, the Association, while complimenting the government for trying to set things in order in the ITIs by effecting long-overdue transfers, have demanded that politicians not interfere in these transfers. “Some staff have been in the same ITIs for over two decades, leading to a lot of corruption. When actually, transfers need to be effected between three and five years,” said another member of the Association.
The GGITIEA has also requested the government to regularise those who are on contracts, including watchmen and sweepers, as they are suffering.
Instructor alleges unfair practices
PANAJI: Santosh Naik, a plumber instructor at the ITI who was hired way back in 2004, has alleged that he is being unfairly held back from being made a permanent employee, as he is not ready to give the government kickbacks to be made permanent.
Till date he has been given transfers to five ITIs, and every time an OBC post was advertised for a plumbing instructor, he would put in his application but it was rejected by ex-director of State Directorate of Craftsmen Training (SDCT) Aleixo Da Costa, who allegedly said he was ‘not eligible’ though Naik said he has all the required qualifications for his post.
