MAPUSA
Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges before the government and the process to provide 10,000 jobs will take at least two years, said Ports Minister Michael Lobo, suggesting that the government will have to double up to overcome the issue of joblessness.
Lobo also said that AAP’s announcement on jobs and doles was practically impossible in the State, where options to mop up revenue were few.
“Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges for the current and the next government which will come to power. We have to address this problem. We cannot shy away from it,” Lobo said.
“It’s not only a question of giving 10,000 jobs. You cannot give 10,000 jobs just now. It will take at least two years. The whole process of advertising for the jobs, exams and interviews will take at least two years. Before the election, we will be able to give 2,000 to 3,000 jobs,” he added.
According to the Ports Minister, several people lost jobs due to the Covid pandemic as the economic activity had come to a standstill.
He said the good thing is that business was picking up but it was very slow.
“Unemployment has increased because of Covid-19 disease. A lot of businesses are shut and that is why people are at home. Hotels are functioning with 50 per cent staff. We have asked the PM to start bubble flights from Russia and the UK. This will help revive the economy,” said Lobo, who has a stake in the hotel industry.
He said Kejriwal has delivered in Delhi but he will not be able to replicate the model in Goa.
“Delhi is the hub of business activity in India. All GST has to be paid in Delhi. The Goa businessmen who pay GST goes to Delhi which benefits the Delhi government. From that revenue, he can easily distribute to every individual and household,” the Calangute MLA said.
He said revenue generation in Goa has gone down with the ban on mining activity and a slump in tourism.
“You have to have money to give doles. If we want to give unemployment dole, we will have to take a loan. I think it is practically wrong,” he said.
