PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday claimed that almost 1,000 positions have been filled thus far in State government departments and the process to fill more vacancies is currently on even as he said that job melas will be held at Mapusa and Ponda where nearly 60 private companies will participate and recruit local youth.
Sawant, who addressed an impromptu press conference on Monday at his official Altinho residence "Mahalaxmi" claimed that processes to fill as many as 8,000 positions in government and semi-government departments have already been advertised and 2000 more vacancies will be advertised in the next 15 days.
Labour and Employment Minister Jennifer Monserrate was also present at the press conference.
Unemployment is a major issue being raised by the Opposition in Goa which is just 3-4 months away from an assembly election due in February-March next year.
In fact, the Opposition Congress has been sporadically raising the issue while the Aam Aadmi Party which is making a concerted electoral bid in Goa had recently announced a 'job guarantee' as one of its major promises if elected to power.
Meanwhile, Sawant said, apart from jobs in government departments and semi-government bodies, his government is also working to ensure jobs in the private sector.
He said, the government is arranging job melas -- one in Mapusa and the other in Ponda -- soon where nearly 60 private companies will participate and recruit local youth.
The first of these job melas will be held on the campus of DMC College at Mapusa on October 27.
Three days later, another such 'job mela' will be held at Ponda on the campus of GVM College.
At these job melas, Goan youth will also be given training sessions on career opportunities and related material, Sawant added.
