Despite a clear assurance not to encourage “service extension” it is learnt that the state government seems to be fond of retaining services of senior officers beyond their stipulated retirement reportedly by justifying that there are no eligible officers to fill up the posts. Currently as many as 13 senior officers are reportedly enjoying service extension beyond their superannuation. What comes as a surprise is that there are no eligible officers available for promotion as per recruitment rules as on date and one officer is reportedly on his third extension stint. It is understood that the Public Works Department (PWD) reportedly accounts for a maximum number of four officers on service extension.
According to the government the services of these officers are extended in public interest and that they have got vast knowledge regarding important, urgent and time bound matters pertaining to their department. Does this imply that these officers will be in service during their entire lifetime? There needs to be a second line of leadership to take up the responsibility. For that junior officers need to be given proper training so that they are prepared for higher posts.
The impact of extension being given to officers and their being no promotional channel will be such that there will be lesser openings for new recruits adding to the number of unemployed youth. Be that as it may, it is learnt that close to hundred government employees from group ‘C’ have opted for voluntary retirement under the State government’s VRS scheme which was introduced in 2023. But what comes as a shocker is that with voluntary superannuation of these employees, all these posts held by them stands abolished. Hence the jobless youth in the State will not have an opportunity to apply for these posts. This will add to the increasing unemployment rate in the state. Incidentally at almost 10%, Goa’s unemployment rate is more than three times the national average of 3.17%.
