Cash for Job scam seems worrisome….

The allegations of a “cash for jobs” scam in the recruitment of Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) in the South Goa Collectorate have sparked outrage and demands for immediate action from the Opposition Congress Party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The call for scrapping the recruitment process and initiating a thorough inquiry by a Judicial Commission reflects the gravity of the situation and the need for transparency and accountability in the government’s actions.
The demand for the resignation or dismissal of Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate by the Congress, followed by an inquiry into the recruitment process, underscores the seriousness of the issue. The government must address these allegations promptly and ensure that the public’s trust is restored.
Echoing these sentiments, AAP State President Adv Amit Palekar emphasized the urgency of probing the alleged scam by establishing a Judicial Commission under a retired High Court Judge. The need for immediate action to scrap the recruitment process was highlighted, with the AAP president condemning the reported prevalence of job scams under the BJP government.
This is at a time when Goa’s unemployment rate is at an all-time high and the stats tell the story.
The scale of the controversy is evident from the fact that 13,937 candidates applied for just 92 LDC positions, indicating the high demand for these jobs. The timeline of the recruitment process, which commenced in January 2019 and culminated in the declaration of results in September 2024, adds to the complexity of the situation.
GFP president Vijai Sardesai’s revelation that candidates who passed the written exams were declared failed in the skill test is particularly concerning. The alleged coercion of candidates to pay money, followed by their failure in the skill test upon refusal, raises serious questions about the integrity of the recruitment process. Sardesai’s assertion that most of the appointments were from the North Goa district further fuels suspicions of favouritism and unfair practices.
Moreover, the bypassing of the Staff Selection Commission, which is designed to ensure neutrality and fairness in the selection process, is deeply troubling. The repeated legislative bypassing of this commission in the past year has raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the entire recruitment process. Sardesai’s call for the immediate halt of the recruitment process underscores the need to address these irregularities and uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant now must call for an impartial enquiry simply because the development comes close on the heels of another PWD engineer recruitment scam struck off by the court.
Moreover, the trend of bypassing the Staff selection commission also cannot be allowed.
In light of these revelations, the government must take swift and decisive action. The allegations of a “cash for jobs” scam demand a thorough and impartial inquiry to ascertain the truth and hold those responsible accountable. The public’s faith in the recruitment process and the government’s commitment to transparency and fairness must be restored through concrete measures and decisive action.