Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant on Wednesday firmly stated that government recruitment through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC) will continue, despite demands from some MLAs to abolish the commission.
Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Sawant said the government remains committed to a transparent, fair and merit-based recruitment process. His remarks come amid ongoing discussions over the future of the GSSC, with some legislators reportedly seeking its scrapping.
The Chief Minister maintained that the commission plays a crucial role in ensuring equal opportunities for job aspirants and transparency in government appointments. He reiterated that recruitment through the GSSC will continue as part of the government’s policy to streamline hiring procedures and maintain public confidence in the selection process.
Apart from the recruitment issue, the cabinet approved several key proposals. These included the transfer of 20,245 square metres of land at Amona, Quepem, from the Water Resources Department to the Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem, to support expansion of educational infrastructure.
The cabinet also sanctioned ₹40 lakh to the Goa State Wetland Authority for digital validation, ground-truthing, physical delineation and installation of demarcation stones for notified wetlands in compliance with Supreme Court directions.
In another decision, 5,150 square metres of government land in Molcornem village was transferred to the Fire and Emergency Services Department for the construction of a new fire station.
On housing, Sawant said around 3,000 orders under the Mhaje Ghar Scheme are ready and the number is expected to cross 5,000 soon. He urged eligible beneficiaries to submit applications and complete documentation to accelerate implementation.
The Chief Minister also announced the launch of the 90-day “Green Goa, Clean Goa” campaign from June 5 to September 5, with a target of planting nearly 10 lakh trees across the state. He appealed to citizens to participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative by planting at least one tree.
Regarding Scheduled Tribe reservation, Sawant said a delegation of ST leaders had met him and submitted a memorandum seeking early notification of reserved constituencies. While assuring support for expediting the process, he clarified that the notification of ST-reserved constituencies is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission of India.
The Chief Minister’s strong endorsement of the GSSC, however, emerged as the key highlight of the cabinet briefing, signalling the government’s intent to continue recruitment through the commission despite criticism from certain quarters.
