Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Aug 16: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday announced that the state government will create around 6,000 to 8,000 jobs over the next six months and urged the youth to explore emerging opportunities and invest in the renewable energy sector.
In his Independence Day address, the last such address of his current tenure ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, Sawant touched upon a range of issues, including employment, healthcare, the Majhe Ghar and Majho Flat initiative, the state's Happiness Index and demands of the Scheduled Tribe community, including political reservation.
Sawant said 2,500 sanands have been handed over to the ST community under the Tribal Rights Act and that 100 per cent of the sanands would be distributed by December 19.
He said Goa was the first state in the country to assess the happiness index of its citizens.
The Chief Minister said the state government would establish a coconut board, coir board and cashew board to promote the vision of Swayampurna Goa. He said Vision-for-All programmes would soon be launched for school students, while Health-for-All initiatives would commence in every village.
Sawant also said old-age homes in the state would be upgraded to provide better facilities for senior citizens.
He said more than 3,000 government vacancies had been filled through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC), providing employment to youths.
"In coming days, 2,000 more vacancies will be filled through the SSC in a transparent manner. We are concerned about the youths who have completed Classes X and XII and the government is also providing jobs to these youths through the Goa Human Resource Corporation. In the next six months, the state government will create 6,000 to 8,000 jobs," Sawant said.
He said members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha think differently and that the state government was preparing a roadmap keeping their aspirations in mind.
Sawant said 91,000 MSMEs were operational in Goa, which, he said, had helped the state generate employment in both the government and private sectors.
He said the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board had completed 100 projects involving investments of Rs 6,000 crore over the last 10 years, generating 22,000 jobs.
Advising the youth, Sawant said, "With nation first, talent belongs to you and what you do with the talent becomes part of India's future."
"The opportunities available are due to the efforts of your ancestors, and it is our duty to save Goa for future generations," he added.
On the 80th Independence Day, Sawant hoisted the Tricolour at the Old Secretariat in Panaji and paid tribute to the sacrifices of freedom fighters. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to building a strong, prosperous and Viksit Bharat.