Govt open to hiring young Goan PWD contractors: CM

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that the government is ready to engage new Goan contractors at the Public Works department (PWD), especially those who have fresh ideas to help to revive the local economy. He also said that the new civil engineer contractors should engage locals to carry out public works under PWD.
Sawant said, “We have started discussions. If any youth wants to become a PWD contractor, we have to see how we can involve them.The department has started to think of engaging fresh youth contractors. We are thinking of engaging new pass-out civil engineers as contractors and if he is interested to work with innovative ideas - even if it is small work - and with Goan workers.”
Referring to the lakh and a half migrant workers who have left the state due to Covid-19, Sawant said that there are Goans who are skilled and unskilled, and they have to be motivated to work under new contractors. The chief minister said that there are many youth who have not completed SSC and the government cannot engage them as the minimum qualification for a government job is SSC.
“All government departments have to think how we can provide jobs to those who have not passed SSC,” he said.
He also said that PWD issues tenders for annual maintenance and if Goans get the contracts, then Goan youth who have not passed SSC can be involved. “We have to identify such public works and give the contract to new civil engineers. This will also help the government to come out from Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Referring to the 80 percent revenue loss, chief minister urged officers not to take up any unwanted work except work which is priority. “If this is followed then, there will be less burden on the finance department,” he said.