Panaji: AAP Goa said that it is normal for any government servant to fall sick but in such a case a provision is made for a doctor to recommend rest from work for specified periods depending upon each case. In Goa however with key functionaries falling sick, AAP said that it was required of them to avail sick leave from work for faster recovery as was the case with other Government servants and wondered what was compelling them not to stay away from work. AAP Convenor Elvis Gomes while wishing them well said that their health was important to the people and hence like any government servants, these ‘sevaks’ must take rest by either handing charge to others or the whole government itself must be rested by the governor as governance had gone for a toss in all sectors
Taking exception to the termination of contract of LDC’s and DEO’s , AAP goa said that youngsters were forced to quit while grandpas and grandmas were considered ‘essential commodities’. Aap that had recently raised concerns over indiscriminate service extensions granted to select few said that the government has failed to respond to the challenge to declare the number of ‘grandpas’ and ‘grandmas’ enjoying extension in service post retirement simply because the government has conceded that no one has the correct information about such extensions. Leading the charge, Elvis Gomes while addressing media said that the information was also not being shared because there were many who are close relations of ministers and hence had become lifelines to the functioning of the ministers themselves. “People have a right to know who are these who enjoy extensions. There are some who are now 15 long years under extension. If the qualities in them are made public , other younger officials can learn that art and be prepared to seek extensions when they retire” said Gomes.
Citing a specific instance of the electricity department which is in the news for shutting down power for 22 hours to help a big outsider builder, Gomes said that there were reports of further extension to the Chief Electricity Engineer N N Reddy to deliberately deny promotion to a local lady officer who the government feared would, with her tough approach, cut everyone’s unauthorised power in the department. Gomes also said that Goa Government employees association had reported tampering with the service rules of LDC’s in some departments to give ‘double promotion’ to relatives of ministers and officials. ” we know that double promotions have been stopped even in the education field. But in Goa anything is possible when it comes to helping near and dear of ministers”. Said Gomes adding that they had sought more details of these would be beneficiaries. He also reminded Goa Government Employees Association to restart the practice of felicitating this time the family members of those on extensions and the ministers who were facilitating the extensions.
Gomes exhorted the youth to realise how their future was being jeopardised by job ban on one side and extensions to retired officers on the other. Stating that time has proved that everything done here is to suit the interests of big business lobbies of outsiders, Gomes said local interest was sacrificed to suit those crony capitalists. AAP also took a jibe at the opposition MLA’s for their silence on all issues.
