Fulfilling a long-pending demand of the Scheduled Tribes in Goa, the central government has approved 12 per cent job reservation for the community in government departments and organisations.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr Pandurang Madkaikar announced this at a press conference today. As per the reservation policy of the government of India, there is 7.5 per cent reservation in jobs for Scheduled Tribes in central government departments and organisations.
However, central government departments and organisations functioning in Goa, for them the government of India has notified 12 per cent reservation in jobs for Scheduled Tribes in Goa. This is applicable in group C and D posts in case of direct recruitment. Mr Madkaikar said the long pending demand of the Scheduled Tribe community was fulfilled through the active intervention of All India Congress Committee general secretary, Ms Margaret Alva. He said it also fulfilled a promise given by the Congress party to the Scheduled Tribe community before the elections.
Mr Madkaikar also announced that the state government has notified reservation in jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in government-aided education institutions, which are receiving Grant-in-Aid from the government. This kind of reservation was not there earlier.
The Social Welfare Minister also announced that the government has also notified 12 per cent reservation for admissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in all educational institutions in the state with immediate effect.
Speaking about the Dayanand Social Security Scheme, Mr Madkaikar announced that the government has decided to have a comprehensive re-survey of all the existing beneficiaries of the DSSS. He said there are presently almost one-lakh DSSS beneficiaries in Goa of which almost 20,000 beneficiaries could be bogus or undeserving cases.
The government has received complaints that many people are receiving double benefits from the government and a comprehensive re-survey will weed out the bogus cases, Mr Madkaikar said.
In fact, the Chief Minister will host a meeting along with the Finance Minister, the Minister for Social Welfare and the leader of opposition on September 12 to finalise the criteria for the re-survey.
