Move to ensure Goan candidates get more opportunities
Shoma Patnaik
Panaji: Proficiency in Konkani language may soon be extended to the private sector vacancies in the state, with the draft Employment Policy of the government proposing to make Konkani aptitude compulsory for selection of Goan candidates by private companies.
The department of labour and employment’s draft policy, which has been presently unveiled among members of the industry before being opened for suggestions, states that to safeguard Goan youth’s interest in employment, Konkani language skills of candidates must be tested to verify whether a candidate can speak, read, write and understand Konkani by translating into any other language such as Hindi, English etc.
The test can be conducted by the Goa Konkani Akademi, which is a government body, and has the necessary expertise for the same, suggests the draft policy. It points out that normally a test of Konkani is taken by making a candidate read, write and speak the language, which is not sufficient, as any candidate, who is able to read and write in the Devanagari script, may also do the same in Konkani.
The introduction of the mandatory clause pertaining to the knowledge of the local language is to ensure that Goan candidates get more opportunities in non-state government jobs.
It is also a move to preserve and promote Goa’s rich cultural heritage and Konkani language.
The draft policy pertains to all private sector jobs in the state including opportunities in small and large industrial units, IT, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), hospitality retail sector, private banks, etc., as well as government and semi-government organisations like LIC, Mormugao Port Authority, oil marketing companies, Konkan Railways, Airports Authority of India, among others.
The policy points out that a 15-year domicile clause for Goan candidates may not be sufficient in the present times and, therefore, the applicants should possess a 15-year residence certificate for themselves and either of their parents or grandparents who have been residents of the state prior to December 20, 1961.
The residency norm has been revised to ensure that the definition of a local Goan extends to individuals with deep-rooted familial connections to the state.
Facing the challenge of youth unemployment in the state, the state government has decided to formulate a comprehensive employment policy that would create more job avenues for Goan youth while also promoting an environment conducive to the growth of private industries.
