SEPTEMBER 6, 2023: CUMBHARJUA: Reacting on Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s declaration that there is no unemployment in Goa, and that there is work for those who want to work in the state, GPYC North Goa District President, Rinaldo Rozario, has said that the chief minister’s forecasts have always gone wrong.
Indicating the state’s lack of achievement in creating jobs for the local youth, Goa’s unemployment rate has been pegged at 12% in 2021-22 by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment in the Rajya Sabha.
“In March 2023, unemployment rate for Goa was 15.91 % and CM made the comments at the state’s official teachers’ day event at the Durbar Hall at Raj Bhavan that there is no unemployment in Goa. Despite being amongst the highest literate states, Goa ranks seventh in terms of joblessness. This is nothing but just a coverup for the upcoming elections. Let us make joblessness an issue this election,” said Rinaldo, while addressing the media on Wednesday.
In order to ascertain the unemployment rate in Goa, a year ago, the government had commenced a survey to find out how many Goans and non-Goans were employed in various sectors in the state.
“They should make public the findings of this survey. Employment stands as the most important need of the country. The youth from Goa should take pledge to fight against BJP govt over unemployment. We will continue to raise issues of unemployment, price rise, and reservation for the economically weaker sections,” said Rinaldo.
One can recall that data from the independent think tank, Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy (CMIE), in May last year revealed that approximately nine lakh of Goa’s population is in the employable age bracket of 20-59 years. Data reveals that around 1.4 lakh Goans remain unemployed. One of the main reasons for unemployment was the inability to attract new industrial units to the state, the data had indicated.