PANAJI: The BJP government in Goa is systematically sidelining Bahujan Samaj students by failing to implement the roster reservation system in PG medical admissions at Goa Medical College (GMC). This failure has created job scarcity for Bahujan youth and worsened the state’s unemployment crisis, said AAP Vice President Prof Ramrao Wagh during a press conference in Panaji on Saturday.
Wagh accused the government of deliberately denying Bahujan students their rightful opportunities. “In 2023, 37 PG medical seats went to General Category students, only 12 went to OBC students instead of the 16 mandated by the reservation policy. No seats were filled for SC students, who should have had 4, while ST students received only 12 seats,” he said.
Wagh explained that the roster reservation system was properly applied for NEET candidates from outside Goa, but not for Goan students. He said, “Last year, 13 OBC students, 3 SC students, and 7 ST students from the national NEET pool secured seats in GMC. But in Goa, Bahujan Samaj students were systematically denied similar opportunities.”
The lack of proper implementation is particularly evident in the allocation of popular specialisations like General Medicine, Radiology, and General Surgery. These fields are monopolised by general category students, leaving Bahujan students with less sought-after courses, Wagh added.
Highlighting the BJP government’s governance failure, Wagh shared alarming data about faculty shortages at GMC, which was obtained through an LAQ submitted by both AAP MLAs. He said, “There are 228 vacant posts at GMC, meaning 50% of the positions are unfilled. In critical departments like General Surgery, 14 posts are vacant; 15 in Pathology, 18 in Emergency Surgery, and 13 in Radiology. How is the government running the hospital?” questioned Wagh.
Wagh pointed out that this shortage is overloading existing doctors and denying essential medical services to the public. Additionally, Bahujan Samaj students, who are systematically excluded from PG admissions, are unable to qualify for these faculty positions advertised by the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC).
Wagh criticised the SC/ST Commission, OBC Commission, and Bahujan leaders for their silence. “These commissions should be taking strict action against GMC for not maintaining roster reservation data in regards with the job recruitment. Instead, they remain passive, attending functions and giving speeches, while Bahujan youths suffer,” he said.
AAP’s ST State President Anil Gaonkar accused the BJP of using Bahujan Samaj people as a vote bank without offering real empowerment. He demanded immediate action to implement the roster based reservation system in PG medical courses.
AAP State General Secretary (Campaign and Communication) Francis Coelho highlighted the unemployment crisis faced by Bahujan youth. Coelho stated, “Today, many Bahujan Samaj youths are well-qualified but unemployed because of the BJP government’s deliberate creation of job scarcity. This crisis has also fueled exploitative practices like the Cash-for-Jobs scam.”
Coelho demanded that the government should fully implement the roster reservation system in PG medical courses in GMC and GDC. AAP stands firm in its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for Bahujan Samaj youths.