Pramod Sawant: Industry body in Goa publicly urges CM-designate Sawant to reward merit in Cabinet formation

The Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) has issued a press statement urging Sawant to appoint ministers who have ‘integrity, merit and development oriented’ as he returns to power in the coastal state that boasts of some of Asia’s most famous beaches. The association leaders said Goa has been a relative straggler in diversifying its industrial base, leading to fewer jobs and business migration to competing states offering better incentives and governance.

“We want greater ease in doing business where the minister concerned is involved in only making policy; he should not be involved in the day-to-day decisions of his department,” said Damodar Kochkar, President of the GSIA. “If a business needs an electricity connection, then the file should be cleared from the bureaucratic level and should not go to the minister, who may ask different favors to clear the file. Instances such as these lead to industries skipping Goa as an investment destination.” Kochkar told ET that he had highlighted these issues to Sawant himself while speaking to him in a telephonic conversation.

ET tried to get in touch with Sawant however he was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.

Industrialists and businessmen in Goa have often raised the subject of ‘unjust demands’ from ministers in drawing-room conversations over the past two decades, but this is probably the first time they are making a public demand for transparency and ‘merit’ being the sole criteria in appointing ministers.

Other industry associations have backed the GSIA. After Kochkar issued the press statement, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Goa unit of CREDAI, and the Verna Industries Association immediately issued letters of support to the GSIA. A joint press statement, perhaps along similar lines, might also be made by industry bodies on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Panjim for the inauguration of the Sawant government.

“We want to create public pressure, we want to build a consensus among the people also; not having industries means not creating jobs in the state, and the entire ecosystem gets affected,” said Kochkar. “All we are asking for is that there should be proper SoPs in place, a transparent and online system for clearing files.”

Goa industry representatives told ET that merit should be the sole appointment criterion for at least big economic and public-service ministries, such as infrastructure, tourism, industry, health and education.

Mangirish Pai Raikar, ASSOCHAM state council chairman, Goa, said the lack of new industries due to ‘irregular demands’ meant that the state remained a relative straggler in drawing investments.

“A study says 82 % of our technically qualified people are leaving our shores. Goa is left with only a geriatric population,” said Raikar.

Industry representatives told ET that ‘favours’ (read bribes) for even routine clearances by Ministers have led to the state losing out on several investment projects.

“A big Indian refrigeration company wanted to set up a plant in Goa, and it waited for three months but there were so many hurdles put up that it decided to move elsewhere,” Raikar said. “There was a technology hardware company that was also given a similar treatment. We are currently stagnating. The government should realise that it cannot accommodate all the people in government jobs; the private sector has a role to play.”