EXEMPT 15YRS DOMICILE CERTIFICATE FOR “GOAN” STUDENTS

ACCORDING to the government the domicile certificate serves as proof of your permanent residence in Goa, a requirement for various government schemes and benefits. I think it benefits even non-Goans. A person staying for a continuous 15 years in Goa means he is Goan? And he gets 15 years domicile certificate. Okay. No debate.
But the question is why SSCE-passed Goan students require domicile certificate of 15 years for employment exchange registration ?
From the age of 3rd year of birth a Goan or non-Goan child attends Anganwadi or LKG and UKG, then primary school, and subsequently 5th to 10th standard. This academic periods automatically proves Goan originality of a Goan student, or 15 years of residency in Goa. So why waste of time to prepare domicile certificate for Goan birth students? Or anyone else?
So government must exempt 15 years domicile certificate at least for SSCE- passed students. Yes, it’s possible. If house repair and partition is made easy then Employment Exchange registration can be simplified for SSCE- passed students in Goa. We have an intellectual chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant, he is master of solutions!
Coming to priority in employment for Goans, this is almost lacking. It is said that Employment Exchange card used to claim local preference in government jobs and other employment opportunities, ensuring that Goan residents are prioritised in hiring processes. This will remain question mark always, isn’t this so?
The card gets government benefits to access State-sponsored scholarships, government jobs, and other benefits that are specifically targeted at local residents. Students may need a domicile certificate to apply for admission in State-quota seats in educational institutions. And jobs? No quota for jobless families?
Anyway, SSCE-passed Goan students should be exempted from 15 years domicile certificate required for the registration of employment exchange card. At least, let them beg government jobs through sources. Actually, registration of employment exchange card is hopeless for common people, it is just a formality. I am one of them.
—Rajesh Banaulikar, Veigaswado, Arpora

POLITICAL REFORMS NEED OF HOUR
TO ensure that the world is blessed with a much better group of lawmakers, who will deliver good governance globally, there is a need for the world to discuss, deliberate and formulate fundamental standards that would be binding on the political class. Not mere pre-election hot air or broken promises!
To begin with, there needs to be a retirement age for all elected representatives. To adhere to 65 would be ideal but in any event no older than 70. As medical fitness is mandatory for any job, there should be no exception of this fundamental rule for legislators and parliamentarians.
In today’s competitive world, it is necessary that those we elect should be well educated, at least up to graduate level. Without this basic well-rounded knowledge, we cannot expect those we elect to be able to draft, deliberate and enact good and worthy laws, or to negotiate and interact with others globally in what is now a very interconnected small world.
Those elected must always be people of the utmost integrity focussed on putting people’s needs above all else. This means that those with any criminal record or outstanding criminal charges should have no place whatsoever on the political arena. In fact, such tainted people should never be allowed to grace the corridors of power.
Moreover, to ensure that the political system is infused with diverse, fresh young blood, there is a need to limit those elected to hold office at the most for two terms and to ensure that the choice of new candidates is based on merit and experience rather than the anointing of a select group. Above all, there can be no good governance unless there is clear accountability, transparency and respect for the rule of law in the administration of any country.
May we always be guided by the wise words of the late Dr Martin Luther King when he said, “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice; not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.”
—Aires Rodrigues, London