Goa Govt studying enhancing retirement age of its employees: Rane

Panaji, Feb 19 (UNI) The Goa government is examining the impact and implications of enhancing the retirement age of all its employees to 60 years in tune with the Centre, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane said.

Interacting with the media persons after the Cabinet meet at the Secretariat here today, Mr Rane said he had already spelt out the proposal to increase the superannuation age on December 19.

At the same time, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), in a resolution, has urged the government to do the needful in this regard. The final decision would be taken after obtaining information as to how many employees would benefit from this and the financial implications on the exchequer.

Asked whether the proposal was contrary to its commitment to generate avenues of employment for the youth, the Chief Minister said several efforts are underway to take care of the youth, including opening of business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) centres and state-wide broadband network.

He hinted that the 4-month vote-on-account budget for the year 2007-08, is likely to be presented on March 5, which would be people friendly, particularly benefitting women and the urban and rural youth, besides the farmers.

The budget may focus its attention on mitigating urban poor, who constitute 7.7 per cent of the population, and the rural poor comprising 4 per cent, he said.

Mr Rane said the state was flush with revenue and there was no need to borrow and get grants from the Centre even as the government was spending more on various heads for the development of the state.

The elections to the 40-member Legislative Assembly are likely to be held before holding the Panchayat Elections in May, even as the current term of the House expires by May end.

He, however, was not sure of the dates in view of the state High Court bench directive that the Panchayat polls should be held before May 7 this year.

The government is still waiting for the magisterial inquiry report on the last year's Sanvorden-Curchorem communal riots that witnessed large scale violence, loot and arson following destruction of a religious structure in South Goa, he added.

UNI