Goa govt abolishes 416 posts in Health dept

Overturning a major recruitment drive initiated by the erstwhile Congress government, Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government in Goa has abolished over 400 posts in the health department.

The state cabinet, which met yesterday at Porvorim, resolved to abolish 416 of the 500 posts created for a hospital in Ponda town, 35 kms away from here.

The posts were created during the Congress rule, just before the Assembly elections in March 2012.

"The Cabinet has decided to declare 416 posts as redundant and abolished," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced last evening.

The resolution is a significant step towards rolling back one of the major recruitment drives planned by the erstwhile government.

Parrikar, who was then in the opposition, had complained to the Election Commission about several recruitments in government services, claiming them to be "election doles".

"The abolished posts were created for newly upgraded hospital in Ponda town. Of the total 500 posts, only 146 posts which are required genuinely for the hospital's functioning are retained," the chief minister said.

He said posts of doctor and those related to other important services which are critical for functioning of the hospital are being retained.

After coming to power, the BJP-led government in March 2012 initiated a vigilance department probe into the massive recruitment drives in various departments, including Health and Agriculture, which were then led by Vishwajit Rane.