Want to make Goa a tourism capital of India: CM
BJP created history in Goa by contesting assembly elections on its own and winning 20 of the 40 seats. Despite the involvement of many leaders at the central and state levels to ensure this historic victory for the BJP, the real architect of this victory is Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Sawant, who was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time on March 28, has once again embarked on development activities of Goa. In an interview with ‘Goan Varta’ Editor PANDURANG GAONKAR, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant outlines his ‘Self-Sufficient Goa’ mission, with a focus on tourism, mining, education and employment generation, as his priorities for Goa.
Q: After taking over as chief minister in 2019, you launched the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna Goa’ (Self-Reliant India, Self-Sufficient Goa) campaign. What was the main purpose of this campaign? And what is the future of this campaign?
A: If Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a self-reliant India is to come true, we have to reach to the grassroots. I was aware that schemes of the central and state governments would have to reach 100 per cent of the people. That is why I added ‘Self-sufficient Goa’ to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and tried to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by making Goa self-sufficient. This was the first aim.
The second objective was to make the Goans self-reliant. Goa is still dependent on other states for many goods and services. In order to change this situation, I have decided to make available all the schemes of the central and state governments to people in rural and urban areas and encourage them to be self-employed. During the last 3 years, I have succeeded in achieving this aim to a greater extent.
Q: How successful has the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna Goa’ mission been in the last three years? How many people do you think will benefit from the campaign?
A: As Chief Minister in the last three years, I have definitely succeeded in strengthening the foundation of this campaign. During this period, all schemes have reached 191 panchayats and 14 municipalities in the State. Swayampurna Mitras, nodal officers and local elected representatives have created awareness at the grassroots level of the campaign.
Not only that, the Swayampurna Mitras and government officials have also started creating awareness on schemes of the Central and State governments in agriculture, horticulture, dairy etc. So far, about 15,000 people have benefited from various schemes of the campaign, many of whom are starting their own small and large businesses and are on their own feet.
I am confident that 2 to 2.5 lakh people in the State will take advantage of the schemes and make Goa self-sufficient. In the ‘Swayampurna Goa 2.0’, my aim is to make at least one person from each family self-reliant by taking advantage of these schemes.
Q: After taking oath as Chief Minister for the second time in a row, which issue are you going to address on priority basis and have you commenced your work in that direction?
A: Since taking over the reins of the State as the Chief Minister, I want to solve all the issues of Goa on priority basis. I have taken the issue of employment seriously during this tenure. I have started efforts to provide employment to Goan youth in public and private sectors.
To get employment in the private sector, Goan youth need to have the requisite skills. Therefore, taking into account the skills required for employment available in the industrial sector in the State, I have laid emphasis in providing skill education to the youth.
Q. Tourism is the backbone of Goa’s economy. But this sector has been badly affected during the Covid pandemic. How are you going to provide a stimulus to tourism?
A: It is my strong desire that Goa becomes the tourism capital of India. I have begun the required measures to achieve this goal by giving boost not just to coastal tourism but to hinterland tourism as well. Work to provide basic infrastructure to tourists is in progress for the last several years and this work will be accelerated in the near future.
Besides attracting more tourists to Goa, employment opportunities will be provided to the local youth through tourism.
It is my strong desire that Goa becomes the tourism capital of India. I have begun the required measures to achieve this goal by giving boost not just to coastal tourism but to hinterland tourism as well. Work to provide basic infrastructure to tourists is in progress for the last several years and this work will be accelerated in the near future.
My dream is to make Goa an ‘Education Hub’ and that is the path I seek. The Centre’s New Education Policy will be implemented in the State. Teacher recruitment rules will be changed in line with the New Education Policy. And one hundred per cent of the posts in the education sector will be filled.
Q: In your recent budget, you have promised to restart mining activity as soon as possible. When will this assurance be fulfilled?
A: Mining is as important for employment as it is for foreign exchange. Apart from minerals, Goa does not export anything. The country, along with Goa, gets a large amount of foreign exchange on minerals exported from Goa. Therefore, my endeavour is to restart mining activity in the State on priority. Discussions are going on in that direction. My objective is to achieve sustainable development of Goa by starting mining activities.
Q: You have placed more emphasis on education in the budget. The financial provision for the same has also been significantly increased. Will this transform the education sector?
A: Absolutely. My dream is to make Goa an ‘Education Hub’ and that is the path I seek. The Centre’s New Education Policy will be implemented in the State. Teacher recruitment rules will be changed in line with the New Education Policy. And one hundred per cent of the posts in the education sector will be filled.
Work has been started to set up quality infrastructure in all schools across the State. The increase in funding this year is aimed at revolutionising education in Goa.