Goa’s carrying capacity study on, only 30% registered are unemployed: CM

Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that though the figure of youths registered with the employment exchange in the state is around one lakh, it does not reflect the actual unemployment status.

He said only 30% of this number are actually unemployed, while others are pursuing higher education or are employed with the private sector. The chief minister said he will table the analysis on the figures in the House within two days.

Sawant was responding to the discussion on the budget. He said that the carrying capacity study of Goa is presently on under an MoU with Teri and will be completed soon.

Sawant said the Rs 100 crore provision per MLA made in the budget for constituency works are spread across the departments of public works, drinking water, water resources, tourism, sewerage, GSIDC, sports, and rural development.

He said that the digital taxi issue will be resolved only by involving all taxi operators in the state and without hurting them in any manner.

He also assured the House that the Dabolim airport is as important to the state as Mopa airport and will remain operational and its infrastructure will also be upgraded.

He said that under the Khazan board announced in the budget, 18,000 ha land will be revived for agriculture in Goa.

Sawant said that for the 5th consecutive year the state has a surplus budget and that the 2026-27 budget will also be a surplus budget.

“Debt is there but it is within sustainable limits. We are careful in paying interest. I am continuously monitoring the situation. By the end of 2026-27, debt to GDP ratio will come down. Many said the central assistance that we have received would be given to us anyway. That is not so. We have been able to get a 50-year interest-free loan because we have brought about the reforms prescribed by the Centre,” said Sawant.

Sawant said the state is directly transferring the benefit of Rs 50 crore per month to the account of beneficiaries in the state covering 183 schemes, and not just Griha Aadhar or DSSS.

He said that besides engineering colleges, campus recruitment will be carried out in general stream govt colleges too.

He said that a separate GIS mapping cell has been created in PWD which will ensure that roads are not dug up over and over again. Approval for digging will only be granted after revival by this cell.

The CM said infrastructure of 342 govt schools is remaining to be audited and he has instructed that it be completed by March 31.