Mining should be replaced with IT: Goa govt

A senior bureaucrat on Saturday said that Goa should look for employment in the Information Technology (IT) sector as the mining industry, which has currently employed several thousands, is not a long-term survival.

?Mining industry is performing well in the state but it may not sustain after a decade or two. We should substitute mining with environmental friendly industries that can increase employment potential,? State Chief Secretary Shrivastava said at a function on Vision Document for Goa.

The state exports nearly 40 million tones of iron ore through more than 100 leases operating here. Shrivastava suggested that the state should look at IT and software technologies to increase employment prospect for youths.

?Several youths from Goa migrate to other states and overseas in search of better jobs. Once they are employed there, they make no efforts to return back,? he said.

?The competition among youths for respected and better paid jobs has abandoned care for senior citizens here. We need a transformation. Goa has the capacity to generate better employment opportunities,? he added.

State Law Commission chairman Ramakant Khalap, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa President Gaurish Dhond and others were present for the function.