Goa way ahead of UP vis a vis standard of living: Parrikar

Panaji, Jan 29 : Calling out BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh for lack of development and poor living standards, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said he saw how under-developed the northern state really was when he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from that state during his brief stint as Defence Minister.

“When I was in Delhi, at that time I was an MP from Uttar Pradesh. I have gone to UP because I was an MP and I have seen the situation there,” said Parrikar.

“And when I see the standards of living in UP and the situation in Goa, then I realise that Goa is way ahead. Goa has progressed a lot,” Parrikar also said.

Parrikar was elevated to the Central cabinet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and was nominated by his party to the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh.

He also said the quality of education in Goa has suffered a lot in recent times, while also explaining the predicament of a widening ratio between jobless, educated youth and inadequate government jobs.

“The quality of education has gone down so much that a person who has done BCom, does not know what to do after that. Therefore parents come to me and request me to give the boy a government job,” Parrikar told a meeting organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bicholim town in North Goa, located 25 km from Panaji.

“But how many jobs can a government give? There is a limitation to that. About 2,000-2,500 government jobs are available per year, but nearly 18,000-20,000 boys and girls pass out every year (from college),” said Parrikar, who is also the state Education Minister.

Parrikar also rued the lack of “sanskars” (values) in the new generation, blaming it on the fact that both parents are working professionals.

“Everyone thinks that my son should go to class, but what does he really study in class? In these times, both husband and wife go to work and children are not exposed to values at home,” Parrikar said.

“And values cannot be taught in school. Therefore, it appears that the new generation has gone off direction. The Goa government is trying to improve quality of education,” the Chief Minister added.