We,at South Goa Public Interest Action Group (SGPIAG) a registered NGO based in Margao,Salcete, South Goa District ,with jurisdiction, at present, over the entire South Goa Parliamentary Constituency wish to bring to the notice of all those in the tourist trade that our NGO has demanded that ---- all the interviews to be held for around 40 applicants "to work as FREELANCE TOURIST GUIDES IN GOA" under "6th Regional Guide Training Course" to be held by the Ministry of Tourism Government of India WESTERN REGION at Panaji Goa should be cancelled IMMEDIATELY and the advertisement be redrafted and advertised again to give a fair opportunity to those in Goa.
We at SGPIAG have observed a) that the advertisement which appeared on The Navhind Times dated 16.12.2005 was badly drafted. b)The main caption read as "6th regional guide training course" on the one hand and on the other it stated to "work" as freelance tourist guides in Goa. Therefore applicants were confused whether the advertisement was intended for a training course or for employment prospects or both c) weightage is specified for two purposes Russian Chinese Korean and Japanese languages and again for "other" language speaking candidates" This weightage repeated twice is confusing. Incidentally Chinese Korean and Japanese officials who visit Goa visit mainly mining companies and not as tourists thus far. Hence the insistence for knowledge of such languages is out place d) applicants should be "graduates -- with the above foreign languages" and hence only such candidates were given application forms. But upon examining an application format it was clear that besides the minimum qualification of graduation of a recognised university, those with diploma in archaeology or three year degree holderin Tourism / Hospitality both from recognised universities could also apply. But this was not mentioned in the advertisement. When our representative met the Tourism Officer Mr J S Jadhav and Mr Jagdeep Thombare Manager India Tourism office 0832 2223412 Fax 0832 2420529 at their office Near Immaculate Conception Church Panaji they were stunned to note our observations and admitted to the "mistake" in the advertisement and agreed to rectify the same. They also assured to rectify the same. Incidentally Mr S P Singh Regional Director India Tourism has arrived in Goa today and was supposed to finalise the applications and set the interview dates. However upon our demand to cancel all interviews until the fresh advertisement is released they would consider the same. Meanwhile we have faxed/and also handed copies of our observations to the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred A De Souza. Our representative also discussed the issue with the Deputy Director of Tourism Ms Pamela Mascarehnas and the Asst Director Mr S N Phadate at Pato Plaza office Panaji. Mr Phadate immediately contacted the India Tourism office and directed them to consider re-advertising the post, and cancelling all the interviews as he agreed that the same was not in order. They agreed to do so promptly. However Mr Phadate expressed surprise how our NGO got the copy of the application. Meanwhile our NGO has also demanded that natives of Goa or those domiciled in the State for over 15 years should be considered for postings as trained tourist guides, and those with knowledge of foreign language could also be considered. However considering that the Government of Goa has since discontinued conducting courses for tourist guides following a directive from Ministry of Tourism Government of India Human Resources Division circular dated 6.3.2004 stating that guide training courses should be conducted "strictly" by India Tourism Offices, the Department of Tourism Government of Goa should highlight this malpractice and insist that while the course content may be drawn by their Human Resources Division Ministry of Tourism the training should be provided by local institutions under the aegis of the Department. We also demand that the qualifications be relaxed to XII with a foreign language as there are several such candidates who have been serving in Goa as tourist guides and the Department of Tourism should conduct a survey to ascertain the facts and regularise such guides as an one time exception. The last course was conducted in 1996. Officials in India Tourism themselves agreed with this suggestion and stated that from their experience graduates were not prepared to work as guides and that some of the undergraduates were excellent. India Tourism office also provided us a list of 28 guides as of date and the Department of Tourism Govt of Goa promised to furnish the list of around 60 guides recorded with them. We also demand that all tourist guides and language translators associated with the tourist trade should be compulsorily registered under the Tourist Trade Act in force in the state to check unauthorised guides. To achieve this a one months amnesty should be granted to all to register failing which penal action besides heavy fines should be imposed. This is necessary as several tourists Indian and foreign have complained regarding the abuse of tourist by such operators. Exhorbitant fares was another complaint and metered vehicles seem to be the only answer, though the fare hike proposed needs to be reviewed as the rates are already high in Goa. There is undercutting of fares to attract clients and this is far below the notified rates in 2000. Meanwhile tourist guides should contact this NGO for further necessary action in the matter. For SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP Regd No 171/GOA/2000 dt 12.12.2000 sd/- TERENCE MAZARELO PRESIDENT (SGPIAG) 1st Flr Benlix Bldg Opp Fatima Convent Margao Goa India [EMAIL PROTECTED] weblink http://mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd FAX +91 832 2712430 HELPLINE (24 hrs) 9822158584 Tel +91 832 2731373 (O)
