PONDA: Former chairman of Goa Dairy Anup Desai’s statement that if seventh pay commission is implemented it would have serious financial implications as the dairy financial condition is weak has met with stiff opposition from the dairy employees’ union.
Puti Gaonkar and Hemant Samanth of the Goa Dairy Employees’ Union held the former chairman responsible for the Goa Dairy’s weak condition and reduction in milk supply.
“During Anup’s tenure as Goa Dairy chairman, the milk sale reduced from 90,000 litres a day to 65,000, which still prevails. Desai failed to increase milk sale and scrapped the 20 percent bonus of the employees. Goa Dairy is not running in losses due to the employees but due to the mismanagement of office bearers and directors,” Gaonkar alleged
“The Goa Dairy employees were left with no other option then to go on strike as RCS and Goa Dairy management has failed to take a decision on implementing the seventh pay scale despite three warnings. RCS is conducting inquiry and has sent letter questioning on what basis the seventh pay is applicable, which displays its ignorance on the issue. In the past, Goa Dairy was a government department. When it converted into a cooperative society, the government decided to implement pay scales to the employees and accordingly fourth, fifth and sixth pay scales were implemented. Now, the RCS instead of studying the issue with regards to old documents and file is raising queries. RCS and Goa Dairy administration are responsible for the employees’ strike,” he alleged
Refuting the charges against him, former chairman Anup Desai said he spoke the truth whether anybody likes it or not. Desai said he made the statement considering the financial implications in case the seventh pay scales are implemented without studying Goa Dairy’s condition.
He said if Seventh Pay scales are implemented it would definitely be a burden on Goa Dairy. The salary that the employees are drawing is sufficient and high.
He said Goa Dairy belongs to farmers and in case by implementing seventh pay scales the Goa Dairy will run in trouble and hence the issue must be discussed at the AGM.
Refuting allegations of reduction in milk sale during his tenure as Chairman, he said they should check fact and records of Goa Dairy to know the reality.
“When I was Chairman, the sale actually increased from 65,000 litres per day to 90,000. I was Director on Goa Dairy Board for 2002 – 2007 and Chairman for 2003-2004 when sale increased to 90,000 litres per day. The sale reduced after 2007 when the marketing employees failed to implement the policies framed by then Goa Dairy Board from time to time,” he alleged.
