VASCO, OCT 16
Has the state government failed to provide basic infrastructure to industries or have industries failed to created employment opportunities for local people?
These issues were debated by Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, Power Minister Alexio Sequiera and office bearers of Verna Industries Association (VIA) at the annual general body meeting of VIA at Hotel La Paz Garden, Vasco, on Saturday.
Kamat and Sequeira claimed that industries in the State had failed to gain the confidence of local people due to lack of employment opportunities.
Sequeira said he was instrumental in setting up the Verna Industrial Estate (VIE) considering that it would create employment for locals in his Loutolim constituency.
He, however, regretted that the VIE, which is one of the largest industrial estate in the State, had failed to create employment for locals.
“When people from my constituency don’t get an employment, why do we require industries? For me, my voters are important and I will go with them,” said Sequeira, while responding to demands by VIA President Cyril Pereira on the need to improve basic needs of industries at VIE.
“We can understand when the local population cannot be absorbed in skilled and technical jobs, but even unskilled jobs are denied to locals,” complained Sequeira.
Clarifying that he was not opposed to the migrant workforce, the minister however insisted that industries should give preference to locals.
Sequeira went on the offensive and accused the VIE of polluting the famous Kesarval Spring, polluting the environment and accused the workers of spoiling the hygiene and social fabric of surrounding areas.
Commenting on the infrastructure at VIA, Sequeira said: “As far as VIA’s demand for an underground power line and enhanced water supply, my department has worked out an estimate for underground cabling. If the GIDC is willing finance the project, the work will be executed shortly.”
In his address, Kamat also claimed that there is a general feeling among people from Goa and elsewhere that the government should not set up industrial estates when industries don’t create employment for locals.
“Locals feel that even though they get a job they are being been paid peanuts and are sometimes sacked from service as per whims and fancies of companies, thereby creating insecurity among the local people,” said the chief minister.
Both Kamat and Sequiera felt there should be better coordination among the government departments and industries, which would immensely benefit society.
Earlier, VIA president Cyril Pereira urged the government to be attentive to the development of industries.
