Kamat mum on demand for jobs in library
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, NOV 21
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat maintained a stoic silence over the demand for jobs for locals in the Dr Francis Luis Gomes district library inaugurated, even as the police tightened security as residents of Ward No 16 assembled outside the library building demanding jobs.
While the Savio-Pratima duo along with their supporters came with banners and placards demanding jobs outside the library building, PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao demanded 50 per cent of jobs in the library for the unemployed youth of Navelim constituency.
However, while everyone expected the Chief Minister to speak out his mind on the demand for jobs, Kamat did not touch the subject at all during his address at the inauguration function.
What further agitated the protestors outside the library building was the fact that the Chief Minister even did not show any courtesy to approach them and hear their grievances. Incidentally, the PWD Minister interacted with the protestors along the road before heading to the library building.
Later briefing newsmen, former MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho said the Chief Minister has meted step motherly treatment to the youth of ward No 16 as far as employment is concerned. “Our youth have been demanding jobs in the library, but their applications have not been entertained till date. We fail to understand why this step motherly treatment from our local MLA, who is the Chief Minister of the state”, he said.
“We conducted our protest in a peaceful manner, hoping the Chief Minister will hear our grievances, but in vain”, Savio added.
His wife Pratima said that it is an insult to the people that the Chief Minster left the venue without even seeking to know their grievances.
The residents carried out banners and placards demanding to know whether they will get any employment in the library and further demanded to know the step motherly treatment meted out to the voters of Ward No 16.
Meanwhile, the police maintained a strict vigil by deploying armed policemen along the road as a precautionary measure.
Relations between the Coutinho’s and the Chief Minister have hit rock bottom after the Municipoal poll with the former accusing Kamat for trying to sabotage Pratima’s prospects in the elections.
