who were on a 42-day hunger strike ended the same on Sunday afternoon after 183 workers were issued their four months salaries through demand drafts with the intervention of the Power Minister Milind Naik.
Some 326 WISL workers have been agitating for the last eight months over non-release of their salaries. Two among them Pacheco and Naik were on hunger strike for the last 42 days. Power Minister Naik intervened and asked the management of the WISL to disburse the four months salaries ahead of Ganesh celebration.
Out of the total 326 workers, 183 workers were issued demand drafts, while the rest will be issued the demand drafts on September 7. The disbursement of four months salaries has eased difficulties of the workers to celebrate their Ganesh Chaturthi. One could see smiles on the faces of the workers after the demand drafts were issued to them.
Earlier, there was a meeting at the conference hall of the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina on Saturday late evening in order to disburse the four months salaries of the 326 workers, but it abruptly ended as the workers stuck to their demand that salaries of all the workers be released at a time not in batches.
But, on Sunday, the workers decided to accept the demand drafts of the 183 workers, following the general body meeting which was attended by union leader Ajit Singh Rane in the interest of the two striking workers who were on hunger strike for the last 42 days. Power Minister Naik handed over the demand drafts to the union leader Rane at Ravindra Bhavan at Baina on Sunday afternoon and it was soon disbursed among the workers. The union leader Rane also ended the hunger strike of the two workers by giving them lime water.
On the occasion, union leader Rane expressed his sincere gratitude to the Power Minister Naik for his efforts to arrange the demand drafts of the workers in a time ahead of Ganesh celebration.
“I am very happy with the decision taken up by the workers to accept the pay orders at a time which would help them to remain united and fight for the rights of the workers,” added Rane.
Power Minister Naik said, “I wanted that Alex Pacheco and Vishnu Naik who were on fast unto death for the last 42-days to end their strike with the disbursement of the demand drafts”.
“For me life of a person is important and due to which I had put all my efforts to bring the company management in Goa and settle the issues of the workers,” added Naik.
