PANJIM: Normal life in Goa is set to be affected on Wednesday as government workers, private as well as Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and other forms of transport will remain off the road, joining the nationwide strike call given by the All India Road Transport Workers’ (AIRTW) Federation. Banks too will remain closed.
The strike opposing the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 will also hit vegetable supply as Goa imports vegetables from Belgaum. Power supply might also be severely affected as 90 percent of the State power comes from the Western, Southern and Central grids, where the respective electricity employees’ federations have extended their support to the strike.
Various trade unions, including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Private Bus Operators’ Association, KTC Allied Drivers and Employees’ Association, Government Employees’ Union and others have extended their support to the 24-hour-long strike. The State government has already invoked ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) against the striking workers.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, however, said that all government departments and educational institutions will remain open. “Strike call is a gross injustice to the common man especially when Ganesh Chaturthi is just round the corner,” Parsekar said at a hurriedly called press conference in the Assembly Complex.
He said the strike call will hit business very badly and businessmen and industrialists have been questioning the government’s role on the issue. He also said that the police force has been instructed to beef up security and protect establishments that remain open.
The entire police force will be mobilized and in addition, 250 police personnel from the GRP and IRB will be deployed at major bus stops and bus stands across the State. Additional security will also be in place along the border check posts to ensure that there is no violence.
“There is no fear of ESMA. It is just a political gimmick to stop the strike. We have given 31 days notice in advance. All the legal formalities required for the strike have been completed,” AITUC Deputy General Secretary Raju Mangueshkar said.
The protest is against the proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014, that the transport lobby believes will lead to privatisation of the transport system. They demand that the government reduce penalties imposed on drivers for causing accidents, abolishing contract system in recruitment, minimum wages for employees etc. While the protesters are demanding a minimum wage of Rs 15,000 per month, other demands are control of price rise, no violation of labour laws, no outsourcing and pension for all.
Though the State has announced that the normal life will not be affected, the lack of transport will have an impact on establishments with absenteeism from students, teaching and non-teaching staff and government workers.
KTC will be plying 300 buses on nationalized routes, an additional 32 buses on the private route. KTC and Transport Department have warned of serious action against drivers, conductors and bus operators, who remain off road.
Transport Director Arun Dessai said that it being nationwide strike, the department is not in a position to deploy buses from other States to ply in Goa. “They too are joining the strike. Commuters might have to face the heat,” he said, adding that action as per the Motor Vehicle Act would be initiated against those supporting the strike.
KTC Managing Director Derrick Pereira Neto said that only a few of its conductors and drivers support the strike. The depot managers have been directed to report on who supported the strike and who could not make it to duty due to non-availability of transport.
“Action in form of dismissal from duty will be initiated against the employees,” he said, adding that the strike notice served by the union is illegal and the ESMA has been invoked.
With some transporters threatening to ensure that no private transport runs on the road, which could lead to the possibility of violence, the State police met with the senior officials to prepare security and traffic plans.
IGP Sunil Garg said the police’s quick response team and patrolling vehicles will be on 24×7 duty. “We have chalked out a foolproof security plan to ensure there are no law and order problems. Our personnel will be deployed at various points across the State,” he said.
North SP Umesh Gaonkar has said that the striking workers who try to force others to join the strike will be arrested.
