SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF)leader Puti Gaonkar on Monday urged the State government to come up with a clear picture on the role of “Goa Mineral Development Corporation” that will ensure early resumption of mining and how it will create employment in the State.
It is a big concern that the Bill introduced in the current Assembly session for forming a ‘Goa Mineral Development Corporation’ has shown no intent on revival and retention of the employment of State mining dependents in a sustainable manner.
Speaking to the media persons, here, GMPF leader Gaonkar demanded with the government to present clear roadmap with a goal to specifically revive the three lakh livelihood impacted due to mining stoppage.
“Without any commitment on protecting the interest of people who have suffered due to the mining stoppage, we believe the corporation will do nothing about the livelihood of three lakh mining dependents, who have been pushed to the state of poverty and helplessness for the last decade,” Gaonkar claimed.
“We want the government to be serious about resumption of mining and not waste any more time by indulging into political gimmicks in view of upcoming State Assembly elections. The State should explicitly make it clear in its Bill and Policies about direct recruitment of employees and truck services avoiding middlemen and contractors. The current Bill does not mention about induction of workers or trucks directly by corporation so the interest of local people does not form a part of the Bill. The Goans have faced lot of hardship because of repeated bans on mining in the last one decade and are now looking for stable and sustainable livelihood,” he added.
“The Front wants government to provide concrete assurance to all mining dependents about their livelihood in any solution that is proposed,” Gaonkar said.
