PANJIM: The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and Green Earth Translogistics Pvt Ltd, the company operating the women taxi service, have been accused of malpractices in operations of the taxi service.
Activist Avinash Tavares has filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police and Chief Vigilance Officer alleging inaccuracies in the tender process, finances of the system and the employment of the women driving the taxis.
“The department spent over Rs 3.5 lakh in the promotion and starting of the taxi service, all of it being citizens’ money. There have been discrepancies in the tender, finance and recruitment, and we demand that this service be stopped immediately or a thorough investigation be ordered into the matter,” Tavares told media persons along with three employees who say they were sacked for standing up for their rights.
“There were instances where we were asked to work overtime and not paid for it,” said Whitney Fernandes, an ex-employee who began working for the taxi service in October 2014. Another woman, Rita Vaz said, “There was PF being deducted from our accounts, but no slips were provided to us.”
The women also said they joined the service thinking it was a government job, “as advertisements were issued under the GTDC banner. Even their ID cards were under GTDC header. But it was GETPL that was calling the shots,” said Tavares.
When asked to comment on the allegations, GTDC said the decision to do so was to maintain responsibility with the service provider.
