Bank on CM’s word over their employment
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Anxiety is writ large on the faces of the beleaguered employees of the defunct Benaulim prawn hatchery.
When Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar along with Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado and MLAs Caitu Silva and Benjamin D’Silva visited the hatchery to participate in the Sao Joao celebrations, they were promised a solution by August 15 to their long-pending demand of their absorption in government departments.
Sadly, they have found out that the government file making a case for their absorption in other government departments has not moved far, prompting a delegation of the employees to call on Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado last week. “Yes, the Chief Minister and I had promised to absorb these employees in the fisheries or other departments. They had called on me and I will take up their issue with the Chief Minister once again,” informed Avertano.
Ever since the state’s lone pilot prawn hatchery project has been down and out, they have not been enjoying the 6th pay commission benefits. What’s more, they say their very future is at stake since the government is toying with a proposal to set up another project at the hatchery.
In fact, the employees have been knocking the doors of successive governments to absorb them in other government departments, but in vain. They, however, now pin their hopes on the Chief Minister and Fisheries Minister, who have promised to fulfil their long-pending demand.
