As of Sunday, the corporation with 65 workers had managed to clear around 50 per cent of the city though most of the commercial (hotel) garbage had been cleared. However, there were complaints that garbage from certain hotels (including one owned by a city corporator) had not been cleared to the surprise of the administration who said that all the hotels that were on the list were serviced.
Though garbage is being collected, the lack of manpower has resulted in slow service and parts of Campal, St Inez have still to normalize as the city slowly limps back to normal after the flash strike by the workers and the subsequent termination and decision to tender the garbage collection process.
Meanwhile, the Goa State Committee of the CPI(M) has condemned the govt’s order prohibiting the peaceful protest of the striking workers at the Azad Maidan. “The anti-democratic order has been promulgated by the DM on the express request of the Mayor who is a Congressman, and the CCP Commissioner,” alleged Thälmann Pradeep Pereira, Secretary, Goa State Committee, CPI(M).
calling the order a clear violation of the Constitutionally given Fundamental Right to assemble peacefully.
The CPI(M) demanded that the CCP authorities “give up their childish attitude” of not negotiating on the simple and genuine demands of the workers who are demanding enhancement of daily wages, Sunday and Public Holidays as paid holidays, regularisation of eligible workers, and grant of Assured Promotion Scheme to those completing 10 /20/30 years of service.
It is an irony that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is rooting for Swachh Bharat, the Goa government is persecuting the very workers who have to work for Swachh Panjim, Pereira has argued.
