QUEPEM: Cudegal mine workers continued with their agitation on the second day in front of the mining company’s gate objecting to the new contract system which will pave the way to employ new labourers from outside the village.
One of the local leader of workers union Prashant Gaokar informed that all the detained mine workers at Quepem Police Station were taken to Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dharbandora for hearing. Followingly, the workers were taken to Mapusa District Hospital but no medical was done. Later, they were shifted to Covale Jail but were kept outside and made to wait for hours. Friday early morning they were brought back to their village and dropped near the company’s gate.
Again, the workers along with their families continued their agitation urging to fulfil their demands.
In the process, the situation became tense in the village. SDM Dharbandora Kedar Naik, SDM Sanguem Sagar Gawade, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kiran Padval, Superintendent of Police South Goa Pankaj Kumar Singh, Quepem and Curchorem Police had to rush to the village to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident at the mines.
Before the situation could go out of control, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant called for a meeting with the workers’ representatives in the capital city.
Sandesh Gaonkar informed that in the morning they got a call from the Chief Minister Office calling for a meeting to find a solution on the issue.
“As a respect to the Chief Minister’s message we later moved from the road and transportation of ore was allowed,” he added.
“Right now no informing was there about the meeting with the Chief Minister which was held in the evening with our representatives. We hope for a positive solution,” Gaonkar said.
Secretary of Cudgal Mines Labour Union Nilesh Naik said that if the government or the company do not come up with a solution on our demands then we will continue our agitation with our families for livelihood.
