TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Pen Down strike by Goa government employees generated much heat at the South Goa district Collectorate, with members of the public accusing some employees of sabotaging the working of the departments.
Heated exchanges ensued between agitated members of the public and representatives of Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) as the people demanded services at the Citizens Facilitation Centre in the morning.
Many people who had visited government offices housed in the District Collectorate had to return home disappointed due to the strike. While some were fortunate enough to get their work done, there were others who were told to come the next day.
There were heated exchanges when an office bearer of the GGEA tired to convince an employee at the CFC to stop accepting the application forms for residence certificates or ration cards.
District Collector, Venancio Furtado, however, said there was not much effect of the strike in the District Collectorate. He said that government employees by and large ignored the call given by the Association to observe the strike.
Social activist Judith Almeida told the media that many a woman who had come for work had to return home empty handed. “Why didn’t the government employees first make the public aware of the strike, which has put the public to great inconveniences?” she asked.
Meanwhile, GGEA President M L Shetkar said the call given by GGEA ‘Pen-down-Tool-down’ strike to demand parity in pay scales was observed throughout the State successfully.
Shetkar said offices in talukas of Bardez, Ponda, Salcete, Mormgao, Quepem, Canacona wore a deserted look. He, however, said the response to the strike in the capital city in the Collectorate, Directorate of Accounts was less. “Although the employees had observed the strike, the employees were forced to work under threat for sometime under the pretext of maintenance of law and order,” he said.
CANACONA: The day-long ‘pen down’ strike by the GGEA had a large impact in administrative departments in Canacona on Monday.
The public visiting the government office complex had to return dejected as although most staff reported to work, no one attended to official duties.
However, this was not the case at the nearby Community Health Centre (CHC), as all the staff functioned normally, while doctors also attended to the patients.
The technical staff of PWD (Water supply) also functioned normally, as supply of water to the most serviced areas was supplied for the day. Power supply was also regular and most calls were attended to by the electricity staff on duty.
GGEA Secretary Prashant Kholkar later informed Herald that while the administrative staff observed total pen-down strike, the technical staff and other employees involved in essential services did not strike work and functioned normally through the day.
VASCO: The pen-down strike by the GGEA in the port town was near total, as no work was undertaken even though all employees were present at their offices. However, government employees involved in essential duties attended to normal duties for the day.
Speaking to Herald, some government employees blamed the government for compelling them to hold the strike.
“It is surprising to see the State government reaching out to the mining-affected people, while we have to beg for out rightful benefits,” complained an employee.
MAPUSA: The GGEA one-day ‘pen down’ strike evoked mixed response in Mapusa on Monday.
While work at the RTO, police, PWD (water department), fire services and electricity departments functioned as usual, other government offices, including the Bardez Deputy Collector, Mamlatdar Block Development Offices, Town and Country Planning department, were largely affected, as many staff abstained from duty. Cases scheduled on Monday were adjourned by the offices of the deputy collector and mamlatdar.
Speaking to Herald, some government employees complained of disparity in the scales of staff.
“Why should the LDC and UDC working in the secretariat get higher pay scales than those working in other departments? This is unfair. The same pay scale should be made applicable to LDCs and UDC staff working in all government departments,” insisted one employee.
PONDA: The pen-down strike by government employees received mixed support in Ponda on Monday.
All offices in Ponda, including the RTO, Ponda mamledar, deputy collector, commercial taxes, PWD, excise, etc remained opened. While some employees attended to duties, other workers were seen seated in their offices, but asked the people to come on Tuesday for their work.
Many people criticised the strike by the government workers. “The strike by the government servants was not justified as they receive good salary with limited workload. Very often, people have to make several trips to the same office to get their work done,” said Rupesh Naik, who had gone to one government office.
