PONDA: In a significant outreach initiative, Leader of the Opposition Uri Alemao, South Goa MP Captain Viriato, and Congress Party President Amit Patkar convened a two-hour session in Ponda to listen to the grievances of local residents.
Local Congress leader Rajesh Verenkar criticised the Chief Minister for only visiting Ponda to celebrate party events, stating that pressing issues such as poor road conditions and problems with the market complex have been largely ignored.
Arun Gudekar raised concerns regarding the low wages of midday meal workers, who have been earning just Rs 1,000 per month for the past decade. He also highlighted the plight of school librarians and watchmen on contract, who receive only ten months’ salary annually instead of the full twelve months. Gudekar called for a more transparent recruitment process in the defense sector to encourage local youth to apply for jobs.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao acknowledged that issues related to midday meal workers, librarians, and watchmen have already been discussed in the Assembly but assured residents that he would continue to follow up on these matters. He also pointed out that the Bal Rath buses are aging and in poor condition, stressing the need for proper maintenance to ensure the safety of school students.