CM, Churchill call for amicable solution
MARGAO, SEPT 22
Cuncolim literally resembled a garrison town on Monday with the authorities mobilizing the entire South Goa police force near NUSI Wockhardt hospital at Panzorconne during the hospital inauguration.
The day passed off without any untoward incident as the 24 NUSI employees peacefully protesting outside the venue, even as Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao calling upon the NUSI-Wockhardt management to resolve the labour dispute amicably.
Incidentally, Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao boycotted the inauguration ceremony along with Cuncolim Municipal Council in protest against the failure to resolve the grievances of the 24 employees. The employees protesting outside the hospital thanked the people of Cuncolim for boycotting the inaugural ceremony and charged vested interest for bringing bus loads of people for the function.
Over 150 policemen were deployed in Cuncolim this morning to maintain strict vigil against any one from creating disturbances near the hospital. Acting South Goa Superintendent of Police, Tony Fernandes said the entire police force from the district, besides Goa Reserve Police was deployed in Cuncolim as a precautionary measure. “Last night, the police had removed black flags put up near the hospital. We decided not to take any chances”, he said.
The police tasted a partial success in their plan when the retired seafarers were invited for talks with NUSI Chief Abdulgani Serang on their long-pending demand for a hike in ex-gratia monetary assistance, thereby pre-empting the retired seafarers from protesting near the hospital venue.
Meanwhile, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao appealed to NUSI-Wockhardt management to solve the labour dispute with the employees at the earliest. Wockhardt Chairman Dr Habil Khorakiwala replied saying that the labour problem is under study and will be solved on a priority basis.
After Dr Habil publicly gave a positive reply to Alemao’s request, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat expressed his happiness over the stand of Wockhardt management and hoped that the problem will be resolved at the earliest.
The 22 employees of then NUSI hospital had been agitating outside the hospital venue for the last 18 months, demanding that they be reinstated and paid all back wages as per labour rules.
