NAVIN JHA
navin@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Last weekend, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sat on the side of the makeshift beds of Alexander Pacheco and Vishnu Naik, striking workers of the Western India Shipyard fighting for their rights and salaries for eight months. He obviously had to leave, since this was just a strategic pit stop, promising what many others had promised – hope. Pachecho and Naik are still there, for they have nowhere to go, save running to politicians, including those who have betrayed them
Today the workers are upset as Alexander Pacheco and Vishnu Naik’s conditions are deteriorating fast. Though Kejriwal, who met the workers on Saturday, has assured them that he would resolve their issue within eight days after AAP forms the government in the state, the workers cannot wait for so long and still hope against hope that some help might fall from the skies in the form of a manna!
But as the saying goes, people live by the eternal hope till the last breath. They haven’t received salaries for the last eight months and since Day 1, they have been seeking and literally begging politicians, including the ruling party ones, to intervene and resolve their issues. Initially, these workers were affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), however, in due course their ties with AITUC suffered and now the WISL union is left without a trade union leadership.
It was only then that the local MLA and Minister Milind Naik extended full support to the WISL workers. Getting Naik by their side was like having the support of the BJP government, however even this proximity suffered a stroke within a short span and Naik, who initially promised to help them, took a U-Turn. After breaking his ties with WISL workers, Naik claimed that neither he nor his government could do anything as WISL was a private company and the government had no control on private companies which have shut down operations due to losses.
“The one who disappointed us most was Naik as he was the one who came and offered full support, in the same way he stood by the residents of Katem-Baina residents. However, he suddenly backed out,” said Sandeep Haldankar, a WISL worker.
Pacheco, who is on an indefinite hunger strike since last 29 days, still recalls the day when Milind Naik approached them and told them as the power minister he had the capability to resolve their issues. “Now, as he has changed his statement, we demand a public statement from him saying that he failed to resolve our crisis and there is nothing he can do further. If he says this, then me and Vishnu Naik, who is on indefinite strike, will break our fast, the moment he makes a public statement,” said Pacheco.
After Naik deserted WISL workers, there was no dearth of “support” from numerous other political leaders. From the union’s side, Ajit Singh Rane have been battling to seek justice for workers. Similarly the state Congress leaders have made the right “promises” with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal strategically joining the army of “supporters”.
Ironically, a team of WISL workers, including Sandeep Haldankar, Seshmani Chowdhary, Arvind Fatde, Santosh Palekar, Rekha Alexander Pacheco and MMC Councillor Sarika Palkar recently met MR Kejriwal’s now slightly estranged mentor Anna Hazare at his residence in Ralegan Siddhi and briefed him about the non-payment of salaries and the woeful condition of their families. “We met Annaji and he assured us that he would do everything to help us. He also assured that he would try to see if he can come and join our protest in days to come,” said Santosh Palekar, a WISL worker.
But in between Anna and Arvind and many in between, the striking workers of WISL and their families, oscillate between flashes of hope and long periods of despair. And for most, the search is not just for their elusive salaries but to find some genuine humanity in the jungle of politics.
