Team Herald
PONDA: Marcaim villagers have demanded 70 per cent reservation of jobs for the locals in the industrial units operating in the village. Failing which, they have threatened to launch an agitation to get their demand fulfilled.
Towards this end, the villagers have come together under the banner of “Marcaim Nagrik Kruti Sang” and elected a villager Premanand Gaude as their president.
In pursuance of their demand, the villagers led by Gaude submitted a representation to Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) field officer Hanumanth Mandrekar at Marcaim, on Friday.
In their representation, the villagers stated that 87 industrial units are operating in the village, which together employ more than 3,000 workers.
“However, very few locals have been employed in these 87 units,” they complained.
The villagers warned, in their representation, that if their demand for 70 per cent reservation of jobs for the locals, in the industrial units, is not met, they would stage an agitation by coming on the road.
As a large number of people had gathered at the Marcaim IDC office, a strong police force was deployed there to maintain law and order.
Later, addressing the media, Gaude said that the villagers sacrificed their land for Marcaim Industrial Estate, so that, the local youth would get jobs in the factories.
“However, the industries are doing injustice to the locals. We are suffering pollution and health problems due to industries, but workers employed by the units are from other States,” he said.
“Our youth have the skills required for the industries and yet they are deprived of jobs. Even our vehicles are not hired; the villagers are also not given any work on contract,” he complained.
“Only few villagers are employed by the factories. Despite having the right qualification, our youth are not given jobs,” lamented another villager.
“We are not against outsiders or migrants, but when most of the locals are unemployed, how can we survive,” he questioned.
Former Panch Rajesh Naik said, “We now want 70 per cent reservation in jobs. Under the concurrent list of the Constitution, the State can enact law reserving 70 per cent jobs for the locals, which the government should do.”
“When villagers had provided land for the industries, they should get jobs in it. Most of the villagers are unemployed and we will have no option than to come on road and stage agitation to get 70 percent jobs for the villagers,” he threatened.
When contacted, IDC Filed Officer Hanumanth Mandrekar said that he would send the memorandum to IDC head office at Panjim.
