PANJIM, AUG 26
It was a novel protest by few well known faces in the city demanding justice to lesser known people — car washers.
Goa People’s Forum with the support of local artists and NGO-Life Line Foundation today held a protest before the city Municipal garden against the civic body, which in the name of garden beautification has snatched the living of ten car washers.
“We have been doing this work for almost 25 years, now. We used to use water from the garden tap or well for washing these cars…we earn Rs 30 to Rs 40 for washing a car,” Shivappa, a car washer told reporters.
“But for the last few weeks, the Corporation has stopped us from using water from the garden and has also asked us not to wash the cars here,” he added.
They said car washing is the only means of livelihood for them. “We are illiterate and have no other work,” they said.
The car washers have already made their presentation to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Carolina Po and to the commissioner Elvis Gomes.
However, they have refused to entertain their request.
The protestors said that the renovation of municipal garden has snatched livelihood of the car washers.
“We welcome the garden beautification, but not at the cost of these poor people,” Dr Subodh Kerkar, a member of the forum and renowned artist, said.
He said that CCP should rehabilitate the car washers. “This government is of aam admi and hence” should take care of these poor car washers as well, Kerkar stated.
Kerkar said that the protest would continue till the Corporation takes necessary steps.
Interestingly, the protest was also supported by the BJP corporators, who feel that rather than harassing poor people, CCP should work on improving its functioning and work for the welfare of the citizens.
“There are various scams within corporation… CCP has no time or initiative to solve them…they just want to harass locals and poor,” corporator Rupesh Halankar said.
The ruling corporator Avinash Bhonsle also showed his presence and supported the cause.
“If CCP doesn’t want these people, then (let it) rehabilitate them. The corporation needs to identify few such places, where these people can be shifted and employed. Not just them but there are mechanics, who work on the road side. They too need to be shifted to a better and safer place,” he said
Writer Dilip Borkar, artists like Santosh Morajkar and Chetali Morajkar were also part of the protest.
