TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised that he would sort out issue pertaining to freedom fighters’ pension and jobs for their children by issuing a notification, within a month.
Addressing a gathering during the Goa Revolution Day function at Azad Maidan Tuesday, he also said that monthly pension would be related to inflation with a dearness allowance component to it. “The freedom fighters will get more than Rs 6,000 as monthly pension besides Rs 1,000 as medical reimbursement. The notification about the amended pension would be issued within a month,” he said in presence of Governor B V Wanchoo and other freedom fighters.
Parrikar also assured to look into their long pending demand for government jobs for their children. He said a high level committee has been called in this regard on June 24 and subsequently, within a month, the notification would be issued.
The assurances were given following President, Goa Daman and Diu Freedom Fighters Association Shamsundar Nagvekar’s demand that government seriously consider fulfilling their pending demands including making available of kerosene.
“Kerosene is not given to those having LPG cylinders but what happens when the power goes off in the house? LPG cannot light the place, which is why we demand that at least one litre of kerosene should be made available,” he added.
Chandrakant Kenkre, President, Goa Freedom Fighters Association pointed out differences within the association, which came as a surprise to the attendees.
“Freedom fighters are responsible for the current situation they are facing. We have jealousy towards each other,” he said. While Kenkre praised Parrikar for being a corruption-free chief minister, he pointed out that several difficulties faced by people during Portuguese rule continue even in liberated state.
On allegations about malfunctioning of the government in certain sectors, Parrikar said there is a need for second freedom struggle for liberation by changing the negative mentality towards the State.
“Government doesn’t only mean a chief minister and other ministers. It also means every individual and their responsibilities towards the State. It is not good to expect everything from the government. We are in the ruling party to serve the people…In Goa, every seventh person, is a government employee,” he said.
Meanwhile, the freedom fighters also demanded that construction of Bridge at Rachol be completed soon with a condition that heavy vehicles should not be allowed to ply on it.
They also expressed apprehension that Central funds for Special Status might go in the wrong hands, as former minister Matanhy Saldanha had once expressed to Kenkre. Goa government has demanded from the Centre to grant Special Status for Goa for which Parrikar led a delegation to New Delhi last week to raise the issue with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
