MARGAO: The children of freedom fighters on Monday threatened to intensify their agitation if the government not provided the jobs within the next three months or announce a onetime settlement for those who have crossed 55 years.
Speaking to media persons, Freedom Fighters Children’s Association President Dr Shivaji Shet said, “The government records indicate that 256 freedom fighters children have not been provided jobs as yet and asserted that the government was duty bound to give them employment besides also keeping a register of all details of freedom fighters.”
On Monday, they held a Tirdi Andolan (funeral procession) in Margao. This was the third such march in Goa following one in Panjim and Ponda and the next march will be held at Porvorim on Tuesday.
“On Goa Liberation Day will place the freedom fighters and other medal and citations given to their parents by the Central government at Tilak Maidan, Panjim as a mark of protest and will also launch the next phase of their agitation. The medals will not be returned as they have been conferred by the Union government,” Dr Shet said.
Satyavan Palkar accused the government of misusing the Goa Public Service Commission to deprive jobs to qualified children of freedom fighters and the jobs meant for freedom fighters children are given to people from the open category.
He said, “It was deplorable that while other States such as Karnataka and Maharashtra have provided jobs to the children of freedom fighters, Goa government is still lagging behind in this matter and pointed out that most of the children who have not got a job as yet are nearing 50 years while some have already crossed that age.”
He accused the government of not respecting the freedom fighters and opined that all legislators will have to be given an orientation on the sacrifices made by freedom fighters and the struggle they went through.
“The chief minister is so insensitive that for the last three months he has been denying us an appointment with him,” he said.
He suggested that the government constitute a special committee of freedom fighters, their children and government officials to find a solution to this problem.
“We are not asking for a memorial worth crores of rupees but are merely seeking jobs,” said Satyavan taking a dig at the memorial sought to be built in memory of late Manohar Parrikar.
