Team Herald
PONDA: The mining dependents on Tuesday condemned Union AYUSH Minister Sripad Naik for his “insensitivity” to their suffering.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, mining truck owner Mahesh Gawas said that the mining dependents are suffering since the closure of the mines in the State.
However, Gawas said, Shripad Naik attitude to their suffering is “insensitive”.
He said that “The wives and children of the mining dependents are struggling for their livelihood; they cannot even pay the school fees of their children. Since 1953, many families in the mining belt of Palim are engaged and dependent on mining activities including transportation of ore. After the closure of mining last year, they are suffering,” he said.
He said that when Shripad Naik had gone for laying foundation stone for the 50-bedded hospital at Palim- Velguem, a mining dependent Sham Khavtankar had asked the minister, “Bhahu what is the future our livelihood and when the government will resume mining?”
Instead of sympathising with the questioner, Gawas claimed, Shripad harshly told him that mining was closed by the Court and he (the minister) does not owe the mining dependents any loan.
“Such a reply is not expected from Shripad Naik; it is unbecoming of a people’s representative,” Gawas said.
“Since past twenty years, the mining dependents have been electing him. So, how can he say that he does not owe loan to them? It is sad that despite being an MP for the past 20 years, Bhahu has no influence in Delhi,” he observed.
Meanwhile, a large number of mining dependents and their families, under the leadership of Goa Mining Peoples Front (GMPF) would go on a huge morcha to the Secretariat at Porvorim on March 14 to press for the immediate restart of mining in the State.
The press conference was also addressed by Palim Zilla Panchayat member Shubeschya Gawas and student Samrudhi Gawas and many mining dependents.
