PANJIM: One of three retrenched workers of the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), who are on hunger strike demanding that government take them back in jobs, was admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition.
Late Saturday, Panjim police tried to clear the strike venue on pretext of shifting the workers to hospital. “They came with ambulances to take us to the hospital but we know their aim was to disrupt the strike. We did not move from here,” one of the striking workers said.
Earlier, Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, supporting the striking workers, marched to the chief minister’s official residence seeking relief but to no avail. “The CM (Laxmikant Parsekar) was arrogant. He does not have any concern for the striking workers,” said Swati Kerkar, who was amongst those who met the chief minister on the issue on Saturday.
Several workers, who were appointed on daily wages during the Congress tenure in 2011 are on strike demanding that the BJP-led government give them back their jobs. The workers accused the government of empty promises to re-induct them in the daily wage service.
“The BJP coalition gave them a ‘break’ of 15 days in 2014 but never took them back in the service. The victims then went on strike last year when Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar assured to absorb them in a fresh recruitment drive,” Kerkar said adding, “The government advertised for 75 posts. All the daily wage workers appeared for the test; however only four were absorbed on contract. The government ditched the employees.”
