PONDA: The indefinite hunger strike launched by the farmers supplying milk to Goa Dairy at the cooperative’s premises at Curti caused tension on Thursday.
On being informed of the incident, Ponda Police Inspector Harish Madkaikar and Ponda Mamlatdar Abeer Hede rushed the spot and tried to settle the issue.
The farmers are on indefinite hunger strike demanding fulfillment of their demands, namely, reduction in prices of cattle-feed; making public the report of inquiry conducted by Registrar of Cooperative Societies into the alleged scam in Goa Dairy and to take action on the officials involved in scams; improving the quality of cattle-feed; immediate payment of subsidies on milk; checking quality of milk that Goa Dairy procures from outside the State.
Tension flared up after the managing director of Goa Dairy asked the farmers to stage their agitation outside the premises of Goa Dairy stating that anti-social elements may take disadvantage of their agitation and cause damage to Goa Dairy property.
Dattaprasad Savordekar and farmers refused to heed the instruction of MD Navso Sawant stating that he is the servant of Goa Dairy and that he can’t direct them to stage their agitation outside the premises.
Following this, he complained to the Deputy Collector and Ponda police about the agitation inside the Goa Dairy premises without his permission.
As the police reached the spot, the agitating farmers led by Dattaprasad Savordekar took exception to the police deployment stating their agitation was peaceful and that six of the agitating members are shareholders in Goa Dairy and also head different societies that are supplying milk to Goa Dairy.
After an hour later again there was dispute when the farmers brought bamboos to erect a pandal at agitation site. However, the rickshaw carrying bamboos was stopped at the gate following which tension flared up again.
Later, Goa Dairy Chairman Rajesh Faldesai requested the agitating farmers to withdraw their hunger strike by assuring that he would study their demands in a month and place them before the board meeting.
However, the farmers refused to give in saying that they had submitted their memorandum one month ago with the warning of hunger strike. They said that BOD can take decision on their demands by convening a meeting at a short notice.
Durgadas Savordekar, the chairman of farmers inquiry committee, said that the farmers would continue their agitation till their demands are met.
He said that Faldesai had not given any concrete assurance on any of their demands. “There is no need of one month time; the chairman and Board can call urgent meeting and decide on their demands,” he said.
