VASCO: The Vasco BJP Mandal on Thursday called off their proposed protest to demand jobs for locals in the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) following assurance by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to take up the matter with the GSL management.
Vasco BJP Mandal President and Mormugao Councillor Deepak Naik told media persons that vacancies are available regularly in the public-sector undertaking GSL. But these jobs are mostly given to “outsiders” and deserving local youth are denied employment. Claiming that nearly 400 to 500 vacancies are filled in the GSL regularly and since locals are denied jobs, the Vasco BJP Mandal had decided to hold a protest in front of the GSL gate. But the protest had to be cancelled after the Chief Minister intervened and assured them that he would take up the issue of jobs to locals with the GSL management.
Naik recalled that the then Union Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar in the presence of the then Vasco MLA had told the GSL chairman and managing director to reserve 20 per cent jobs quota for youth of Vasco. But this never materialised and that they too remained quiet all these years.
“But now we will not take this lightly if the GSL continue to sideline Vascokars,” he warned.
Naik also pointed out that jobs were given to locals in the mining belt and the Konkan Railway too recruited locals, who had lost their fields and lands while laying the railway tracks. “Similarly, the GSL should give preference to locals in jobs,” he demanded.
Naik warned that if the GSL continue to sideline the Vascokars, then they will hold a massive agitation and even resort to rasta roko and stop the work.
