PANAJI
With Rs 85 lakh of its funds stuck in the now liquidated Mapusa Urban Bank, the issue dominated the proceedings of the annual general meeting of the Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) held on Sunday at the Goa State Cooperative Bank bhavan at EDC-Patto Plazza.
According to GGEA president, Abhay Mandrekar, the Association had deposits to the tune of Rs 91 lakh in the Mapusa Urban Bank at the time of its dissolution and Rs 86 lakhs are still stuck in there.
He said, the GGEA faces financial constraints in its functioning and at times office bearers are forced to dig into their own pockets to defray expenses.
He said, communication with the liquidator and the government are continuing to recover these funds.
Another issue that dominated the deliberations at the GGEA's meet was the demand to bring back the old Pension Scheme for government servants.
Mandrekar said, the demand for reverting to the old pension scheme has already been placed before the State government and it is a matter which has to be resolved in consultation with the Centre.
"The issue of old pensions is between the Government of Goa and the Centre. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has put it before the Central government," he said.
GGEA Vice President Purushottam Agel, General Secretary Sameer Nagvekar, Secretary Rupesh Mhapshekar and other office bearers were also present when Mandrekar briefed the media about the deliberations at the meet.
One more issue that was deliberated in Sunday's meeting was the lack of enrollment in the Association by newer employees of the State government.
"Several young persons in government service are still not members of the Association. Our committees have been constituted in every taluka. Young employees should themselves come forward and fill out the form to register," Mandrekar said.
Extension in service being granted to superannuated government officials also came up for discussion at the Sunday meeting.
"This practice has to be stopped. We have already communicated our objections over extension in service to retired employees. Our correspondence with the government will continue on this issue," Mandrekar said, adding that the Association will resort to other action if the State government does not stop extensions.
