ESMA BITES THE DUST
>> Almost all private buses stayed off the roads despite provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act being invoked>> Kadamba Transport Corporation did deploy additional buses on multiple routes but it did not suffice to bear the burden on road
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PANAJI: The nationwide bandh by trade unions evoked a mixed response in Goa as schools, colleges, public offices and businesses saw thinner than normal attendance due to disruption of transport services but Goans at large altered their routines to sidestep its burdens.
Schools and colleges across the State reported thinner attendance due to the disruption of public transport with private buses, taxis, rickshaws and motor-cycle taxis (pilots) joining the strike called by workers unions and employee associations from the banking and other sectors.
The State-owned KTC did deploy additional buses on multiple routes but it did not suffice to bear the burden of private buses almost 100 per-cent staying off the roads despite the State government having invoked the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act.
Office goers too were affected but Goans at large either postponed their engagements or resorted to their own conveyance to meet commitments and get over the burden of the strike.
Wednesday's bandh was part of the 2-day nationwide protest action of the working class and transport unions against the Central Government's "anti-worker" policies. There were no untoward incidents or any violence in any part of the State.
Meanwhile the Goa Convention of Mass Organizations & Trade Unions said people in Goa "wholeheartedly participated" and supported Wednesday's bandh.
Markets, bazaars and shops remained closed in Pernem, Ponda, Bicholim, Sanguem, Sanvordem, Canacona, Quepem, Mapusa, Sanquelim, Usgao, Valpoi, Calangute, Colva, Benaulim and other coastal areas, a jointly statement signed by Christopher Fonseca, Adv Suhas Naik and bus owners representative Sudip Tamankar, said.
They said, industrial estates, factories and industries remained closed because the workers engaged by them stayed away from work to support the bandh.
"The management of KTCL forced the daily-wage, Badli and temporary workers to operate buses with police protection," their statement said, adding that the bandh was a success despite the State government's best efforts to sabotage it.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar patted the KTC saying all efforts were made to minimise the impact of the strike in Goa.
"We pressed extra KTC buses into service. Police security was also beefed up," Dhavalikar said.
Goa Government Employees Association president, John Nazareth, said government servants did report to work as his Association had only extended "moral support" to the strike.
