the goan I network
MARGAO
Perhaps for the first time in recent years, the Comunidade employees have not received their salaries for the last 10 months and the workers have no idea whether they would at all receive their May salary in the coming month of June.
The employees had pinned their hopes on the new government headed by Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, but the ground reality remains unchanged till date. While Revenue Minister, Rohan Khaunte was instrumental in keeping on hold the transfers of the beleaguered employees following the intervention of TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, the employees are now hoping against hope that the two ministers will seek the intervention of the Chief Minister to get their salary issue resolved by the government.
The Comunidade Administration last month had drawn up a plan to effect the transfers of the beleaguered employees across South Goa, a step which had come in for stiff opposition from the employees on grounds that they have not been paid for the last 10 months.
The TCP Minister finally stepped in to stall the transfers till the payment of salaries to the employees are completed, but the workers have now begun to wonder as to how many more months it will take for the government to clear their salary dues.
A beleaguered employee told The Goan that they would be grateful to the government if their salaries are released now before the reopening of schools to meet the school related expenses of their wards.
“We have decided to call on the Chief Minister if we get an appointment with him to explain our plight due to non-payment of salaries. The employees would be obliged if the payments are made now ahead of the school re-openings to meet the basic expenses,” the employee remarked.
The employees wondered why they are being discriminated by the government when they put in their normal service and are utilised by the government for other duties such as elections, etc.
There’s been a delay in the payment of salaries to the employees attached to the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades in the past, but this is perhaps the first time that they have not been paid salaries for a period of 10 months.
