MARGAO
Collection of morning garbage and other municipal services came to an abrupt halt in the commercial capital on Thursday morning after the employees and workers under the banner of Goa Municipal Employees Association struck work in protest over the non-payment of Diwali bonus and uniform allowances.
The strike, however, was called off around noon following the intervention of Opposition leader and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, when the employees resumed their work, including field workers drafted for garbage collection.
After rounds of discussions brokered by the Margao MLA at his Malbhat office with the Municipal employees Association led by Anil Shirodkar and the MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira and Chief Officer, Agnelo Fernandes, it was resolved that the civic body would disburse the Diwali bonus early next week and the uniform allowance at a later date.
Given that the bonus would entail payment of Rs 15 lakh, the Chief Officer made it clear to the Opposition leader that the MMC employees should be ready for delayed salary payment for the month of November given the precarious financial position of the civic body.
The Association called off the strike after the MMC undertook to pay the bonus by Monday or Tuesday, with leader Anil Shirodkar saying the Association is willing to give some time to the civic body to pay the uniform allowance. Shirodkar, however, slammed the Chief Officer for his attitude in handling the situation, saying the employees would not have proceeded on strike if the Chief Officer had to make this offer on Wednesday. “Instead of coming out with an offer, the Chief Officer said the people of Margao will thrash the employees with slippers for demanding bonus. This language does not augur well for an officer of the rank of Chief Officer”, Anil said.
Garbage remained uncollected from across the city throughout Thursday morning, with the accumulated waste turning the city into an eyesore. The entrance to the Municipal building wore a dirty look with garbage and waste strewn all over the place. Citizens, who had come for their official work, were caught in the cross fire as they could not lay their hands on documents such as birth certificates and neither pay their taxes.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat told the media at this office that though the MMC is facing a financial problem, the body should accommodate the demands of the workers, who hail from the economically weaker section of society.
He said the government is examining the loss of revenue by the civic bodies in the State after the Octroi revenue head was withdrawn by the government after the introduction of GST.
