BLURB
The decision is expected to shut down entire markets in all 13 municipal councils and the lone City Corporation of Panaji as all other traders including vendors are expected to lend support to the protest
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MAPUSA
Seeking repeal of the recently promulgated Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, all Goa merchants who run businesses in various municipal premises in the State have decided to keep their shops closed on January 7 and hold a dharna at Azad Maidan in Panaji.
The decision is expected to shut down entire markets in all 13 municipal councils and the lone City Corporation of Panaji as all other traders including vendors are expected to lend support to the protest.
The merchants have also decided to give a representation to the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition on the same day.
“We are not beggars. We are traders and all of us have contributed to the economy of the State. This government has come to steal our daily bread. It’s time to join hands and fight against the injustice done to us through this ordinance. The civic elections are to be held very soon. We will teach them a lesson,” said Ahsish Shirodkar, President of Mapusa Merchants’ Association.
The Mapusa Merchants’ Association chief was addressing a large gathering of merchants from various parts of the State who had converged at the Hanuman Natyagraha Hall, Mapusa to oppose the Ordinance and chalk out the future course of action.
In a show of hands the merchants/traders associations from different parts of the State unanimously decided to down their shutters on January 7 and hold a protest meeting in Panaji.
Shirodkar also urged the merchants/traders associations to meet their respective MLAs and elicit their stand on the ordinance.
“Ask your MLAs whether they support the ordinance and if not to remain present at the dharna on Jan 7 in our favour,” he said.
He said the Mapusa merchants will soon meet the Mapusa MLA Joshua D'Souza to get his view on the ordinance.
The Governor of Goa recently promulgated the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which seeks to regularize unauthorized transfer of municipal premises/shops and limit the lease period of the shops to 10 years.
The Ordinance also makes illegal transfer of municipal shops a non-bailable offence and effected steep hike in rent rate and transfer fees.
Criticizing the government for the ordinance, several merchants opined that
Several merchants criticized the government for trying to snatch their livelihood by bringing in the ordinance.
“The government of the people should have taken all the stakeholders into confidence before bringing in the ordinance. They have not even taken the councilors into confidence,” said Sudesh Tivrekar, a merchant from Mapusa.
The President of Sanguem Vepari Sanghatan, Raju Desai stressed the need for all the traders to remain united and meet more often to discuss problems affecting the small time businessmen.
Another trader suggested impressing the government to give the municipal shops on long lease, for 99 years.
The MMA President has urged the traders/merchants associations to coordinate with all the shopkeepers in their respective area to make the shutdown a total success.
