MARGAO
The South Goa Zilla Panchayat on Friday fixed the daily wage for labourers at Rs 800, while urging the authorities to notify the rate and protect villagers from exploitation.
At a meeting chaired by Zilla Panchayat Chairperson Sidharth Gauns Desai, members highlighted the difficulties faced by villagers as labourers have increased their daily wage to Rs 1,000. They sought the intervention of the authorities, alleging that workers were charging wages as they pleased.
After the meeting, Gauns Desai told the media that some panchayats had put up boards in their jurisdictions fixing the daily wage at Rs 800. “Members have complained that labourers have been increasing their daily wages without rhyme or reason. Hence, they have urged the concerned authorities to intervene and regulate the wages,” he said.
The Zilla Panchayat also decided that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) should not insist on fresh NOCs from landowners while executing development works on existing structures built by the panchayats or the Zilla Panchayat.
The meeting also discussed the ST fund, with the government insisting on prior approval before development works can be taken up. Members demanded an increase in the ST fund allocation for Zilla Panchayats.
The BJP-controlled South Goa Zilla Panchayat also congratulated the government led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for the Ujjwala scheme, saying the provision of three free LPG cylinders would help ease the difficulties faced by women.
Members also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for the Porvorim corridor.
ZP member Gauri Shirodkar and others congratulated the police on receiving the President’s Colour from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
