MAPUSA
Congressman and social activist from Pernem Jitendra Gaonkar, on Monday, demanded that the government release a White Paper on jobs allotted to the locals at the Mopa airport.
Goankar said people wanted to know how many people gained employment after the work at the Mopa airport commenced.
“The promise made by the BJP government seems to be a distant dream and the youth from Pernem continue to suffer in the absence of job opportunities. When the land acquisition was being carried out locals were assured jobs by the government. It has been three years since the work at Mopa has begun but there is no sign of jobs,” Gaonkar said while addressing the media at the Congress office at Mapusa.
North Goa Congress District Committee, President, Vijay Bhike and others were also present.
Speaking further, Goankar said recently the GMR had published an advertisement in a local daily asking for an ‘Airport Rescue and Fire Fighter Personnel’ at the Mopa airport.
He said local youth from Pernem who had applied were asked to pursue a six months course for further training by paying a fee of Rs 2.5 lakh to get the job. “The people of Pernem have been kept in the dark and only given false assurances by the local MLA and BJP-led government. The aviation department should look into the matter as to why these unemployed youth are being asked to pay such hefty fees to pursue a course. We demand some transparency on this issue, or we will sit in front of the airport as a mark of protest,” he said.
The North Goa Congress District Committee President, Vijay Bhike condemned the government for allegedly cheating the Goan youth with false promises of providing them employment at Mopa. “In the name of jobs, Deputy CM, Manohar Ajgaonkar is fooling the locals and has done absolutely nothing in the last five years. They have acquired the land from locals and no compensation has been paid till date,” Bhike said.
