MARGAO
Family members of the Margao Municipal Council daily wage workers, who have been left high and dry over the regularization of the latter, have threatened not to participate in the ensuing municipal elections.
With the Margao municipality dilly-dallying in regularising their services, the 12 daily wage workers had knocked on the doors of the High Court last year. They pointed out that neither the Margao municipality nor the government has filed their replies to the petition in the High Court.
Saying the matter could not make much progress for want of replies from the MMC, the daily wage workers along with their family members on Wednesday called on the Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes with a plea for an early settlement of the matter pending in the HC. They pleaded before the CO to regularise them at the earliest.
A daughter of one of the workers stated that their joy had no bounds when her father was issued a confirmation order in December 2019 after 20 years of service on a daily wage basis. She, however, said their joy was short-lived as the confirmation was kept in abeyance within few months after having completed the formalities.
“With great difficulty, we have to manage our family needs and are hopeful that my father and his other colleagues will get justice from the High Court,” Sangeeta stated. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have lost our private jobs, and now have to depend solely on my father’s meager salary, she said.
Another family member of a worker rued the fact that after supporting several councillors and MLAs at elections, they were forced to knock on the doors of the judiciary. “Today we stand as orphans and are compelled to knock on the doors of the court. What is the point in voting for these representatives when they fail to fight for our cause?” she questioned.
The workers’ families, exuded full confidence in the High Court even if the authorities ignored the matter.
