Farmers Movement Archive

Make corporation functional, restart mining operations, AITUC urges Goa government

PANAJI: Congratulating the government for passing the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill, 2021, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has urged the government to go ahead and operationalise the corporation so that mining can resume immediately. Highlighting the growing unemployment and high cost of living, AITUC said that resumption of mining will provide employment and help mining dependants meet their daily expenses. AITUC will be organising a protest meet at Azad Maidan on August 25 to protest against the Farm Laws and anti-worker policies of the Centre. AITUC Goa general secretary has also demanded that every mining dependent family should get Rs 25,000 to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. “We demand that the government must immediately operationalise the corporation, take over the mining leases and start mining. Those mining workers who have been unemployed since 2012 should be re-employed,” said Fonseca. He said that since the Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill was passed, no further development has taken place, which raises questions about the government’s seriousness in allowing mining of iron ore to resume. AITUC has also demanded that the Goa government must increase the minimum wages for daily wage workers from Rs 362 to Rs 750 per day. “The government is trying to clip people’s wings who are trying to fight against oppression. Inflation and household expenses have also increased,” said Fonseca. He said that during the pandemic, nearly 25,000 workers have lost jobs in Goa.

The Times of India

2021-08-21

Goa