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Reginaldo demands White Paper on Goans employed in casinos

Questions govt for not acting against casino owners defaulting in paying salaries to Goans

the goan network | JANUARY 21, 2018, 07:08 PM IST


MARGAO

Congress MLA Reginaldo  Lourenco has demanded that the government come out with a White Paper on  the number of Goans employed in each of the casinos operating in the State, claiming that one would find people from across the country and  Nepal employed in managerial positions in casinos at the cost of Goans.

He also demanded that the government make available Rs 50 stamp paper in the market as the shortage has hit hard the common man.

Addressing  the media, the Curtorim MLA made it clear that he is against the  operation of casinos in the State since gambling has devastated many Goan families over the years. At the same time, however, he demanded to  know whether Goans have benefitted in terms of employment, more so when  the BJP had in 2012 announced to provide jobs to 50,000 unemployed  Goans.

Demanding to know why no action has been taken by the Parrikar  government against casino owners who have defaulted Goemkars on salary  payment front, Reginaldo said Goemkars working in casinos are powerless  as the redressal mechanism for their grievances hardly exists from the Goa  government. “The White Paper should also enumerate at what posts Goans  are employed in these gambling houses. And, till date, why no action has  been taken by the Manohar Parrikar government against casino owns, who  have defaulted Goemkars in respect of payment of salaries,” he said.

Replying  to a question, Reginaldo said he would salute the Chief Minister on the  floor of the House even if it is found that the casinos are employing  70 per cent of Goans.

Claiming that casinos issue catch job  advertisements in the media in order to get the gaming licence, the  Congress MLA however, regretted that there’s a wide gap in the ground  reality when it comes to employing Goans in casinos.


Reginaldo writes to PM on Goans’ oppn 
to river nationalisation, coal hub
MARGAO:  The Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has dashed off a letter to Prime  Minister Narendra Modi, drawing his attention to the dual opposition by  Goans to the declaration of six rivers as national waterways and to  convert the MPT into a coal hub and Goa into a coal transportation  corridor.
He told the media that he has brought to the notice of the  Prime Minister that over 100 out of the 189 village gram sabhas have  resolved to oppose nationalisation/declaration of six Goan rivers as  national waterways and having coal hub and coal corridor in Goa. “Goa  witnessed an unprecedented environmental public hearings on coal  handling expansion projects in April/May 2017 where hundreds of people  participated and not a single person supported the proposals. This would  vindicate the groundswell opposition of the Goan people to these two  project,” he said, while urging the Prime Minister to respect the  public opinion against nationalisation of rivers and converting Goa into  a coal hub.
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