Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Govt fails to pay contract staff salaries for 4 months

Contract not renewed; staff await CM's his early return

AGNELO PEREIRA | APRIL 19, 2018, 02:00 AM IST

FUTURE TENSE
* For the last five years, the contract was being renewed after every three or six months
* But since January, this year their contract has not been renewed nor their salaries paid
OFFICIALS MUM
* Under Secretary (Revenue) Sudin Natu refused to comment on the issue
* Joint Secretary (Revenue) Anthony D’Souza also expressed helplessness
CM THE ONLY HOPE
The contract staff is hoping for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s early return to Goa so that they get their salaries and the cloud on their recruitment is cleared
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MAPUSA: Even as the fate of the walk-in interview for 64 contract jobs at North Goa Collectorate conducted two months ago remain uncertain, destiny of the staff who were appointed on similar lines five years ago remain in limbo.
Around 36 contract staff engaged in the revenue department in North Goa are left to fend for themselves as government has failed to pay their salaries for the last four months.
The office of the Collector, North Goa had appointed 23 staff as Lower Division Clerks on contract basis in 2013.
Similarly, some more staff was appointed on contract later and deputed in several revenue offices in Bicholim, Pernem and Mapusa.
For the last five years, the contract was being renewed after every three or six months but since January, this year their contract has not been renewed nor their salaries have been paid.
Surprisingly, the contract staff has been diligently reporting to work and the department heads have been allotting work to them.
Sources informed The Goan that initially, a senior official in the Collector’s office promised renewal of their contract, but now the same official changed tracks and said that they are working at their own risk.
Last year, the contract staff had petitioned to the Collector appealing for regularization of their services.
Adequately qualified and having been working for almost four years in various fields in the offices of the North Goa collectorate, they said they were trained and capable to serve these departments.
They also sought top priority to fill the posts of LDCs whenever vacancies came up in the department.
The aggrieved staff also approached the Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, but failed to get a favourable response.
When contacted, Under Secretary (Revenue) Sudin Natu refused to comment on the issue. Joint Secretary (Revenue) Anthony D’Souza also expressed helplessness in the matter.
Having been snubbed at all levels, the beleaguered staff have no option but to wait for the return of the chief minister.
“When we met the chief minister in February, he promised to renew our contract. Now, he is only our hope. We know he is the only one who will give us justice,” said one of the contract staffers.
The contract staff is hoping for Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s early return to Goa so that they get their salaries and the cloud on their recruitment is cleared.  

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