VASCO
The Verna Industries Association (VIA) conducted an industrial facilitator meeting with several government bodies on Friday morning and later handed over cheques to neighbourhood schools as part of its CSR funds.
The meeting with government bodies like GIDC, PWD, WRD, police, telecom department and fire services was convened to bring industries and facilitators together. For the first time, a large number of locals from in and around Verna were also part of the meeting.
The meeting also aimed at avoiding inter-department confusion between various government and other departments, thereby avoiding inconvenience to industries.
VIA founder president Nitin Kuncolienkar said present VIA President Damodar Kochkar had successfully brought citizens of the village close to the industries and its development process.
“The VIA is trying to look at CSR to make this development growth inclusive by starting to support educational institutions close to Verna Industrial Estate.”
“The key focus is to support IT-enabled education, training of teachers and improvement of the content for this educational programme,” Kuncolienkar said.
He said the VIA was also working on sanitation issues and towards the direction of employment generation for locals of the surrounding village.
“We are trying to clear some allegations that industries are consuming a lot of ground water. The IDC has failed to provide ground water at a reasonable rate even though former CM late Manohar Parrikar had assured to make it Rs 6.”
“We are also approaching the government to resolve the issue and we are also working with villagers to ensure there is enough water for the village and industries. We want to make villagers a part of inclusive development,” said Kuncolienkar.
VIA President Damodar Kochkar said several departments worked separately without proper coordination and as such the industries have suffered.
“This meeting is an attempt to bring all departments under one platform, so they are aware about our operations. Verna IDC is presently under the jurisdiction of three police stations and we have demanded that the entire Verna IDC be brought under one police station.”
Kochkar said the VIA has decided to give funds under CSR to education institutions so that the new generation can be trained and subsequently employed in the industries.
Verna PI Sandesh Chodankar insisted that persons employed at Verna IDC should have prior tenant and police verification processes.
“Experience has suggested that many criminals reside in the area and are working without police verification. People neglect this process while renting out houses. This is important for the landlord’s safety as well because we never know who may be occupying the house and with what intentions,” said PI Chodankar.
