The Goa State Committee of CITU on Monday demanded takeover of all mining leases by the Goa government. Speaking on behalf of large number of mining-dependents, including mining workers whose livelihood has come under cloud in view of the prevailing 18-month-long mining ban in the State, CITU-Kisan Sabha on Monday called for formation of a State corporation to run the mines in Goa on scientific and sustainable basis.
President of CITU, Goa, Anand Betkikar, gave a call to the workers of Goa to stage a rally in the city on Tuesday in support of working class of Goa on the issues concerning their livelihood and in support of the charter of demands. The CITU Goa General Secretary Thalman Pereira said the present stalemate of mining ban in Goa due to illegal and unauthorized working of mines by the lease-holders has severely affected workers, truck operators, barge industry and the economy of Goa as a whole leading to joblessness, economic bankruptcy, and overall recession in Goa.
The CITU will also press for the national-level demands of the working class 10 point charter of demands for which they have been hitting the road for four years organising dharnas, protest, Satyagraha, ‘Jailbharo’ and all India strikes. It has attacked the neo-liberal polices of the Centre and demanded concrete measures to contain price rise, linkage of employment protection with the concession/incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs, strict enforcement of all basic labour laws, implementation of Minimum Wages, among others.
