Goemkarponn desk
Sanjeevani Sugar Factory workers called off their strike after assurance of payment of ex gratia by the Dy Chief Minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar. PWD minister Deepak Prabhu Pauskar alogn with a delegation of striking workers met Dy CM Kavlekar at his Betul residence.
The workers of the sugar factory had called on for a strike from 1st of September, to protest against the pending payments to them from the company. The workers had two demands which they wanted the factory in turn the Government to meet. The first demand of paying exgratia to them was agreed upon and necessary directions were issued to the Director Agriculture regarding this. This will benefit both the contract and permanent workers of the factory. Their second demand of paying them the pending arrears in salary will be thought on after the exgratia amount is settled, said Minister Kavlekar after the meeting. The meeting was attended by a delegation of the workers, Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso, Administrator Chintamani Perni and Agri Officer Krishnanath Naik.
Speaking after the meeting, Kavlekar said that CM Dr Pramod Sawant has been very considerate about various issues of the sugarcane farmer and the factory workers. We have paid all dues to the farmers and also of the factory so far, even during these difficult times of the state said Kavlekar. He also said that Dr Sawant has been taking all correct decisions that are beneficial to the Goans .
It may be noted that the factory stopped working from 2018 due to issues with the machinery. There are 87 contract workers and 108 permanent workers of the factory. The factory was transferred to agriculture department recently in October 2020. The department for the first time appointed its officer as Administrator in 2021. After take over the Agriculture department has transferred over 70 Crores to the company to clear its outstandings. Various options are being considered currently to revive the factory.