Thursday 31 December 2015

Vanxim objections for 5 star hotel



                                                                                                28th December 2015

To,
The Chief Town Planner,
TCP office, Panjim, Goa

Subject: RP-2021 Objections: Survey nos. 8/1, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, of Capao as Settlement Zone and calls for designating the same as Khazan Land.

Sir,

1:- The status quo should be maintained with regard to existing road in Capao. We object proposed 10 meters road in RP-2021 in Capao. Maximum width of the roads in Capao must not exceed 06 meters.

2:- Sao Mathias, Malar, Narva and Capao village Panchayat resolution dated 15/4/2009 categorically mentions that entire Capao has a status of eco zone I. The Panchayat also supported the khazan land. Therefore TCP has no right to change survey number 8 into settlement zone for Hotel/Resort only. This survey numbers 8/1, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, is a low lying area with biologically active mudflats, Khazan land, traditional bunds and full of Mangroves. It is low lying area that comes within CRZ I jurisdictions and currently covered with flowing tidal water from Mandovi as Capao is an island in Mandovi River.

3:-We further object settlement zone status for survey numbers 8 at Capao in notified RP-2021 as it is done to take over land for hotels, golf course, casino, luxury villas, helipad, private marinas, and recreational clubs as per records available in Joint Development Agreement dated 11/08/2009 registered at the office of Sub-registrar of Ilhas at Panjim between 1) Mr. Mahendra Gaunekar 2) Mrs. Sonali Mahendra Gaunekar and Ozone Leisure and Resorts Private Limited, Bangalore and Tuscan Consultants and Developers Private Limited, Bangalore, and  Ozone Propex Private Limited, Bangalore. We object Settlement zone in Capao survey nos. 8/1, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4 and calls for Khazan Land Designation.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Maggie Silveira (President)

Enclosed: Survey plans and Forms I&XIV.

Zuari River near Bambolim a settleemnt zone: BMM objects


                                                                                                   29th December 2015

To,
The Chief Town Planner,
TCP office, Panjim, Goa

Subject: RP-2021 Objections: Survey no. 12/1 of Bambolim, Tiswadi as Settlement Zone and calls for designating as No Development Zone.

Sir,

We Object Survey No. 12/1 of Bambolim village being designated as settlement Zone. On the notified plan it is visible that part of Zuari River has also been notified as Settlement Zone. We call for designating survey number 12/1 as No Development Zone. 

Further portion of Zuari River adjacent to survey number 12/1 be changed into River.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,


Rohidas Andrade
Convener
Bambolim Unit

Zuari Fishing rights violations: Call to install permanent 24 hour patrolling vessel



Date: 28th December 2015

To,
Mr. A. Monsorrate,
The Member of Legislative Assembly,
Santa Cruz Constituency, Goa

To,
Mrs. Jenifer Monsorrate,
The Member of Legislative Assembly,
Taleigao Constituency,
Goa

To,
Vishnu Surya Wagh,
The Member of Legislative Assembly,
St. Andre Constituency,
Goa

To,
The Sarpanch,
Taleigao village Panchayat,
Taleigao, Goa

To,
The Sarpanch,
Santa Cruz Village Panchayat,
Santa Cruz, Goa

To,
The Sarpanch,
Curca-Bambolim-Nauxim Panchayat,
Bambolim, Goa

To,
The Sarpanch,
Siridao village Panchayat,
Siridao, Goa

To,
The Sarpanch,
Agacaim village Panchayat,
Agacaim, Goa


Subject: Continues illegal fishing in Zuari River and call to install permanent 24 hour patrolling vessel

Dear Madam/Sir,

We wish to bring to your attention continues fishing rights violations in Zuari. Fisheries department has been totally ineffective in curbing this. The problem is that the kind of fishing that is going on in Zuari in form of mechanized trawler fishing and mini per seining are not only illegal but also ecologically dangerous. Police as well as Fisheries department has proved to be ineffective to curb illegal fishing. This is very surprising to us. Here we share the latest data of illegal fishing in Zuari. We write to you as in past. We thank you for your past intervention in defense of  traditional fishermen in Zuari river and we once again call upon you to speak out and act.
Here are the latest instances of violations of fishing rights caused by Trawlers and Mini per seining:

Date with Time
Nature of Fishing Rights Violations in Zuari
24/12/2015 at .30 pm
Two trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari very close to Cacra-Odxel Coast. Harbour Police contacted.
18/12/2015 at 4 am
4 mini per seining boats carried on illegal fishing.
17/12/2015 at 6.00 am
4 mini per seining boats carried on illegal fishing.
21/12/2015 at 4.00 am
4 mini per seining carried on illegal fishing
20/12/2015 at 4.30 am
4 mini per seining carried on illegal fishing
20/12/2015 at 5.00 am
3 trawlers carried on illegal fishing
27/12/2015 at 7. 45 am
15 mini per seining carried on illegal fishing
27/12/2015 at 9.00 am
15 trawlers carried on illegal fishing within 200 meters of Siridao-Odxel Coast. Harbour Police contacted. Replied that someone has committed suicide at Borim. Police Boat has gone to get the dead body out. Police has only one Patrol Boat. It is not sufficient.

We call upon installing permanent fishing patrol Boat in Zuari to solve this problem. Happy New Year 2016 and hope that fishing rights violations will not be carried on in the New Year.
Thank you.
Anticipating your action,
Yours Sincerely,


Maggie Silveira
President,
Goa State Unit


Sanjay Pereira
Convener,
Cacra unit


Rohidas Andrade
Convener,
Bambolim unit


Soccoro Braganza
Convener,
Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo
Convener,
Curca Unit


Sitaram Pereira
Convener,
Odxel Unit


Milind Palkar
Convener,
Nauxi unit


Chandrakant Lotlikar
Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias
Co-convenor
Odxel Unit


Honu Dinkar,
Co-convener,
Odxel Unit


Deu Kankonkar
Secretary,
Nauxi Unit


Bikaro Dias
Co-convener,
Odxel Unit


Yeshwant Shirodkar,
Co-convener,
Odxel Unit


Manguesh Sawant,
Co-convener,
Odxel unit


Amir Mardolkar,
Co-convener,
Nauxim Unit


Francis Coelho,
Co-convener,
Nauxim Unit


Dulba Pereira,
Co-convener,
Cacra Unit


Santosh Gauns,
Co-convener,
Cacra Unit


Sheila D’mello,
Co-convener
Cacra Unit

Santosh Kukalkar,
Co-convener
Cacra unit




Copy to   (1) Minister of Fisheries, Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa
                 (2) Secretary (Fisheries), Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa
                 (3) Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa
                 (4) Chief Secretary, Secretariate, Porvorim, Goa


Tuesday 22 December 2015

How contract workers at Nestle, Bicholim formed their union

Today lets examine the situation of food supply to Nestle contract workers in Maulingem North, Bicholim before 2011. Permanent workers used to be given food. Packers and Tipping contract workers used to be given food. No other contract workers used to be given food on work. House Keeping, Loading-Unloading workers used to go home in the afternoon to get meals on both shifts afternoon as well as Night. Lunch break was just an hour. Traveling used to consume most of the time and energy. Those workers who used to report late after meals used to be scolded. Cooking at home to take meal for work early morning would take efforts and time and often worker would report late at work.

In this context at the General body meeting of the worker Gomantak Mazdoor Sangh decided on May 01, 2011 that Nestle management should provide free meals inside the factory premises. From July 2011 this decision was implemented and Nestle management started giving free meals to the all the contract workers. Factory then had 350 Union members plus 300 more workers who were not the members of the Union but benefited from Union action. Nestle Plant here has about 900 permanent workers. This practice of free meals to all the workers continues till date.

Then Uniform for contract workers was another issue that got on the agenda. Workers used be get uniforms after standing in Que. There was uniform shortages. Company used to give only aprons to wear over the clothes that workers used to wear. Workers agitated and got the Uniform shortages to eliminate and get more Uniforms to be made available. This problem is still not sorted out. It still exists till date. This issue stands unresolved.

Shoes for worker were provided once in six months per pair. Instead of giving good quality shoes poor quality shoes are given to the workers. And those worker who handles water or works in water are not provided any shoes, not even water proof shoes. After agitation also this situation has not changed.

Contract workers were not given double overtime payment for double overtime work. The first timing is from morning 8.00 am to evening 4.00 pm. The Second shift starts at 4.00 pm to 12.00 mid night. The third shift is from 12.00 mid night to 8.00 am. At the end of the shift if the replacement worker has not reported to work then same worker will have to continue into next shift. But company would not pay double overtime but would pay only single overtime. This was a case of exploitation perceived by workers and raised verbally in 2011. This issue got resolved after agitation in June 2011. After this contract workers started getting double overtime. This issue is not completely resolved as company pays only three double overtimes per month even though workers carry on dosing double over time mover than three times every month. This is gross case of exploitation that still continues at Nestle in Maulingem North. We wonder why this is still the case after 54 years Indian Army march into Goa to liberate us. Why contract workers at Nestle continues to languish and suffer this way?

Night allowances are meant for only night shift from 12.00 mid night to 8.00 am. No allowances were given for night shifts. After agitation the night allowances of Rs. 30/- were granted fro a short while. This was stopped after 2013.

Attendance bonus Rs. 250/- would be given to workers after 24 days in month. This was started after the 2011 agitation and stopped in 2013.

Contract workers at house keeping were supplied with improper materials like gloves, wipers, mops with shortages. This issue was taken up before the management and this was issue was resolved to some extend.

In November 2012 Contract workers resigned from Gomantak Mazdoor Sangh. The main reason was that thier Union leader was not ready to address the problems of the Contract workers. Problems like workers harassment, hire and fire policy by which Union committee member Sandesh Gawas and other were fired from the work by the company. Gomantak Mazdoor Sangh, General Secretary Puti Gaonkar refused to support contract worker. This led to tension among workers and finally decided form their own union.  In this manner Nestle Contract Workers Union Ca,me into existence on 27th Novmeber 2012. general body meeting was called to resolve to resign from Gomantak Mazdoor Sangh and register Nestle Contract Worker Union. Adv. Ajitsigh Rane was approached as legal Adviser. Nestle Company tried to dissuade the workers from this decision for unknown reasons. 

Nestle has its global headquarters at Nestlé S.A., avenue Nestlé 55, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland

Anand B. Shirodkar, President, Nestle Contract Workers Union