PANJIM: The workers of Vedanta Sesa Goa from Bicholim mines, who were retrenched from work gathered at Sesa Ghor, Patto, Panjim on Monday and demanded to clear their Provident Funds and pending dues.
The workers have warned of stopping Vedanta’s mining activity at Bicholim if their demands are not fulfil on or before December 10, 2023.
“We had come here to demand our Provident Fund dues. We had also demanded this at the press conference held at Bicholim. They have retrenched us, but the PF has not been transferred to our account. It should come as per law. Even if we ask for withdrawal form, they are not giving us. Therefore we decided to protest. I hope they respond after this. If by December 10, they do not respond then on December 11, we will protest again,” one of the protesting workers declared.
“Congress president Amit Patkar in his press conference in Panjim had said that this company owes Rs 165 crore dues to Goa government. Now we have heard that after paying some crores of rupees they have got permission to clear the dumps. We hadfiled an application under RTI Act to find out more details. These crony capitalists owe crores to the govt. They pay the government and government allows them to clear the dumps; this is a big scam. There should be an inquiry. We have heard that by paying Rs 132 or 135 crore they are supposed to transport the ore,” the same worker told media persons.
“If this happens were are ready to approach the High Court,” he warned.
Another worker said, “We are about 150 workers, take us back and give us our dues.”
Meanwhile, Vedanta Sesa Goa in a press release stated that the company is actively engaged in expediting the processing of Provident Fund withdrawals for ex-workmen of SMCL. Having received individual PF withdrawal applications from the ex-workmen on November 1, 2023, Vedanta is diligently processing these requests with the settlement of PF dues in accordance with legal provisions.