Augusto Rodrigues
As uncertainty looms over when mining will start in Goa, a letter from the president of the Comunidade of Navelim, Bicholim, to Vedanta Ltd, Amona, has left the ganvkars, the original settlers of the land, clapping in unison for what they claim is their fundamental right.
Niraj Gawas, the president of Navelim Comunidade, has in a letter dated 3/10/2022 written to the general manager of Vedanta Ltd, stating the following:
“We would [like to] inform your authority that we received [a] letter from your employee and our govkar which is self-explanatory, we request your authority that these all are our component/Govkar of Comunidade of Navelim, and approximately 17 lakhs land is acquired by IDC and utilized by your company in return you are employed our component/Govkar in your company.
“In view of the above your retrenchment policy is not applicable to our component/govkar. Kindly do the needful.”
“The Comunidade of Navelim gave the land to Sesa Goa to be used so that our villagers could benefit too. In return, we asked that our youth be employed because the land belongs to them. Comunidade land cannot be sold, but it can be given to be used and the profit shared with the comunidade,” explained President Gawas.
“If they don’t take the ganvkar employees back, the Comunidade of Navelim can issue a notice to Vedanta asking for ten per cent fess under rule 10 of diploma 2070 for transfer from Sesa Goa to Vedanta,” claims Rui Da Gama, President of Moira Comunidade.
With the comunidade stepping up to assist their ganvkars, it needs to be seen as to how the imbroglio is solved.