Goa Secretariat staff protest after spike in corona cases

Panaji, Aug 19 (IANS) Goa government employees posted at the state Secretariat here on Wednesday staged a protest, accusing the authorities of not taking adequate steps to check the coronavirus spread, which they said had led to a spike in cases in the main office block.

More than 100 employees participated in the protest at the main building, during which they complained that repeated requests to the authorities to act on the issue had no result.

“Covid-19 cases are rising day by day. Today, it has come to light that there are around a dozen cases within the Secretariat itself. And yet the government has not done anything for our safety,” Sukarna Pai, a Revenue Department employee and the protesters’ spokesperson, said.

“We have been requesting that the government give us some relief. Either close down the Secretariat for some time or facilitate a 50 per cent work ratio, or staggered office timings. The cases are on the increase because we are working to full capacity. There is no scope for social distancing here,” Pai said.

The employees also presented a memorandum of demands to Chief Secretary Parimal Rai.

“If the situation continues, we will all become corona positive and the administration will totally collapse. So before it collapses, the government should do something and issue some guidelines,” Pai added.

Goa has over the last few weeks seen a sharp spike in corona cases, with its total tally crossing 11,000. More than 110 persons have died of the disease in the state.

–IANS

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