Panaji/Margao :- Women from various self-help groups (SHGs) engaged in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme met Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai to express their grievances over the non-payment of dues for the last six months and the government’s decision to replace them with Akshay Patra.
GFP Chief Vijai Sardesai strongly condemned the government’s move, stating that the original intent of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was to empower Goan women by allowing them to provide quality food to Goan students. However, instead of supporting these women, the government has failed to clear their pending payments and is now attempting to replace them with Akshay Patra under the pretext of ensuring quality.
“If you want quality, you have to pay more. The government has neither paid these women for six months nor clarified how many schools will be assigned to Akshay Patra and at what cost. This is public money, and there must be transparency and accountability,” said GFP Chief Sardesai.
He further warned that the Goa Forward Party will not remain silent on this matter. If the pending dues are not cleared by Friday, the party will launch an agitation against the government. Sardesai emphasized that instead of replacing SHGs, the government should increase the per-meal price to ensure better quality while safeguarding the livelihoods of these hardworking women.
“If the government wants to take away the livelihood of these women, it is clear that they are working against the interests of Goa and its people. This is yet another attempt to sell off Goa. Even if they have a majority, we will expose their anti-Goan policies and prove that this government is against Goan women and their welfare,” he asserted.
The Goa Forward Party stands firmly with the SHGs and will continue to fight for their rights and the rightful dues that they deserve.
