Panaji, Dec 9 (PTI): The Goa government is ready to absorb hundreds of security guards, who are on a relay hunger strike for last seven days for regularisation of their jobs, into state services on a contractual basis if they call off stir and not proceed on the indefinite hunger strike from Tuesday.

Hundreds of security guards employed in various government establishments are sitting on the relay hunger strike at city's Azad Maidan since December 2.

"They (guards) will be taken into services on contract through the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC), provided they withdraw their strike and fill the required form," state Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, adding the guards are being "misled" by some union leaders.

Assuring that guards would be given a priority in employment, Parsekar said rules for applying to GHRDC would be modified.

"The age relaxation can be given from existing 30 years to 40 years. Even for their educational qualification, we can accept the application of a candidate who is Class V (pass) as against the rule which needs the candidate to be at least class 8," he said.

Alleging that guards are being misled, Parsekar said, "If the striking workers had come to me, I would have explained them the situation. The state government is working for the benefit of the downtrodden class and I know that all the striking workers are from lower strata of economical hierarchy. I have full sympathy for them."