Panaji, Jun 19 (TH): Goa Revolution Day was observed on Saturday at the Martyrs’ Memorial at Azad Maidan here amid separate demonstrations held by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) against the State government.

The AAP activists were protesting against the decision the reinstatement of the graft-tainted brother-in-law of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to the Goa Industrial Development Corporation.

The BBSM, which represents supporters of regional languages as medium of instruction in primary schools, staged a dharna for the CM’s failure to discontinue grants to English medium primary schools of Arch Diocese.

‘Support the government’

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, who was chief guest at the function, said in her address that Goa’s culture is not different from the culture of the country. She urged people to have a positive outlook and support the government in implementation of development programmes.

Later in the day, Mr. Parsekar inaugurated the Freedom Fighter’s Gallery at Reis Magos Fort in North Goa. The Gallery displays commemoratives and contribution of freedom fighters during freedom struggle of Goa.

The function was organized by State Directorate of Archives and Archaeology in collaboration with Reis Magos Heritage Society. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Parsekar said the government was making all efforts to give facelift to forts. The gallery has pictures of 123 freedom fighters’ and their documents revealing their struggle.

Unemployment

Meanwhile, Goa Minister for Fisheries and Labour, Avertano Furtado, has said that the government has decided to merge the State Employment Exchange data with that of the Union Government’s new job websites in a bid to combat unemployment.

The North Goa data will be first merged with the national data, said Mr. Furtado at a function in Margao in South Goa.

He said that for the first time in Goa, component of variable dearness allowance has been added to the Minimum Wages based on consumer price index. The minimum wages have been enhanced from Rs. 215 to Rs. 307 per day with effect from May 20, he said.

The Minister’s statement comes in the wake of a strong opposition by trade unions to the revised minimum wages.