PANAJI
In a major relief to sugar factory staffers, the State government has extended the scheme for providing grant-in-aid to the Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd till March 31.
In a notification, Director Agriculture Sandeep Fol Desai said that the government has decided to extend the financial benefit to the factory till March 31 or until the employees take voluntary retirement.
The factory has around 170 employees, including 99 regular staff. The factory, which was running under losses over decades, has stopped production since 2019 and since then, the State government has been providing financial support.
According to sources, the government has been paying, annually Rs 6-7 crore as grants towards the salary payment.
Sources informed that this could be the last financial benefit extended to the factory as the government is in no position to continue the grants. Sources said that the staffers have been again requested to opt for voluntary retirement.