All lifeguards along Canacona coast have joined duty: Dristhi
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, DEC 10
The alleged unwarranted strike resorted by lifeguards seems to have ended if Friday’s developments in Canacona coast is any indication.
According to Dristhi Safety Response Services sources, all the 79 lifeguards in Canacona coast reported for duty on Friday morning.
This was also confirmed by a senior supervisor in-charge of Canacona team when this correspondent called on him at Palolem beach.
The issuance of show cause notice by Dristhi Beach Management Services seems to have done the trick.
According to reports, Dristhi served a show cause notice on 314 personnel for not reporting to duty for the last two days and also terminated the services of trainee personnel.
When asked, one of the lifeguards on duty at one of the beaches in the taluka denied having received show cause notice, but the fact was again confirmed by the senior supervisor at Palolem beach.
“Yes, it is true that those who had remained absent on the last two days have been asked to explain,” said the senior supervisor.
“Yeh toh hona hi tha, kam (work) nahi kiya toh notice to ayegahi nam,” said the senior supervisior. He further informed that on Friday, Canacona beaches had no shortage of staff, as all have reported for duty.
“However, there are no terminations of any personnel in Canacona, as the taluka had no trainee cadres,” he added.
Earlier, sources had informed that only a few personnel resumed their duty cycle, while some of the supervisory cadres have been deputed to other more important beaches like Colva, etc, where many personnel have still refused to join the duties.
It may be recalled that a spurt of agitation by a group of Dristhi engaged lifeguards in north Goa resorted to strike over allegations of assaults by senior counterparts, which on the second day spread to other parts of the State, including Canacona coast.
The team of lifeguards, many of whom, according to sources not even completed necessary probationary period then reportedly began to demand pay hike and raised other issues besides calling for action against the seniors for assaulting juniors.
Incidentally, it was the same lone senior supervisor of Dristhi Safety Rescue Services who was seen operating the jetski on the first day of strike at Canacona, as entire personnel refused to join the duty, while some travelled to Miramar and took part in an agitation programme, informed sources.
The senior supervisor informed that presently 79 lifeguards keep a watch on beach coasts from Betul-Khanaguinim to Galgigba in Canacona taluka.
Meanwhile, it was a relieving day for many of the beach visitors, as lifeguards were seen guarding the Palolem coast, as even lifeguards were seen keeping a specific watch at the strategic location at Ourem-side of Palolem from a mini watch tower.
