PANJIM: Against the backdrop of lifeguards associated to M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd going on strike over non-payments, Congress demanded that the government should provide beach safety under the supervision of former defence officials.
Congress State Chief Girish Chodankar demanded that the government immediately brings all the lifeguards under its ambit and provide ‘Beach Safety and Lifeguarding Services’ under the supervision from ex-army men or ex- naval officers that will help in providing secure beach safety to the tourists and locals. He added that the involvement of defence officials will also help in bringing much needed discipline on the beach.
Lifeguards along Sinquerim-Calangute beach stretch are on strike since Thursday over the non-payment of their salaries by the private agency, which claimed that they have not received pavement of Rs 12 crore from government for the last eight months.
“We demand that the government immediately takes steps to take lifeguards under its ambit and regularise their services,” he stated.
Chodankar added that the decision to go on strike and further revelations made by the lifeguards about the ill-treatment given to them by their employee M/s Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd has once again vindicated their party’s stand about the alleged gross irregularities in the Rs 141 crore ‘Beach Safety and Lifeguarding Services’ contract of the Tourism Department.
Chodankar demanded that the government should investigate into how and where the amount of Rs141 crores paid to M/s Drishti in the last five years was utilised by them, as the revelations by lifeguards have raised questions.
