PANJIM: Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar on Friday met lifeguards and the Drishti Management to find a solution to end the strike by the lifeguards.

The meeting, where 11 lifeguards were present, discussed the timely release of salaries to all lifeguards, annual increment to them, refreshments during training period, annual bonus to all lifeguards, insurance for all and good communication equipment to the lifeguards.

A statement by the minister’s office said that the representatives of Drishti have ensured that all the demands of the lifeguards will be settled in time and as regards to bonus they have agreed to settle it before Diwali.

Ajgaonkar will also meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to brief him on the discussions and seek his advice to act accordingly.

Even as Drishti has released payments to lifeguards till September 30, several lifeguards have been on strike along the Sinquerim-Calangute beach belt. The government has also come under severe criticism for failing to resolve the issue with the opposition demanding the tourism minister’s resignation over the death of three persons due to drowning which was a result of absence of lifeguards at the site.