Team Herald
PANJIM: Even as the striking lifeguards stuck to their demands on the ninth day of their “satyagraha” on Wednesday, Drishti Special Response Services Pvt Ltd said they have no authority to fulfill the demands.
“None of these demands can be met by Drishti because it all falls in the jurisdiction of Goa government,” company Director Ankit Somani told Herald.
He stated that the demands to double the salaries, reinstating sacked employees and regularising their services is in the domain of the government. “How can we give them a government job and hike salaries? We are already paying them Rs 1,500 more than the government-decided monthly salary of Rs 10,500 per lifeguard.” The government has maintained that they are not concerned with the issue.
Somani alleged that the labour union is misleading the lifeguards that the strike will force the authorities to meet their demands. “We want all the striking workers to join back,” he said.
With a majority of the lifeguards away from duty, the company has outsourced manpower from private agencies and hired others on contract to man the beaches. Another official said that the employees have been warned to resume duties else the company will find replacements.
Meanwhile, talks between the labour union and Labour Minister Avertano Furtado on Wednesday did not arrive at any conclusion. AITUC general secretary Christopher Fonseca said the minister is positive on fulfilling their demands but it depends on Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar met Parsekar Wednesday evening wherein he said the government will not intervene in the matter and that the matter has to be sorted out between Drishti and its lifeguards.
In another development, in a suit filed by Drishti before the district court, the lifeguards on strike and leaders of AITUC have been asked not to interfere with the working lifeguards. The court has issued notices to respondents and adjourned the hearing till Friday.
