TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Drishti Group Tuesday allayed fears and speculations over payment of salaries to lifeguards and assured full commitment towards honoring the Goa government’s commitment of increasing the pay significantly in keeping with terms and conditions of the new tender, in a press statement issued here.
The Chief Managing Director of Drishti Group Rajiv Somani in the press communiqué said, “Our lifeguards are providing a highly skilled service under very harsh and strenuous conditions. No lifeguard will be paid below Rs 10,500 and 90 per cent of the lifeguards will have to be local Goans as defined in the tender, as per the government’s minimum wage stipulation in the new tender.”
Somani points out that presently a large number of its lifeguards are already being paid much higher than the minimum requirements.
He said, “Building upon the directions given by the Government of Goa, Drishti has committed to hike all lifeguard salaries by Rs 4000 upon award of the new tender.”
Drishti Group has also written to its lifeguards stating that in the new tender, the government has announced a special pay scale of Rs. 10,500 gross per lifeguard, in order to meet its commitment, even for new life guards.
The communiqué also states that as part of Government of Goa and Drishti’s endeavour to give lifeguards the best possible employment conditions, Drishti has announced a hike across the board to the tune of Rs 4000 per month (gross) over and above the present salary, after the 5 per cent hike already given from August 2013.
“This hike will become valid only after Drishti being awarded the new tender,” the communiqué says.
Allaying fears over salary hike, Drishti appealed to its lifeguards to remain vigilant and active on duty.
in consonance with its stated goal of having ‘Zero Casualty’ and saving lives and making Goa’s beaches safe for its tourists.
