MAPUSA: Despite the delay in payments and failure in providing them with basic facilities, lifeguards working for Drishti have continued to guard the beaches due to the moral obligation they have towards the residents, stakeholders and tourists in Goa.
Several lifeguards of Drishti working on the famous Calangute beach gathered near the life guards post on Thursday and alleged that they are facing a lot of hardships as their salaries are not being paid on time for the last three years.
At the same time they have complained of not being provided with basic facilities. They demand with the authorities to solve their issues at the earliest or will be forced to resign.
A lifeguard at Calangute said that they are being deprived of basic facilities despite the tender being given to this company on the payment of crores of tax payers’ money.
“We demand the government employ us directly under the Tourism Department and give us some facilities. We do our duty in the hot sun but no water is provided to us. We have to bring water from home. At the same time the number of tourists has also increased,” he said.
Another lifeguard pointed out that the company is harassing him from the time they have taken over.
“The government should take some action and remove this company. First they had said that they will credit the salary late but after we assembled they said payment will be credited in our account today. They have told us we can wait if we want or are free to leave and go. Due to all this we feel that we will be forced to resign if things are not sorted out at the earliest. Every time we have to pay penalty for late payment of loan EMI and have financial problems in running our homes,” he said.
The tourist season is just taking off and the lifeguards at Calangute beach are planning to resign en masse. This move will witness no lifeguards of the beaches leading to endangering of lives of tourists who venture into the sea.
