Lifeguards withdraw stir; promised bonus
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, DEC 11
The Chief Operations Officer of Drishti Safety Systems Services V K Kanwar has said the lifeguards have finally withdrawn their strike on Saturday and has expressed his commitment to pay bonus to the lifeguards.
Swim zones have finally been opened at the Colva beach since Saturday noon manned by the lifeguards.
Kanwar told Herald at the Colva beach this afternoon that nearly 80 per cent of the lifeguards in South have resumed duty and exuded confidence that the remaining ones would do so by Sunday noon. “Except the 53 lifeguards, whose services have been terminated, the remaining guards have resumed duty”, he said, while thanking Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat for his press statement which has helped put the whole issue in the right perspective.
On the payment of bonus to the lifeguards, Kanwar said that bonus will be definitely paid to the lifeguards as per the commitment. “There should not be any doubt in the minds of any one that bonus would not be paid to the lifeguards”, he asserted.
Replying to a question, he said that no one has won or lost on account of the strike. “I will not say the lifeguards have lost. In fact, nobody has lost. The Chief Minister’s statement has put the issue in the right perspective and helped to resolve the issue”, he said, while thanking the Goa Police for the guidance how to go about the situation.
Kanwar said it is not true that lifeguards are being paid a paltry salary by Drishti services. “A lifeguard earns Rs 6,500 on joining the services. But, the supervisors and sector heads earn much more as per their duties”, he said, adding that better sense has finally prevailed and the situation has come back to normal.
At the Colva beach, the lifeguards have finally made their presence felt, giving relief to the thousands of tourists and visitors on the beach.
Our Panjim Reporter adds: A week-long crisis between lifeguards and Drishti beach management agency ended on Saturday with the final batch of agitating lifeguards deciding to join work from tomorrow.
When contacted V K Kanwar of Drishti said while 70 per cent of lifeguards reported to work today while balance will resume duty on Sunday.
He said, in North Goa absenteeism was only 48 and in South Goa 16 lifeguards did not report to work on Saturday.
Drishti has a total force of 428 lifeguards.
Lifeguards had gone on strike from Monday demanding hike in their salaries.
They had demanded that their salary be hiked to Rs 10,000 and less duty hours as salary of Rs 6,500 for ten hours of work was not sufficient.
According to Drishti, besides annual five per cent hike in salary, lifeguards get chances of promotion to higher positions.
Kanwar claimed that agitating lifeguards have decided to resume duty out of goodwill and their return to work was not conditional.
However, a group of lifeguards from North Goa claimed that they have decided to return to work on the assurance that decision on their demand for hike in salary will be decided in two months time.
