Team Herald
MAPUSA: Over 150 striking lifeguards working for Drishti Lifeservices Pvt ltd held protests near Bodgeshwar Temple at Mapusa and threatened to stay off the beaches until their demands are met.
For the fifth consecutive day, several beaches across the State have no lifeguards making it dangerous for residents, stakeholders and tourists in Goa.
Few lifeguards continue to remain on duty while others are part of this strike.
On Monday, they demanded regularisation and timely payment of their salaries. They have requested the authorities concerned to solve their issues at the earliest, failing which; they said they will be forced to resign en-mass. At the protest, they also highlighted that they will be submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister with their grievances and demands.
Drishti Lifeservices is a private beach management agency hired by the Goa Tourism Department. It has employed nearly 600-off lifeguards who are manning the beaches of Goa.
During the ongoing strike two people have already drowned, one person at Benaulim beach and the other at Baga beach.
Speaking to media, a lifeguard said that total injustice has been meted out to them.
“We do our duty in the hot sun. Forget other facilities even drinking water is not provided to us. At the same time the number of tourists has also increased. It was very sad to know that two tourists have drowned over the last few days we have been on strike,” he said.
Another lifeguard said that the government should look into the matter and find a solution at the earliest.
“If we were on duty those two lives would not have been lost. Despite all the issues we were facing regarding basic facilities and irregular payment of salaries yet we were working and saving so many lives,” he said.
