PERNEM: Lifeguards and beach cleaners protested in front of the taluka headquarters in Pernem demanding scrapping of the contract with Drishti Lifeguard Services Pvt Ltd, on Wednesday.
One-hundred and sixty five lifeguards, hailing from Pernem taluka, participated in the protest demanding scrapping of the contract with Drishti and regularisation of their services.
The protesters were supported by Pernem Block Congress Committee, ZP members, social activists and the general public.
Addressing the media, the lifeguards alleged that the “tourism minister is not ready to listen to our grievances.”
“The lifeguards who save the lives of people on beaches are not provided with basic facilities by the Drishti, for which we protested against the company several times. But instead of solving the issue, the lifeguards were removed from jobs without notice” they claimed.
“Both the tourism minister and Chairman of GTDC are from Pernem taluka, but they are not ready to solve our problems. We request Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to scrap the contract with Dhrishti and regularise our services in Tourism department,” they said.
The lifeguards have set a deadline of eight days for scrapping the contract with Dhrishti and regularising their services. “Failing which, we will take to the street with our families,” they warned.
Lifeguard Pratap Kerkar said that they have been protesting for the last 10 years for proper facilities.
“We request the government to scrap the contract with Drishti instead of extending it. We went on strike in 2012, 2014, 2016 and now in 2019. The reasons are same; no proper facilities and no increments,” another lifeguard Gautam Parsekar said.
