PANJIM: A medical procedure on an 85-year-old patient from Divar Island had to be postponed after the coxswain across the Old Goa ferry route refused to ply the vessels on the concluding day of the two-day All India strike called by the trade unions to protest Centre’s anti-labour policies.
Herald reached out to the affected family from Divar and a few others who expressed their ordeal in view of the nationwide-wide strike.
“My father had to undergo endoscopy at a private hospital in Panjim but the ferry staff did not heed to my repeated request. This medical procedure required the patient to be on fast and my father could not remain in this condition for long. I had to then call the hospital requesting to postpone the test on him. We returned home thereafter,” the victim patient’s daughter told Herald.
A private contractual employee was amongst few other service people who had to miss their half-day owing to the strike.
Another instance was that of a nursing student who had to appear for her examination at the nursing institute. The student of Nirmala College of Nursing was however fortunate to reach the institute in time to answer her paper. “The RND was very helpful. I explained to them the student’s plight and they somehow made an alternate arrangement. She reached the college in time and also answered her paper,” College Principal told Herald.
The island wherein ferry remains the only mode of transport to reach to the mainland was largely affected until the River & Navigation Department resorted to an alternate measure with the help of private coxswains that gradually resumed the service.
Out of 18 ferry routes, the coxswains across 12 routes were on strike leaving the authorities in a panicky situation. “Only six routes were operational,” an officer said.
