City
Epaper

Striking lifeguards demand regular jobs, steady pay

By IANS | Updated: October 14, 2019 14:40 IST

Over 200 striking lifeguards on Monday protested near a temple in North Goa's Mapusa town, demanding regularisation and steady payment, even as the strike started by the privately employed lifeguards which began on October 11, spilled into a new week.

Open in App

"Lifeguards should be employed either as part of a society or a government corporation, because right now they have neither job security nor regular payment," local politician Siddesh Bhagat, a spokesperson for the striking lifeguards said.

Delay in payment of wages and poor work conditions had triggered the strike last week.

Bhagat also said that the lifeguards would be submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister listing their grievances and demands soon.

"We are surprised that neither the Chief Minister nor the Tourism Minister have commented anything about the poor conditions of the lifeguards, over the last few days of the strike," Bhagat said.

Drishti Marine, a private beach management agency hired by the Goa Tourism Ministry employs neatly 600 lifeguards, who are tasked with beach safety on Goa's 100 plus km long coastline, which is dotted with beaches.

Ever since the large group from the 600-odd lifeguards went on strike last week, the Congress has also accused the state government of ignoring the plight of the workforce, which state Congress President Girish Chodankar said, was being deprived of even adequate drinking water facilities.

While Drishti Marine, through a press statement has conceded to the delay in transfer of wages to the lifeguards, the beach management company has maintained that efforts were being made to streamline the process.

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing strike one person drowned off South Goa's Benaulim beach. This is the second death due to drowning on Goa's beaches ever since the strike began last week, just as the tourism season in the coastal state kicked off.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Goa Tourism Ministrycongress
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiMumbai: Shiv Sena Protests Outside Congress Office Over Prithviraj Chavan’s Remarks on Malegaon Blast Verdict (VIDEO)

Maharashtra'Congress Tried to Push Narrative to Appease Vote Bank': Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Malegaon Blast Case Verdict

NationalRahul Gandhi Questions PM Modi on Trump’s “Five Jets Shot Down” Claims, Says “Country Has Right To Know”

Maharashtra'Teach Marathi in Madrasas': Nitesh Rane Sparks Row Over Marathi Language (Watch Video)

NationalRSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Says Political Leaders Should Step Aside at 75; Opposition Points Fingers at PM Modi

National Realted Stories

NationalCorruption, crime against women to be BJP's counter in Parliament to Trinamool's 'Bengali-harassment' claims

NationalRailway Recruitment 2025: Over 10,000 Vacancies Announced Across Multiple Zones

NationalAir India cancels Singapore-Chennai flight due to technical snag in plane

NationalRift widens in BRS as Kavitha blames 'insiders' for derogatory comments

NationalTelangana State Police Complaint Authority office inaugurated