A 64-year-old Russian national drowned off Arambol beach on Sunday even as a wave of recent drowning incidents has triggered concerns over its impact on tourism. Two tourists drowned at Morjim a few days back and in Candolim a police constable came to the rescue of an inebriated tourist. We need to tighten beach manning for the remainder of November and a peak month of December where Goa will soak itself in festivity and revelry. Desi tourists are expected to flock in droves for their fill of sand and surf. Regular drowning cases in a holiday destination does not bode well for Goa’s tourism and certainly remains a major cause for concern.
Drishti has introduced some new concepts like putting up warnings on danger zones in English and Hindi languages and even tested a remote-controlled Lifeguard Assist Announcer which cautions tourists bathing in the sea, but these haven’t been effective in arresting casualties at sea. At this point, the tussle between Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd and lifeguards that is still simmering in the background is hurting the industry more than anything else.
Drishti has roped in recruits replacing part of the striking workforce, but the fact remains is that they are not familiar with Goa’s coastline and danger zones. At a time when the tourism season is picking up, such a gamble can have disastrous consequences. Some of the senior Drishti lifeguards have been on the job for over a decade and have mastered lifesaving and rescue at sea. Replacing them with freshers means opening up a sea of improbabilities that can eventually hit tourism which is currently struggling.
On the flip side, it’s highly unfair and unprofessional on the part of the agitating lifeguards to hold the system to ransom at this crucial juncture and make unreasonable demands trying to leverage the crisis against their demands. Demands on absorption in government service are unjustified since they have been always in the employ of Drishti. The goodwill of these lifeguards will be at stake under such circumstances. Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar has offered to mediate and there is an assurance of meeting the key demands on timely payment of salaries and better facilities on duty. The best way forward for agitating lifeguards is to bury the hatchet and report back to duty.
Sadly, protests have been used to gain a political advantage of late with leaders taking sides knowing the ground situation well. It’s time MLAs and ministers become mediators rather than instigators. Tourism stakeholders, MLAs and Drishti management should come to the negotiating table and sort out this issue in the larger interest of Goa tourism. This is a sensitive subject that involves the workforce on one side and the interests of the State on the other.
