MAPUSA
The protesting lifeguards who have been demanding that they should be employed by the government have begun their fast unto death hunger strike near the Gandhi Circle in Mapusa on Tuesday. Close to a hundred lifeguards are taking part in the hunger strike.
“We have been compelled to take this step of fast unto death hunger strike as the government has failed to listen to our demands. Our demand is that the lifeguards who were employed by Drishti should be employed by the government,” said Swati Kerkar, union leader.
The lifeguards, who were once employed by Drishti Marine, were initially protesting at the Azad Maidan but were later requested to shift their protest to Mapusa by authorities.
The lifeguards are demanding that they should be employed by the State government.
Kerkar said they wanted the service of the lifeguards should be protected as they were working for the Goa government through Drishti.
“These lifeguards who are protesting are not outsiders. They are all Goans. The government should absorb them in human resources as lifeguards,” she said.
She said the lifeguards had no other alternative but to use the last option of fast unto death to make the government aware of their plight.
North Goa Congress District President Vijay Bhike informed that the Congress was supporting the lifeguards in their struggle to gain employment. “We request the government to look into the matter and resolve the problem of the lifeguards at the earliest before the issue goes out of hand,” Bhike said.
Later, during the day, Working President of Goa Forward Party Kiran Kandolkar visited the striking lifeguards and heard their grievances.
The State government has outsourced the services of beach safety and lifeguarding services to Drishti Marine, a private agency.
