PORVORIM
With five lives lost and 163 others falling ill on account of diseases among migrant workers and poor health facilities at the Cutbona Jetty in South Goa, authorities have now turned their attention to health and sanitation conditions at other jetties in the State.
Malim Jetty is the biggest jetty in North Goa and the society operating the jetty is confident that health and sanitation facilities for trawler workers are satisfactory and in place.
Speaking to The Goan, Vice-Chairperson of the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd (MFMCSL) Harshad M. Dhond said around 175 trawlers operate from the Malim Jetty.
“Around 1,500 workers are employed on these trawlers and a majority of workers are from states such as Odisha, Jharkhand and Karnataka,” said Dhond.
“Around 7-10 workers are employed on small trawlers, while about 25-30 workers are allotted on large trawlers made of steel. All these workers stay on their respective trawlers.”
Dhond insisted that safety of their workers is of utmost priority.
“Prior to the onset of monsoon, we had cleaned the jetty fully. The cleanliness job has been outsourced to an external agency. We have displayed ‘Keep area clean’, ‘Warning No Dumping’ signboards at the Malim Jetty,” said Dhond.
“Till date, no cases of cholera has been detected at Malim Jetty. There are sufficient toilets at Malim Jetty both for use of workers as well as public. The society ensures that there is no stagnation of water anywhere.”
Dhond informed that officials of the Porvorim Primary Health Centre (PHC) conduct regular visits to the Malim Jetty to ensure that cleanliness is maintained at the jetty.
“The society had also arranged a talk by health officials for workers regarding hygiene at the Jetty,” said Dhond.
HEALTH CHECKS
When contacted, Porvorim PHC Health Officer Dr Sikhandara Talwar said the PHC is actively monitoring the situation at Malim Jetty.
“PHC teams provide guidance to the workforce on maintaining proper hygiene, taking preventive measures, and ensuring early diagnosis to prevent further incidents,” said Dr Talwar.
“Our teams visit Malim Jetty every alternate day to ensure that cleanliness is maintained. So far during this monsoon, we have not detected any cholera or malaria cases among workers at the Jetty. However, one suspected dengue case was reported of a migrant worker.”
Stating there are no toilet toilet facilities for workers inside the Jetty, Dr Talwar said Sulabh Souchalaya toilets are located outside the Jetty near the office of MFMCSL.
Dr Talwar mentioned that a number of dinghies are anchored by the side of Malim Jetty. “During rains, water gets accumulated in these dinghies, providing a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Dr Talwar.
The health officer admitted that not all office-bearers of the MFMCSL are cooperative with the PHC staff.
“The PHC teams do not receive the required support and cooperation from the chairman of the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Society Ltd,” alleged Dr Talwar.
