VASCO
If poor health and sanitation facilities were linked to the deaths of five migrant workers and infections of 163 others at the Cutbona Jetty, the Kharewaddo Jetty in Vasco could easily be hit with a similar tragedy.
The Kharewaddo Jetty in Vasco, which is the largest jetty in the State catering to about 250 fishing boats, simply lacks health and sanitation facilities for its 3,000-odd workers.
While the fishing association based in Kharewaddo has been frequently complaining about the dilapidated condition of the jetty, workers on the fishing jetty are forced to defecate in the open after being deprived of basic health care facilities, thereby exposing them to a major health hazard.
There are about 250 small and large fishing boats docked at Kharewaddo Jetty, with about 3,000 migrant workers employed on these boats.
The larger boats have around 35-40 workers per boat, while the smaller boats have around 10 workers per boat. These workers, who hail from other states like Jharkhand, Odisha and Karnataka, are employed on the boats throughout the season.
According to a source from the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (AGFBOA), the Kharewaddo Jetty urgently needs a total revamp with better facilities for boats and its workers.
"The Kharewaddo Jetty is in a very dilapidated condition and has no facilities at all. The jetty does not have wash rooms or other facilities for the workers. There is no proper road, while the condition of the jetty is going bad to worse,” said the source.
“The association has made several requests but the government has not paid heed to our requests till date. Many boat owners have virtually shut down their traditional business and occupation due to the lethargic approach of the government,” the source said.
Commenting on the facilities provided to migrant workers, the source said the workers are the lifeline of every boat owner.
“We sometimes bring them from their native places by flights or special transport, to ensure that they are happy and fit. We provide them with all possible amenities that can be made available but sadly not all facilities are available at the Kharewaddo Jetty," said the source.
"These workers are usually housed in the boats which have rooms for them and sometimes, other workers take up small rooms around Kharewaddo Jetty.”
“These rooms can provide them stay but there is no healthcare facility specific to the Kharewaddo Jetty or these fish boat workers," the source added.
