the goan I network
PANAJI
Armed with a firm, 30-month extension of their beach lifeguarding and water safety services contract across Goa’s famed coastline, Drishti has extended an olive branch to the agitating lifeguards who they had terminated and are agitating for better service conditions and permanency of service.
A statement issued by the company said the Goa tourism department has extended the contract up to June 30, 2022. “Invite all those out of work to return to the Drishti family and be lifeguards again,” the statement further mentioned.
Officials of the company have also begun individually texting and calling all the former lifeguards to see reason and return to work.
Meanwhile dwelling on the operations in Goa, Shankar said: “Our Special Rescue Training Academy is certified and accredited under International Rescue Instructors Authority (IRIA) Canada. We also conform to NLS Australia lifeguarding standards which are customized to Indian conditions.”
Ravi Shankar, who is Executive Director of Drishti Marine said: “Dear Drishti Lifeguards, you are our pride and our family. We are concerned that hardworking lifeguards like you are in financial distress. Lifeguards will be taken back at last drawn salary on a case-to-case basis.”
Shankar said no deductions, except for absent days will be made and increment and bonus will be paid in February two months after rejoining, adding that the company has always complied with the tender condition of employing 90% Goans.
According to Shankar, drowning incidents dwindled by 99% and over 5000 plus have been rescued in the 11 years that the company is manning the beaches along
Goa’s 105-kilometer coastline.
Shankar said the company conducted a yard-by-yard survey of the entire coastline in 2008 based on which placement of towers, training and deployment of lifeguards, communication and rescue equipment and rescue movements were audited.
“The entire procedure has been approved under ISO 9001 2015. This knowledge continues to be updated and built on,” he added.
Lifeguards are trained to use international standard rescue equipment, boards, jet-skis, beach patrolling jeeps, quick response walkie-talkies, international standard systems of flags and alert codes, Shankar said.
He said, the company is committed to ensure lifeguards who have the capability to save a life and are “heroes of the water” are given rightful respect and honour.
The Drishti lifeguards are also trained in stranded marine mammal rescue with Terra Conscious, Goa Forest Department and IUCN India, he said, adding that they not only read currents and tides but are also trained to handle marine mammal strandings and also have been recording sand erosion patterns for the last five years which is the biggest challenge Goa is expected to face.
