the goan I network
CANACONA
Around 65 Drishti lifeguards stationed in Canacona taluka joined their striking colleagues, leaving vast stretches of Canacona’s coast from Cabo-de-Rama to Polem without lifeguard services.
Sources told The Goan that a few lifeguards posted on duty had gone on a strike on Thursday, with more joining the strike on Friday. However, only about 18-20 lifeguards reported to work at various beaches on Friday. There are about 85 lifeguards engaged by Dristhi on Canacona coast.
Incidentally, many striking lifeguards assembled at the Palolem lifeguard tower for the second day on Friday. They were informed that some lifeguards had resumed duty after Drishti officials allegedly threatened them with dismissal.
Sources further informed that 18-20 lifeguards who performed duty on Friday allegedly received some amount as salary increment later in the evening.
This angered the striking lifeguards, as they alleged efforts were being made to break the striking group.
“This is the manner in which the company tries to divide us. But we won’t succumb to such tactics until we are paid in full and proper justice is done to everyone.”
“We also like to caution the Drishti management that any attempt to dismiss even a single lifeguard who is on strike since Thursday will compel us to resign en masse and we will take necessary action against the company,” warned one striking lifeguard.
Lifeguards complained that they have never received their salaries on time.
“Since the last five years, we have never been paid our salaries on time. We always receive salaries between 11th and 15th of the month and it was never paid before 7th of the month,” said Laxman Velip, a lifeguard with Drishti stationed on one of the beaches in Canacona.
Added another lifeguard, Sarvesh Velip: “The company failed to pay us salaries for July and then paid a part sum of Rs 5,000 on September 4 and another part on September 24.”
“When we threatened to strike work, we were paid another sum on October 5, but we have never been paid our salaries in full. How do we survive and pay our loan instalments?” asked Velip.
The lifeguards reacted sharply to Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd notice dated September 23, intimating the lifeguards that the government owes them Rs 10 crore and as a result of which payments were not made in time.
“We have had to suffer on that count. The company can terminate the contract with the government and let the latter employ us. After serving the company for the last decade, we don’t have any future. The government should absorb us in some capacity,” said Sonu Velip.
Accusing Drishti of not following labour laws equally to all lifeguards, one lifeguard stationed at Palolem beach said: “We were asked to perform duties during Ganesh immersion days from 6 pm till the end of immersions, which is usually 2-3 am. Despite performing these duties, we were marked absent on duty.”
