Boats docked at the Kharewaddo Jetty in Vasco.
VASCO
Lashing out at the State government over the poor health facilities at jetties across the State, All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (AGFBOA) President Jose Philip D'Souza has accused the government of being least interested in the welfare of the fishermen or workers at jetties.
"It is the government’s duty to provide specific healthcare facilities for all jetties and its workers, especially since fishing is the traditional occupation and business of Goa,” said D’Souza.
“The government should have a medical team for every jetty, and a place for a clinic can be arranged at the Jetty. At Kharewaddo Jetty, we are willing to provide the space for a clinic but we cannot compel doctors to function from there.”
“Though the government claims to support and promote the fishing industry, in reality the government seems to ignore our requests and offers us a step-motherly treatment. The government has not provided us any healthcare facilities nor other amenities at the jetties.”
“The government is least interested in the welfare of the fishermen or workers at the jetties,” he added.
Commenting on the plight of workers at the Kharewaddo Jetty, D’Souza said they had tried to have a healthcare facility which was functional for around a year, only to be discontinued as the government did not extend proper support.
“We had a health facility by engaging a few private doctors to conduct a basic health checkup for workers, which we had setup on our own. We managed to have this facility for a year and even offered them our office as the temporary solution.”
“The doctors did not come to the jetty this year. We are willing to offer space and all our support for the healthcare facilities but the government needs to support us and take a step towards the welfare of fishermen, workers and the traditional fishing industry.”
“We are planning to revive this healthcare facility since workers at other jetties have been detected with cholera and other vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, etc. but the government needs to support us in this task. We cannot go ahead without government assistance,” said D’Souza.
D’Souza said workers at the Kharewaddo Jetty are forced to stay on the boats which offer them stay and washroom facilities.
“The workers are safer on boats and at sea, but not on land where they are prone to diseases or lack washroom facilities,” he said.
