PANAJI: Drishti lifeguards on Wednesday suspended their 16 day-long strike and promised to join work from Thursday on the assurance from the government that the long-pending demands will be finalised and a permanent solution sought on conclusion of the ongoing Assembly session.
Addressing a gathering of over 150 lifeguards, All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Christopher Fonseca stated, "Satyagraha will continue but we will start work from tomorrow (Thursday). Responding positively to the assurance of the government, lifeguards Union suspends its strike today (Wednesday) but the agitation will go on till our demands are met."
Fonseca said that it is natural that legitimate scepticism has developed in the mind of the lifeguards towards the government's assurances. "Hence government's responsibility has doubled to deliver its promise," he maintained.
The decision was a result of the visit by Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. The two represented Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and urged Drishti lifeguards to withdraw their agitation.
The Union leaders were assured that an official meeting will be held on conclusion of the ongoing session of legislature.
AITUC leaders informed that they had written to Parulekar on Monday requesting him to communicate government's stand on the matter.
Parulekar stated, "I will make a strong pitch for increasing the lifeguards' monthly salary by Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500. I have spoken with Drishti and ensure you that on returning to work, your salary will not be deducted for the period of strike and there will be no break in service."
He assured the lifeguards that alternate employment after retirement and reinstatement of 17 lifeguards, whose services were terminated, will also be deliberated upon seriously after the Assembly.
"The government will also discuss the issue of ensuring continuity in service through the clauses of tender agreement so that the service will be retained even after change in contractor," Parulekar said.
Parulekar and Lobo requested the lifeguards to withdraw the strike as the timing of the strike could cause untoward incidents on the beaches harming brand Goa.
Lobo informed that a meeting was held on Tuesday between the CM, Parulekar and him to deliberate on the feasibility of lifeguards' demands. He stated that despite his wish to visit the lifeguards, CM could not make it to Azad Maidan owing to the workload of the Assembly session.
"A study needs to be conducted on all that issues to arrive at a permanent solution. I want the lifeguards to be brought directly under this government so that Goans get direct benefits of this service," Lobo stated assuring that the government will take due cognizance of the lifeguards' genuine demands.
It was further stated that the government will work to give all due benefits to the lifeguards and that you director of tourism will work to ensure that they will not be victimised by their direct employer after rejoining work.
All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Christopher Fonseca thanked the representatives of the government for their assurance and promised to arrive at a unanimous decision on withdrawal of strike.
AITUC's Suhaas Naik held that the government should also consider abolition of contractual work and demanded regularisation of lifeguards' services.
Meanwhile, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco also met the lifeguards. "The government has given in to the pressure of the Opposition on this issue. But if their assurances do not convert into commitment then we will hit the road and we will be united again," he said.
