Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 28: The lifeguards on Goa beaches have said that the assault by domestic tourists is on rise due to low protection provided to them under the law.
Drishti Special Response Services (DSRS), which runs lifeguard service on state’s beaches, claimed said that covering them under Essential Services act will give them the adequate protection from unruly drunk crowds, who get physical when being stopped to swim in no-swimming zones.
DSRS Chief Operating Officer V K Kanwal said that there were 20 incidents of assault on lifeguards at Baga and Sinquerim beach stretch.
Two lifeguards were injured and watch tower was badly smashed recently when Tamil Nadu tourists went on berserk. The lifeguards were at receiving end when they stopped these tourists from a hazardous spot.
 
Kanwar said that these tourists were adviced not to swim in that area as the undercurrent was strong there. Lifeguards had a beach rescue operation pulling out the people few minutes before Tamil Nadu tourists arrived for a swim.
 
South Goa’s Colva, Majorda and Benaulim beach stretch has recorded five such incidents. They include the latest attack on a lifeguard by a minor boy, who was caught by the lifeguard after snatching a bag of tourist at Colva beach.
 
DSRS has requested state government to include services of lifeguards under first schedule of Industrial Dispute Act. “This means, any assault on lifeguard will be treated as `assault on public servant’ under Indian Penal Code,” Kanwar explained.
 
 The officials said that almost 90 per cent of these cases are related to domestic tourists, who are drunk and have no idea of sea currents.
 
DSRS’ Director Moses Menezes in the letter to the state government had urged to appoint a conciliation officer to include services of lifeguards under Industrial Dispute Act.
 
There are 503 lifeguards who manage almost all the important beaches of Goa. The state is frequented by around 25 lakh tourists, which includes 4 lakh foreigners.