CM to tourism bizmen: Avail govt insurance for workers

Calangute: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that making Goa a safe and secure tourism destination is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders and urged tourism businesses to ensure that their workers are covered under govt insurance schemes.

The Centre’s low-cost insurance scheme, ‘Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana’, provides security to workers’ families, Sawant said, urging both big and small tourism trades to fulfil their responsibility towards their employees.

He was speaking at Candolim during a campaign meeting for the ZP elections.

The chief minister’s comments come in the wake of the Arpora nightclub fire tragedy and the negativity surrounding Goa’s tourism industry. Sawant said all tourism stakeholders must do their bit to help improve the industry. “With two international airports in such a small state like Goa, tourists will definitely prefer to come here. But for tourists to come again and again, they should be made to feel welcome,” he said.

Sawant said, “All watersports operators are tourism ambassadors. They look after safety and security and take responsibility.” Sawant also insisted that tourism trades complete police verification of all their employees.

Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, panchayat members, and tourism stakeholders were present at the meeting held at the Candolim beach promenade.