Kolis play lifeguards at Juhu
Residents set up lifeguard association to prevent drowning incidentsBy: Kiran Tare from Midday
Residents set up lifeguard association to prevent drowning incidentsBy: Kiran Tare from Midday
Life guards line up for a ‘Baywatch moment’ on Juhu beach
LAST year between March to April, 22 people died by drowning at Juhu beach. This year not a single drowning incident has been reported since March. Thanks to The Sea Guardian Life Guard, an institute run by residents of the beach. The residents, all Kolis, who stay at Ruia Park, have formed the institute to ensure no death occurs due to drowning. The 22 members of the institute under leadership of S Kanojia, patrol the beach from Juhu to Versova for 14 hours a day.Desi BaywatchThe lifeguards wear red and yellow uniform and work in two shifts — 6 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 8 pm. They patrol six spots between Juhu and Versova — Juhu beach, Centaur Hotel, Hotel Holiday Inn, Gandhigram, Godrej bungalow and Rock beach. Last month they succeeded in refraining 78 people from entering the deep sea. Most of them were school children. The lifeguards work on voluntary basis. They don't get paid by the institute or get any compensation from families of the rescued. The institute is not sponsored by anyone. Members contribute from their own pockets. A doctor, Rajendra Jain, is also part of the team. How it started?People of the Koli community are excellent swimmers, they know the sea well and understand water currents. Though most of them are serving as swimming coaches at prestigious clubs like Juhu Gymkhana, there is a sense of angst that they are being neglected. "In the last decade the locals have saved around 3000 people from drowning at Juhu beach. But they've never got any acknowledgement for it. Neither the government nor any NGOs have paid attention to their skills. These people are passionate about serving society, so we decided to establish our own identity," says Kanojia. Disaster management and emergency cellThe institute is planning on forming two cells — disaster management and emergency cell. The former is to ensure that Mumbaikars get efficient services in natural calamities like July 26 deluge. The emergency cell is for rescue operations. Social serviceLakshman Mangela, a team member says, "Approximately 25 lakh people visit Juhu beach in a week. It's recreation for people. We don't allow the drug peddlers and eunuchs to enter the beach." Sub Inspector, Santacruz Police Station, Rafiq Patel appreciates the help provided by these lifeguards in catching drug peddlers. Also, the lifeguards appeal to people to keep the beach clean, preventing them from dumping garbage into the sea. The institute is not recognised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). However, Jayraj Thanekar, executive health officer of BMC asserted that there is no need for recognition. "Any NGO, which is working voluntarily to help the people is not necessarily recognised by the BMC," says Thanekar.To help Sea Guardian Life Guard, contact 9819357436"The lifeguards work on voluntary basis. The institute is not sponsored by anyone. Members contribute from their own pockets."- S kanojia, The Sea Guardian Life Guard
LAST year between March to April, 22 people died by drowning at Juhu beach. This year not a single drowning incident has been reported since March. Thanks to The Sea Guardian Life Guard, an institute run by residents of the beach. The residents, all Kolis, who stay at Ruia Park, have formed the institute to ensure no death occurs due to drowning. The 22 members of the institute under leadership of S Kanojia, patrol the beach from Juhu to Versova for 14 hours a day.Desi BaywatchThe lifeguards wear red and yellow uniform and work in two shifts — 6 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 8 pm. They patrol six spots between Juhu and Versova — Juhu beach, Centaur Hotel, Hotel Holiday Inn, Gandhigram, Godrej bungalow and Rock beach. Last month they succeeded in refraining 78 people from entering the deep sea. Most of them were school children. The lifeguards work on voluntary basis. They don't get paid by the institute or get any compensation from families of the rescued. The institute is not sponsored by anyone. Members contribute from their own pockets. A doctor, Rajendra Jain, is also part of the team. How it started?People of the Koli community are excellent swimmers, they know the sea well and understand water currents. Though most of them are serving as swimming coaches at prestigious clubs like Juhu Gymkhana, there is a sense of angst that they are being neglected. "In the last decade the locals have saved around 3000 people from drowning at Juhu beach. But they've never got any acknowledgement for it. Neither the government nor any NGOs have paid attention to their skills. These people are passionate about serving society, so we decided to establish our own identity," says Kanojia. Disaster management and emergency cellThe institute is planning on forming two cells — disaster management and emergency cell. The former is to ensure that Mumbaikars get efficient services in natural calamities like July 26 deluge. The emergency cell is for rescue operations. Social serviceLakshman Mangela, a team member says, "Approximately 25 lakh people visit Juhu beach in a week. It's recreation for people. We don't allow the drug peddlers and eunuchs to enter the beach." Sub Inspector, Santacruz Police Station, Rafiq Patel appreciates the help provided by these lifeguards in catching drug peddlers. Also, the lifeguards appeal to people to keep the beach clean, preventing them from dumping garbage into the sea. The institute is not recognised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). However, Jayraj Thanekar, executive health officer of BMC asserted that there is no need for recognition. "Any NGO, which is working voluntarily to help the people is not necessarily recognised by the BMC," says Thanekar.To help Sea Guardian Life Guard, contact 9819357436"The lifeguards work on voluntary basis. The institute is not sponsored by anyone. Members contribute from their own pockets."- S kanojia, The Sea Guardian Life Guard
No comments:
Post a Comment