Kolis to be made fishers of men

With the harsh currents of the sea and the rising number of drowning cases during the monsoon, the Mumbai fire brigade has decided to add to the current strength of only 37 lifeguards and recruit 38 local fishermen, for the season next year.

The expertise of local fishermen of wading through the rough sea can be utilised when needed. “The fisherfolk don’t venture out deep into the sea and are free during the monsoon. We will approach kolis who are interested,” said a senior official from fire brigade.

The civic body has set a remuneration of Rs8,000 per month for the new recruits, officials said.

The fire brigade has 13 permanent and 24 temporary lifeguards manning the city beaches. But considering the crowd on these beaches during the weekends and holidays, the civic administration is seriously contemplating measures to reduce the number of drowning cases. Most of the 24 temporary lifeguards are kolis familiar with the sea.

Though apprehensive about the idea, a fisherman from Juhu Koliwada Narendra Gawde, said, “If the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation feels we have the required skills, they should recruit young and capable fishermen for this job permanently.” But when asked about their willingness of serving as temporary lifeguards, Gawde said they should be approached three to four months before the monsoon, before the young boys take up odd jobs.

The 38 lifeguards to be recruited will be between the ages of 18 and 30. They will be selected on the basis of their swimming and running speeds among other abilities. These men will also be given additional first aid and search and rescue training.

The highest number of fishermen will be deployed at the Juhu beach, as it has the highest number of drowning cases. Six kolis each will be posted at the Gorai and Aksa beaches and four each at Dadar, Madh, Marve and Versova.

The civic body plans to implement beach safety plans on the lines of that in Goa, but it has not been able to execute the idea as Mumbai’s coastline and waters are different from that of Goa’s. “We have been trying to get the beach safety plan in place, but it will take a while. We want the Goa government to accept our request and send its officials to help us make Mumbai’s beaches safer for tourists,” said a senior official from the fire brigade.