Goa Chief Minister Announces Compensation for Deceased Workers

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that boat owners must pay Rs 5 lakh to the families of six migrant workers who died from dehydration due to cholera at the Cutbona jetty, with the government also contributing an additional Rs 5 lakh. The CM emphasized that boat owners are responsible for the safety and health of their workers, including providing medical assistance and hygiene measures onboard. In response to the tragic incident, he directed the Fisheries Department to develop Standard Operating Procedures for better safety and health practices in the fishing industry. Sawant warned that future compensation for worker deaths would increase to Rs 25 lakh and mandated improvements in sanitation facilities at the jetty. Additionally, he called for the evacuation of workers living in makeshift huts and the removal of unused boats to prevent disease spread. The deaths highlight ongoing health concerns amid a cholera outbreak affecting around 160 individuals in the region.