BMC wants David Hasselhoffs to guard our beaches

Come May, our beaches will be safer, assures the BMC, already on the lookout for well-built, certified and courageous lifeguards. Mumbai Kolis, who claim to know the sea better than anyone, are asking if you'll trust a swimming pool lifeguard to save you in a rough sea. Aastha Atray Banan explores the 'Baywatch' project

BMC wants David Hasselhoffs to guard our beaches

A head bobs up and down, the waves rocking it rhythmically. The briny winds that carry her screams to shore, tell you it's a woman caught by the tide. She waves her arms in hope, and then frantically when she catches sight of a man running towards her, slicing the sand with his feet. His long strides, and expression of concentrated grit bring a promise of safety. He grips her in his strong arms, swoops her up, carrying her back to shore.

If this one brought back hazy memories of cult American sitcom, Baywatch, you are spot on. It's a direct lift. And the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hopes to replicate this scene on beach after beach in and around Mumbai.

Lifeguards went missing

After Janhit Manch, an NGO filed a PIL, the civic body that governs the city of Mumbai has planned to follow the "Baywatch" model to make Mumbai's beaches safer. At present, just two lifeguards are available to man each of Mumbai's beaches, in two shifts from 8 am to 8 pm. Ironically, when we took a walk along Mumbai's Juhu Beach on a Wednesday afternoon, we ran into everyone but a lifeguard. Cozy couples, schoolboys who'd bunked class, lounging urchins, even a bunch of monkeys were part of the painting on a stretch that's known to lose approximately 100 people a year in various incidents of drowning. We walked up to the complaint chowky manned by a fragile, old man who shook his head to say, "Lifeguard? They must be here somewhere.

But it isn't evening yet, is it?"

BMC kya kar sakta hai?

Kiran Harsora, BMC's deputy health officer who'su00a0 been handed the task of handling the Baywatch project, corrects us. "What do you mean Baywatch?" he grins, "It's called the Development, Deployment, Management and Operation of Water Safety Patrol project." The lifeguard was missing at Juhu, we tell him. He punches the keypad of his phone, and shouts into it, "Where is the lifeguard posted at Juhu? Find him now."

Once he is convinced that we are convinced of his good intentions, Harsora says, "You know, actually, we do not have the expertise to handle this. The fire brigade or disaster management unit should be handling it. But since they are busy, the Municipal Commissioner has asked us to step in."

And so, the BMC is looking to outsource the project to a private company that can give five beaches (Juhu, Marve, Madh, Aksa and Gorai) all they need lifeguards, safety equipment, jet skis, and watch towers. The BMC has only 8 permanent lifeguards on its rolls; the rest are hired on a six-month contractual basis, and those on contract are likely to go once the project is outsourced to the one who makes the cut. "The bidder will have to comply with the guidelines of the government," says Harsora, peeping into a file of papers and reading, "We want lifeguards who are healthy, courageous, know Hindi, Marathi and English, and are certified by a recognised teaching firm."

The BMC has received a couple of bids and will kickstart the selection process soon, so that the project can take off by May. "The fire brigade will decide who's chosen, but we can't manage the operation on our own since we are terribly short-staffed," says Anil Sawant, Chief Fire Officer.

Kolis register their protest

Dinesh Mangela, 30, has been hired by the BMC as a six-month contractual worker, twice already. But his request to be made permanent, has been turned down. He saw an opportunity when the BMC announced its Rs 1 crore a year project, a month ago. But when he approached them as a bidder, he was scoffed at. "Dr Jairaj Thanekar, BMC's executive health officer, told me, 'Tum jaise machuaron se yeh kaam nahin hoga (Fishermen like you won't be able to handle this)'," says an upset Mangela. "Why are Kolis, who know the sea better than anyone, being treated like this? The BMC is trying to make money. They will promise private investors the spot, and make money in turn."

Mangela's frustration also stems from the fact that despite his certification from The National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, the BMC continues to refuse to take him on board as permanent employee.

Dr Thanekar however, refutes the allegations. "I haven't said what he claims I did. I just told them that it's not in my hands. They should apply, and the selection will be made based on merit."

The good Samaritans

Juhu resident Sunil Kanojia, 37, who works with a TV station, has given Mangela a reason to move on. He runs Sea Guardian, an NGO that trains Koli lifeguards in the hope of keeping our beaches safe. This NGO has no donations to run on, except its own. It's here that lifeguards like Mangela find an opportunity to put their talent to use.

The Sea Guardians had approached the BMC with a proposal, but gave up when they realised the red tape would be tough to deal with. "The BMC is looking for certified instructors only. But who knows the sea better than the Kolis? They have been certified by birth. We don't trust the BMC. It's an open money-making machine.
u00a0
Till they find investors, they are making do with ad hoc lifeguards who are absent half the time," says Kanojia, telling us that Koli lifeguards are being refused even though they are demanding only half the money a private company will expect.

To make sure they can help in whatever way they can, Kanojia and his team of valiant lifeguards patrol Mumbai beaches, even coordinating with ambulance agencies whenever necessary. "During this year's Ganesh festival, the BMC had posted incorrect low tide-high tide information at the beaches. Our volunteers stood there giving directions to devotees. How can we trust them with the safety of our beaches, then?"

This man is responsible for the Baywatch project

Bhagvanji Raiyani, president and founder of the Janhit Manch
In early 2006, NGO Janhit Manch filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court, after a series of beach deaths sparked off a debate on inadequate security measures by Mumbai's shores. A year ago, the State passed a government resolution (GR) on implementing safety norms for beaches, complete with lifeguards, search lights, watchtowers and patrolling. Following the GR, the court disposed the PIL in September last year. The man who spearheaded the PIL, Bhagvanji Raiyani, president and founder of the Janhit Manch, is optimistic that the BMC will follow up on its promise. "It has to. It has no choice. As an activist, I played my role. We forced the BMC to float a tender inviting bidders. Now, all we can do is follow up religiously," he says. If progress takes more than a few months, Raiyani plans to file a contempt of court. "We won't let the issue die," he promises.

Outside India, being a lifeguard is serious business

Australia
Lifeguards are distinguished from Surf Life Savers. Lifeguards are paid employees who patrol beaches, lakes and pools/aquatic venues. Beach lifeguards are usually employed by local government authorities and patrol the beach throughout the year. Surf Lifesavers is a large voluntary organisation whose members patrol beaches on weekends and public holidays, during the warmer months (usually from mid-September to late April) and also perform public training for kids, the nippers, as well as competitions, such as surf carnivals or winter swimming events.

Belgium
It has a small coastline running along 68 km. Despite its small size, the coast is highly urbanised over its entire length and is visited by thousands of tourists each year. So, a good lifeguard service has been built up over the years. Beach lifeguards here are trained by the WOBRA (Dutch abbreviation for West Flemish training centre for firemen, lifeguards and ambulance crew). They are mostly students who are employed for a month during the summer holidays (July and August). Some municipalities also employ lifeguards in June and September. In order to obtain uniformity, all municipalities from the Belgian coast are joined in the IKWV (Dutch abbreviation for intercommunal coast lifeguard service of West Flanders). This is the coordinating organ for municipalities regarding the organisation of the lifeguard service.

Italy
Lifeguards are certified by the Italian Swimming Federation and the National Life Saving Society (Societa Nazionale di Salvamento). The Italian Swimming Federation's diploma is recognised abroad by the country affiliated to ILS. Differences exist between pool, lakes and sea diplomas.

United Kingdom
The Royal Lifesaving Society UK offers training and assessment for the National Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NBLQ). Currently, there are approximately 700 newly qualified lifeguards each year (in addition to those who renew their qualification). There are a variety of "specialist modules" that can be added to the basic qualification. These include: VHF Radio Operator, Personal Water Craft PWC, Rescue Surf Skills, Paddlecraft Rescue, Rescue Boat (Crew), Rescue Boat (Helm), AED and CPR Oxygen Administration.

United States
There are seven nationally recognised organisations that certify lifeguards. The American Red Cross (ARC) and its Lifeguard Training Programme, the YMCA, Starfish Aquatics Institute (StarGuard), The City of Los Angeles, Jeff Ellis & Associates, the Boy Scouts of America, and National Aquatic Safety Company (NASCO).

Why doesn't Maureen Wadia help select sexy lifeguards?
If the BMC gets goodlooking lifeguards to man our beaches, the women of Mumbai will be extra pleased. I think they should get a consulting committee on board, with someone like Maureen Wadia as member. She has experience with the Gladrags model hunt. Maybe all those who don't bag the Gladrags crown can be absorbed into this project.
Prahlad Kakkar, adman

The TV show that made lifeguards hot

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it was the most watched TV serial of all time, with over 1.1 billion viewers. Baywatch, the American series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the crowded beaches of Los Angeles County, California, ran from 1989 to 1999 (and 1999-2001 as Baywatch Hawaii). The show starred David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon, and centered around the work of a team of lifeguards and their interpersonal relationships.

The themes ranged from dangers related to beach and other activities pertinent to the California beach lifestyle. Everything from earthquakes to shark attacks to serial killers, even nuclear bombs, served as plot conflicts on the show. Saving people from drowning tended to be one of the most typical situations used in the show. And so, a slow motion shot of an Adonis tearing through the winds, or a voluptuous Pamela Anderson plunging into the seas with nothing but her red swimsuit and sex appeal on, was a trademark shot. Erika Eleniak, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul, and David Charvet were part of the cast.