MARGAO
With no sign of the Goa government restarting the pension scheme for the retired seafarers and the widows and the MLAs only handing out empty promises, the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) has decided to hold a peaceful protest meet on October 2 at the Menezes-Lohia Chowk, Assolna, from 10.30 am to 1 pm.
GSAI President Frank Viegas said the seafarers’ welfare pension scheme for retired seafarers and their widows has been stopped since October 2019 for almost a year. “GSAI had brought this to the notice of the Goa government to restart the scheme as soon as possible, but in vain,” he said. He recalled that the retired seafarers and their widows had begged before the MLAs of their respective constituencies to restart the scheme, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “None of the authorities have shown mercy to our elderly seafarers and their widows, who had to run from pillar to post. GSAI has decided to hold a peaceful protest meet on Gandhi Jayanti day at Assolna, which is the home turf of many seafarers,” he added.
