MARGAO
A day after the government issued a notification on the new seafarers' pension scheme with a validity of three years, seafarers have called upon the government to come out with a permanent pension scheme for retired seafarers and widows.
The Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) has demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reconsider the decision and come out with a permanent scheme for the benefit of retired seafarers and widows.
Saying the seafarers felt cheated by the government’s new pension scheme with three-year validity, the seafarers have urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to honour his word and promise made on the floor of the House to make the pension scheme permanent.
Addressing the media, GSAI President Frank Viegas was categorical in his demand that the Chief Minister honour his word to make the pension scheme permanent.
“The Goa government has come out with the seafarers' pension scheme with an expiry date, extending the same for three years, one year, six months etc. We fail to understand why this government is hell-bent on meting out harassment to retired seafarers and widows who are senior citizens. We do not know whether someone has instigated the Chief Minister to come out with the scheme for three years when the community has been demanding a permanent scheme,” he said.
Frank also voiced concern that the new pension scheme may not accommodate all the applicants, who have filed their applications for the pension. “The pension scheme has a clause, wherein the beneficiaries beyond the 3,000 ceiling may not get the benefit. This should be reconsidered so that all eligible retired seafarers and widows are entitled to the scheme”, he said.
GSAI vice-president Gabriel Pinto said the seafarers felt cheated by the government coming out with the pension scheme only for three years. “It is disappointing to know that the scheme is extended only for three years. We really felt cheated. Our trust is destroyed. We were happy when the CM announced on the floor of the House that the scheme would be made permanent. We even called on the CM to hail him. The CM had also called a delegation of GSAI before the budget session and this had given us the confidence that the scheme would be made permanent, but in vain,” he said while making a fervent plea to the Chief Minister to reconsider and come out with a permanent scheme.
GSAI Treasurer Santan Pereira slammed the government for extending the pension scheme only for three years. “It is clear that the government is making the seamen issue a political issue. Assembly election will come after three years and the government will dangle the same lollipop before the seafarers,” he said.
Pereira also directed his ire at AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas for the MLA’s decision to welcome the three-year pension scheme.
