MARGAO
After a long wait and struggle, leaving beleaguered seafarers to run from pillar to post for revival of the pension scheme and to make it permanent, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday announced in his Budget speech to make the Goa Welfare /Pension scheme permanent.
The Chief Minister made the announcement during his budget speech when he placed the budget estimates for the financial year 2023-24.
The Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI), which had been waging a struggle with the government to make the seafarers pension scheme permanent, have welcomed the CM’s announcement, saying the seafarers community is grateful and thankful to Sawant.
Launched by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar after his return to power in the 2012 Assembly polls following the decimation of the Congress, the Goa Welfare Pension scheme had lapsed in October 2019 after the demise of the former Chief Minister.
Beleaguered retired seafarers and widows, however, had to go without the monthly pension after the schemed came to an abrupt end since October 2019 for reasons best known government headed by Sawant.
It was only after the seafarers knocked the doors of the government and launched an agitation that the pension scheme was finally revived in June 2021 sans permanent status.
Meanwhile, GSAI President Frank Viegas said the government has shown due respect to the seafarers who have sacrificed their life with great hardship and for their hospitality keeping in mind to see that the next generation continue to work in the shipping sector.
“Seafarers should be given such schemes with due respect for their contribution towards the maritime industry so at the time of retirement they retire happily and at the same time contribute to the economic welfare to the Goan community”, he said.
Frank said due to GSAI initiative and also the efforts of elected representatives who had voiced their concern on the floor of the House and all those who stood by the seafarers in resolving the long-standing problem, the seafarers community has benefited and retained the Seafarers Pension Scheme.
He said many retired seamen and widows are fully dependent on this scheme for their daily living, this pension scheme has been financial support for retired seamen, medically unfit and widows.
Meanwhile, Cavelossim Sarpanch and GSAI founder President Dixon Vaz has welcomed the decision of Chief Minister to make the seafarers scheme permanent.
“We remember our ex-chief minister Manohar Parrikar who was instrumental in introducing the seafarers pension scheme”, he said.
