MARGAO
The Forward Seaman’s Union of India on Wednesday made a fervent appeal to seafarers to join the agitation at the office of the Director General of Shipping to highlight the plight of serving and retired seafarers.
General Secretary of the Forward Seaman’s Union of India Naresh Birwadkar on Wednesday addressed members of the Goan Seamen Association of India with a call to forgo the union/party/group affiliations and join the special dharna, ‘bhook hartal’ and agitation against the Director General Shipping on International Day of Seafarers on June 25.
He later told the media that the long-pending demand of retired seafarers for a minimum monthly pension of Rs 5,000 with the Director General, Shipping, while further demanding a family medical scheme for retired seafarers and their families.
While demanding introduction of travel concession for retired seafarers, Birwadkar demanded provision of gainful employment of the trainee seamen as a lot of trained seamen are jobless in the country.
“FSUI has always helped the seafarers in their need and stood with the seafarers who are suffering and taken up the common cause, fought till the result is positive. Now, FSUI is taking responsibility once again to fight for the serving and retired seafarers. Join FSUI to fight for the betterment of the seafarers,” he said.
GSAI spokesman Dixon Vaz told the media that the members of the GSAI will travel to Mumbai to participate in the protests outside the office of the Director General, Shipping. “The government has ignored the long-pending demand of the seafarers for a decent pension. There are other equally important demands which have been pending without a solution for a long time now,” Dixon said.
Meanwhile, Dixon demanded that the government bring stability to the post of Director, NRI Affairs, in the larger interest of Goan seafarers. He lamented that the frequent shunting of the Director NRI Affairs has not only hit the functioning of the office, but has left seafarers in the lurch.
