MARGAO
After discontinuing the pension scheme since October 2019, the Goa government has finally come out with a pension scheme for the retired seafarers and widows of seamen.
Called as the Goa Welfare/Pension Scheme for Seafarers, 2021, the scheme, however, will come into effect with effect from June 1, 2021 and remain in force for a period of six months upto 30 November, 2021.
The scheme is silent on the pension arrears since 2019. The scheme only mentions it will come into force from June 1 and will remain in force for six months up to November 2021.
Beneficiaries who were registered under Goa Welfare/Pension Scheme for Seafarers, 2018, shall be entitled for pension under this scheme subject to production of life certificate issued by any Gazetted officer in Form IV annexed hereto.
Director NRI Anthony D’Souza confirmed to The Goan that the scheme was launched via a notification issued by the Under Secretary, Home-II Eshan V Sawant on Friday.
“Our officials are on the job to ensure that the scheme is implemented from this month itself. As of now, all the beneficiaries registered under the Goa Welfare/Pension scheme for seafarers, 2018, will be entitled for pension under the scheme on condition they produce the life certificate issued by a gazetteD officer,” he said.
To a question, D’Souza said since the scheme entails the production of life certificates by the beneficiaries, the pension will be disbursed after the production of the documents including the life certificates.
The scheme will provide financial assistance in the form of gross pension of Rs 2,500 (Rupees two thousand five hundred only) per month to the retired Indian seamen.
The beneficiaries mean a seamen, who has completed 60 years of age and who was employed on board a ship and retired, and also includes a seaman invalidated from sea-service on medical grounds before retirement, and widow of a deceased seaman, on compassionate grounds, provided the annual income from all sources does not exceed Rs 1,20,000.
The beneficiary fulfilling the eligibility conditions specified in Clause 3 shall be entitled to a gross pension of Rs 2,500 per month, provided that if the applicant is in receipt of monthly pension under Dayanand Social Security Scheme/ GrihaAadhaar Scheme/Kala Samman Scheme, the amount whereof is less than the gross pension available under these schemes, then he/she will be entitled to receive only the difference between the amounts of gross pension available under the above schemes.
