MARGAO
With the Goa seafarers welfare pension scheme still not made permanent and new applications for the pension scheme yet to be considered, the Goan Seamen Association of India will lead a delegation to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to make the scheme permanent and streamline the scheme.
At the GSAI general body meeting chaired by President Frank Viegas, members deliberated and discussed the pension issue since the government has not made the scheme permanent. The Association members pointed to the shortage of pension forms and that the new applicants are not considered for the scheme.
Frank Viegas further pointed out that no scrutiny panel is in place to scrutinise the applications for the pension scheme. He said though the government had approved the 82 applications for pension, they have still not received the pension till date. “We will lead a delegation to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and NRI Commissioner with a plea to bring to their notice the hardships faced by the retired seafarers due to the failure to streamline the scheme and make it permanent,” he said.
The GSAI has also demanded that the Director General of Shipping consider Provident Fund, Gratuity and Pension for all ranks of seafarers serving on Indian and foreign flagship of all types that is cruise ships or merchant navy. “It is our utmost concern that seafarers should be given these facilities with due respect for their contribution towards the maritime industry so at the time of retirement they are happily retired and same was resolved by the members and to write to the Shipping Ministry, Government of India, Director General of Shipping and the concerned authorities,” he said.
Given that the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) is providing Rs 200 monthly ex-gratia monetary assistance to the widows of seafarers, the GSAI has resolved to take up with NUSI the urgent need to increase the ex-gratia relief from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 per month.
GSAI as well as representatives of Goan seafarers have been waging a sustained struggle with the Goa government to make the pension scheme permanent. Frank told the media that the government is yet to clear the pension arrears of the retired seafarers and widows since October 2019 to May 2021 when the scheme was suddenly stopped by the Goa government without any rhyme or reason.
“We have been demanding that the government pay the seafarers and widows the pension arrears from November 2019 to May 2021, but in vain,” he said, adding that the seafarers will make a fresh plea to the Chief Minister to consider payment of the arrears.
