Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Pension scheme for seamen to be made permanent soon

THE GOAN NETWORK | NOVEMBER 29, 2022, 12:38 AM IST

PANAJI

In all probability, the pension scheme for retired seafarers and widows will soon be made permanent amid allegations of an acute shortage of funds for The Goa Welfare/Pension Scheme for Seafarers. An amendment to the scheme is all that is needed. 

Ahead of its deadline on November 30, the Pramod Sawant government renewed the scheme, albeit for six months, a decision that drew flak from the Opposition leaders who have been persistently demanding to give justice for the retired seafarers.

The Goan contacted the Home Department and the Office of the NRI Commissioner that confirmed the Goa government has already begun the process. 

“Government is in the process of making the scheme permanent,” NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar said. 

Sources further stated that the government has begun the process of amending the Scheme, which is underway in close coordination with the Department of Planning & Statistics and Social Welfare. 

"Once the amendment is achieved, the Scheme will be made permanent. 

Under the new system, a retired seafarer will avail his pension in a single transfer unlike the present system where the Office of NRI Commissioner and Social Welfare Department is involved," the source said. 

A seafarer is eligible to avail Rs 2,500 monthly pension. 

The Goan had earlier reported that the government allocated around Rs 3 crore to fund the pension scheme, out of which the government permitted to utilize Rs 1.5 crore. Since the fund was exhausted, the NRI office sent the file for sanction to utilize the balance amount of Rs 1.5 crore, although it could not disburse the pension for September-October as the file was caught in red-tapism.

The government, just recently, extended the scheme by another six months. However, a reliable source said, the Scheme is left with the balance amount that cannot go beyond March 2023.

“Since the present balance is not enough to disburse pension after the end of the current financial year, the government took a back seat to make the scheme permanent. But it is on the cards…new budget allocation will be made for the upcoming fiscal year,” an official disclosed.

The Opposition parties left no stone unturned to corner the government over its decision to extend the scheme temporarily. The Congress, Goa Forward and Nationalist Congress demanded that CM honour his promise on making the scheme permanent.

The seafarers too have been demanding a permanent scheme for the pensioners and widows given the bitter experience when the government in October 2019 abruptly stopped the scheme. The scheme was revived in July 2021 for six months and extended by a year till November 2022. 


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