MARGAO
Retired seafarers and widows are hoping that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant would honour his promise of immediately restarting their pension which was discontinued by the government in October last year.
They also hope the government would also disburse them the pension arrears of the last one year since the time the scheme was discontinued.
The proposed peaceful protest scheduled at Nuvem on Wednesday could not take place after the Chief Minister assured a delegation of Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) that the pension issue will be resolved immediately.
The retired seafarers recalled that a similar promise was handed out by the Chief Minister in April that the government would restart the pension in May, but in vain.
So far, the retired seafarers and widows have held peaceful rallies in the constituencies of Velim, Benaulim and Cuncolim and had planned a similar one at Nuvem on Wednesday, but it was called off in the wake of the Chief Minister’s meeting with the seafarers.
GSAI President Frank Viegas said the Chief Minister has assured a delegation of seafarers that the government would not waste any time, and had given instructions to his OSD to put up the file to restart the pension.
Saying the retired seafarers deserve the pension as they have been the backbone of the maritime industry, Frank said the seafarers have contributed directly and indirectly to the development of Goa’s economy over the years.
“The government should not think that pension for the retired seafarers and the widows is a burden but a blessing for these senior citizens,” he added.
GSAI General Secretary Benny Da Costa told the media that the pension scheme for the seafarers was introduced by former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar as he was a man with a vision. “If the BJP says it will continue with Manohar Parrikar’s legacy, the party should not hesitate to continue the pension scheme for the seafarers and maintain his legacy,” Benny added.
