MARGAO
The pension scheme for the retired seafarers and widows ends on November 30, leaving the beneficiaries and the seafaring community to keep their fingers crossed over the extension of the scheme.
Reason: The scheme titled as the Goa Welfare/Pension Scheme, 2021 had come into force on June 1, 2021, and was to remain in force for a period of six months up to November 30, 2021.
The beneficiaries, including the retired seafarers and widows, who have been receiving the pension since June, will get their pension for the month of November.
They, however, have no idea how the government will go about extending the scheme for a period of six months, one year or come out with a permanent scheme.
When The Goan called up the office of the NRI Commissioner on Monday to find out the status of the scheme, officials informed the office will credit the pension into the bank account of seafarers and widows for the month of November in a day or two.
The officials, however, could not make any comment on the fate of the pension scheme for the seafarers. An official pointed out that the government may extend the scheme given that the office of NRI has adequate funds at its disposal to finance the scheme. The official, however, asserted that they do not know whether the scheme will be extended by another six months, one year or will be notified as a permanent scheme.
Technically speaking, the pension scheme for the seafarers and widows will come to an end on November 30. The government will have to issue a notification, extending the validity of the scheme, with an official saying they have no idea over the timeline of the scheme.
Incidentally, sources informed that neither the office of the NRI Commissioner nor the Home department had ever proposed any timeline for the validity of the scheme.
Seafarers in general and the organizations representing the seafaring community had made a strong pitch for making the seafarer’s pension scheme a permanent one. In fact, they wonder why only the scheme meant for the retired seafarers and the widows is only in force for six months, while all other welfare schemes run by the Social Welfare department are permanent ones.
The pension scheme for the seafarers and the widows was first introduced by the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar after the party had stormed to power in 2012, riding against a strong anti-Congress wave. The scheme, however, has been discontinued since October 2019, leaving hundreds of retired seafarers and widows in the lurch.
It was only in June last that the scheme was revived by the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government, but the notification had restricted the validity of the scheme for a period of six months, which expires on Tuesday.
