MARGAO
Even as reports of an FIR reportedly registered by the Economic Offenses Cell, Mumbai against officials of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) on issues relating to welfare funds did the rounds on Tuesday, seafarers here have called for a thorough probe to bring out the truth in the entire episode.
In another development, there’s a change of guard at the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI).
After accepting the resignation of NUSI general secretary-cum-treasurer, Abdulgani Y Serang, the third Executive Committee meeting of the union, which was held on Friday last has unanimously co-opted Milind Kandaigaonkar as the new General Secretary cum Treasurer.
In a statement by NUSI president Capt N Hiranandani, the Executive Committee has agreed to honour the request of Abdulgani Y Serang from the post.
Meanwhile, the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) has demanded that no injustice should be done to seafarers.
While GSAI president Frank Viegas said he is verifying the reports over the FIR reportedly registered against the NUSI officials, GSAI founder president Dixon Vaz has demanded a CBI probe into the entire issue of deductions of seafarers on cruise liners by shipping companies, which goes into the NSUI welfare fund.
“So far, we have not got concrete details concerning the FIR registered against the NUSI general secretary. We have been told that a rival union had complained. We want the Union Shipping Minister and the Director General of Shipping to intervene and mete out justice for the seafaring community”, remarked Frank, adding “we hope that justice will prevail”.
On the other hand, GSAI founder president and newly-elected Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz demanded a CBI probe into the entire gamut of issues involving NUSI and the deductions from the seafarers working on foreign ships.
“We had in the past raised concern over the deductions made by the shipping companies for the welfare of the seamen. The amount deducted runs into huge money. The figure will be mindboggling”, he said.
