MARGAO
With the government cold-shouldering their demand for restarting pension, retired seafarers and widows staged a protest dharna in Benaulim on Saturday, calling upon local MLA Churchill Alemao to intervene at the earliest in the matter.
The seafarers lamented many of the widows have been forced to come out and protest in time of the 19 pandemic and sent a message to the Benaulim MLA to resolve the pending issue on priority.
“Benaulim constituency is one constituency which is the home for a large number of seafarers. It is being represented by an MLA, who took pride in saying he had worked as a seaman before becoming Chief Minister and MP. On the other hand, the retired seafarers and widows are forced to come on the roads and demand their pension,” asserted President of Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) Frank Viegas.
He said that Churchill should immediately resolve the pension issue hanging fire for the last one year if he has any love for seafarers.
A retired seafarer from Benaulim Caitan recalled how the pension scheme for the retired seafarers and widows was started by former Chief Minster late Manohar Parrikar after the 2012 Assembly election. “I appeal to Churchill Alemao with folded hands to resolve the pension issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant immediately. We will be indebted to the MLA if he does so,” he added.
GSAI Vice-president Gabriel Pinto said when the seafarers the world over are being recognized as key workers, our very own people are ignoring their contributions. “We are really saddened. Why should the retired seafarers suffer in time of the pandemic?” Gabriel said, while making a fervent plea to the MLAs, irrespective of their party backgrounds, to resolve the issue.
The GSAI had launched a campaign in support of the retired seafarers for the early restarting of the pension, which was discontinued by the Pramod Sawant government exactly a year ago.
The campaign was launched on Gandhi Jayanti day (Oct 2) from the historic Menezes-Lohia Chowk.
The protest dharnas will be held across the state in support of the retired seafarers and widows.
