THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: With the vaccination drive for seafarers raising concerns amongst the community, the Chinchinim village panchayat has adopted a resolution requesting the government to immediately intervene and roll out the vaccination exercise for the seafaring community.
The panchayat headed by Sarpanch Inacinha Rebello has decided to forward the resolution to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to inoculate the seafarers on top priority so that they join the ship at the earliest.
Chinchinim Dy Sarpanch Valentino Barretto informed that the seafarers and their families hailing from Chinchinim had raised concerns over the delay in vaccinating seafarers, with fears raised that this will cost them their jobs.
“Chinchinim has a large seafarers population. Most had returned home last year after much delay. Now, they are facing another problem “delay in vaccination,” Valentino said, adding that unless the seafarers are vaccinated, they will not be able to resume duties and earn a living.
Saying the seafarers have been left unemployed for over a year now, Valentino reminded that seafarers have been the major contributors to the state’s economy and hence should be accorded priority during the ongoing vaccination.
The seafaring community under the banner of Goan Seamen Association of India, besides the Goa Forward and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro had petitioned to the government to immediately start the process of vaccination of seafarers. In fact, a petition has been made to the MPT as well to start vaccination as it is one of the ports notified by the Director General of Shipping as a vaccination centre for seafarers.
