MARGAO
Beleaguered retired seafarers and widows will have to wait for three more days to get their pension along with arrears as the nationalized bank could not credit the pension amount in the accounts of the beneficiaries on Monday.
Sources, however, said the office of NRI Affairs has set in motion the process to prepare a draft of a comprehensive pension scheme for the seafarers.
The Goan understands that when the banks resumed on Monday after two-day holiday, the bank of the nationalized bank is presently on leave and hence the pension amount could not be credited in the accounts of the seafarers. Since the concerned bank official is on leave and is expected to resume duty only on December 28, the seafarers will have to wait for the next three days for their pension to be credited in their accounts.
When contacted, Director, NRI Affairs, Anthony D’Souza said the process is complete in all respects from the government side, with the Accounts department having already transferred the amount of Rs 1.75 crore to the bank for disbursement to the pension holders.
“There was a hitch on Monday since the concerned bank official is presently on leave and will resume duties only on December 28”, D’Souza said, adding that pension amount will be credit to the accounts of the seafarers and widows from December 28.
Replying to another question, D’Souza said the office of NRI Affairs have already set in motion the process to prepare a draft comprehensive and permanent pension scheme for the seafarers and widows. “Since the Home department has given us the mandate to prepare the draft comprehensive and permanent scheme for the seafarers, we have started the exercise in right earnest. The draft will be submitted to the government at the earliest”, he said.
The government has already extended the pension scheme for the seafarers by another six months, which will end in May. Sources pointed out that the while the existing scheme will end in May, the draft scheme will be ready in the next one month, which would enable the government to take a final call.
Sources pointed out the permanent scheme is expected to bring all seafarers and widows, even though drawing pension from other schemes, under the scheme run by the office of NRI Affairs.
