FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) on Saturday gave a week’s ultimatum to the government to restart pension scheme for the retired seafarers and their widows.
“If the government doesn’t reply to our demands within a week, we will take the protests to each and every village,” warned GSAI.
The pension scheme has been stopped since October 2019, for almost a year now.
The GSAI said that the retired seafarers and their widows begged the MLAs of their constituencies to restart the scheme which have gone on deaf ears.
“The Chief Minister too had promised of restating the scheme but he hasn't kept his word. Velim MLA Philip Neri Rodrigues, who represents the constituency which consists of maximum seafarers, was expected to put up a case for the seafarers,” said Frank Viegas, president of GSAI.
"Our seniors have been brought on the road by the government even as they are most vulnerable to the infection of COVID-19," said Frank.
The GSAI is expecting a reply from the government soon.
