TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Seamen Association of India (GSAI) President Frank Viegas has requested the State government to restart the Goa Seafarers Welfare Pension Scheme for the seafarers, on a priority basis.
Frank said that the State government failed to restart the scheme after lot of assurance from the Chief Minister and the ruling MLA. The scheme has been stopped without intimating the beneficiaries, putting great hardship, especially at the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
"It would be a great help to our seafarers community who are mostly dependent on this aid which has been stopped from October 2019. The State government has to intervene on time to ensure that the unnecessary burden on the retired seafarers/widows who have to run from pillar to post for inquiry has to be avoided," he said.
"This assurance and hope, especially at this point of time during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, who are above 60 years of age, will help the needy seafarers,” he added.
