Team Herald
PORVORIM: The Goa government has assured to hold a joint meeting with the Director General of Shipping (DGS), Seafarers Welfare Fund Society and Seafarers Association to resolve the issue of pension to retired Goan seafarers and their widows.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s assurance came in response to a calling attention moved by a battery of Opposition legislators raising apprehension on the one time lumpsum amount to be paid to this community. “Although the government of Goa has its own pension scheme for paying pension at Rs 2,500 per month to the retired Goan seafarers and their widows, as per eligibility criteria, in view of the anxiety amongst seafarer, Goa government shall endure to have a joint meeting with the concerned,” he told the House.
The committee of management of seafarers’ welfare fund society has taken a decision to discontinue the monthly ex-gratia monetary assistance scheme with effect from July 1 and to pay one time lumpsum amount of Rs 12,500 to each beneficiary towards the closure of the scheme.
As per information shared in the House, the beneficiaries have been requested by the Chief Administrative cum accounts officer of the society to fill up and sign a form giving details.
The decision has distressed around 3,000 beneficiaries who have sought intervention of the government to resolve the matter.
