Hike pension to retired seafarers, MP tells NUSI

MARGAO, AUG 23
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has told the general secretary of National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) Abdulgani Serang on Monday to effect an immediate hike in the ex-gratia relief paid to the retired seafarers of the merchant navy.
Sardinha even assured the NUSI general secretary that he will use his good offices in Delhi to take up the cause of the retired seafarers and urged Abdulgani to fix a meeting with concerned ministers and officials in the national capital.
Speaking telephonically to Abdulgani after a delegation of retired seafarers called on him in the district Collectorate here on Monday morning, Sardinha said grave injustice is being meted out to the retired seafarers and their widows by paying them a monthly dole of Rs 200. He told Abdulgani in clear terms that seven senior citizens are paid a monthly dole of Rs 1000 in Goa and wondered why NUSI cannot afford to look after its seafarers after retirement.  “It is high time you do something. Don’t you agree that one even cannot buy fish for Rs 200 now”, he told Abdulgani over telephone and urged the NUSI general secretary to take interest in the issue and fix up a meeting with the concerned officials in Delhi.
The MP reminded Abdulgani that even a peon receives pension after retirement and demanded to know why the retired seafarers are being left in the lurch during retirement.
President of the Retired Goan Seafarers Association, Afron Dias told newsmen that the seafarers are being paid a pittance by NUSI and demanded a raise in the monthly pension.
He said NUSI has vast resources at its disposal due to contributions made by shipping companies for the welfare of the seafarers and demanded that portion of the funds be spent on the welfare of retired seafarers.
Another seamen demanded to know the status of the funds in the Provident Fund and said the department of welfare, which comes under Director General, Shipping should seriously consider the demands of the retired seafarers.
The retired seafarers recalled that PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao had called a meeting of the seafarers with Abdulgani at the NUSI Maritime Academy three years wherein promises were made to hike the monthly pension to Rs 1000-1500. He, however, lamented that its nearly three years since the meeting raised hopes of a hike in the montly dole, but retired seafarers continues to receive Rs 200 per month.