Panjim: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate the immediate return of over 7,000 Goan sailors, among 21,000 Indian seafarers, who are stranded in various ships across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the State government will submit data on Goan seafarers to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, after which the process to get them back will be initiated.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Along with the letter, Kamat has also sent an email consisting of details of almost 199 cruise ships which are presently at various locations with almost 21,000 Indian seafarers onboard.
“He has also enclosed a chart showing details of various cruise ships with names of the shipping companies, their current location, number of Indian crew members and other details compiled after collecting information from Goan Seafarers Association, family members of the seafarers and others, which will help the Indian authorities to track the seafarers,” the statement issued by his office said.
In the letter, Kamat said that as per the information available almost 21,000 plus Indian seafarers out of which 7000-8000 are from Goa, stranded on almost 196 merchant ships.
“I would like to bring to your kind notice that the Indian seafarers have immensely contributed to the economic growth and foreign exchange earning of the Country and particularly the State of Goa,” former CM said.
Kamat had last week written to the Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik for his immediate intervention in the matter.
The Opposition as well as families of stranded seafarers has also requested the Government to facilitate their repatriation.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister said that data on Goan seafarers would be submitted to Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, along with a communication for personal intervention of PM Narendra Modi in the matter.
“We are confident that in next two-three days some decision will come up,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco and BJP Panjim MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate called on the CM with regards to the seafarer’s issue.
