MARGAO, SEPT 20
In an interesting development, the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) has agreed to meet and interact with retired seafarers, who have been agitating for months now for a hike in the monthly ex-gratia relief.
In a written communiqué to the South Goa District Collector, NUSI General Secretary Abdulgani Y Serang said the Union representatives will be pleased to meet and interact with the retired seafarers in the office of the district Collector between 9 am to 10 am on September 22 – the day when the NUSI Wockhardt hospital will be commissioned at Panzorconi-Cuncolim.
In his letter Abdulgani said the Union has been informed that many retired seafarers from Goa wanted to meet them regarding various issues including financial assistance which they receive from the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society.
In this connection, Abdulgani said NUSI has been consistently demanding increase in the amount in the various meetings of the committee of management of the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society.
NUSI’s decision to meet and interact with the retired seafarers assumes significance as the police had apprehended law and order situation near the venue of the hospital if retired seafarers come in large number to demand settlement of their long-pending demand of a hike in monthly ex-gratia relief.
In fact, the retired seafarers have been agitating for their genuine demand over the last several months and have been knocking the doors of the all concerned, including the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, seeking their intervention with the NUSI management to consider a sizeable hike in the relief.
They contended that NUSI is paying a retired seafarer ex-gratia relief of Rs 200 per month, adding that even this meager amount is paid to them after every six months.
