MARGAO, SEPT 22
Declining to specify the time frame when the retired seafarers will get a hike in the monthly ex-gratia assistance, general secretary of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) Abdulgani Serang has said that all out genuine efforts will be made to increase the monthly monetary assistance to the retired seafarers.
Serang had a meeting with the agitating retired seafarers from Goa brokered by the District Magistrate, South G P Naik at the District Collectorate here on early Wednesday morning.
Coming out of the Collector’s office after a near hour-long meeting, Abdulgani told newsmen that efforts were definitely on from NUSI to convince the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society to effect a hike in the ex-gratia relief for the retired seamen, but declined to give any time-frame.
On the other hand, president of the Retired Seafarers Association, Afron Dias said the NUSI general secretary has agreed for a hike in the ex-gratia assistance and will get back to the retired seafarers within two weeks.
Abdulgani said the ex-gratia relief is being handled by the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS). “Of the 16-member SWFS, NUSI has only two members on the body, but our efforts are on to get the monetary assistance hiked. The SWFS is responsible to more than 20,000 retired seafarers all over India”, Abdulgani said.
Saying the SWFS is hit by paucity of funds with more and more seafarers retiring every year, he said the Society has formed a Task Force to augment the fund for the benefit of the retiring seamen.
Replying to a question, Abdulgani said the Task Force has been formed under the Chairmanship of the Director General of Shipping, adding that NUSI will take up the matter even in Delhi to put pressure on the concerned people to get the monetary relief hiked. “I cannot commit on the amount, but we will definitely try to increase the monetary assistance. We cannot quote the figure right now, but something will be worked out by the Society”, he added.
Abdulgani said the NUSI is the only Union which takes care of not only the serving seafarers, but the retired seamen as well. “We have introduced a scholarship scheme for the children of seafarers pursuing education after XII”, he said.
District Collector, G P Naik said the meeting between the representatives of NUSI and retired seafarer was convened by him in view of the likelihood of law and order problem at the inauguration of the NUSI Wockhardt hospital at Panzorconne-Cuncolim. “The NUSI general secretary has assured to make collective efforts to look into the grievances of the retired seafarers. We are only concerned about the law and order”, he added.
