Retired seafarers threaten protest for hike in pension
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 24
Saying they have lost patience over the failure by the National Union of Seafarer’s of India (NUSI) to fulfill the promises, retired seafarers from Goa have threatened to hold series of demonstrations in front of NUSI Wockhardt hospital to press for a hike in the monthly ex-gratia relief.
The Goan Retired Seamen Welfare Association warned that they would be forced to appeal to the people to boycott the hospital for meting injustice to all the retired seamen and widows.
“All retired seamen have now lost their patience and are planning seriously to have several demonstrations in front of NUSI Wockhardt hospital main gate entrance to appeal to the people to boycott the hospital for showing its injustice done to all retired seamen and widows, as NUSI has failed to fulfill its assurances and promise made to them that they would increase the ex-gratia monetary payment from Rs 200 which has not been increased for the last 16 years”, the Association said in a letter signed by President Ifrona Dias, secretary Peter Crasto and treasurer Augustine Fernandes.
What has agitated the retired seafarers is the fact that NUSI had promised them on September 22 to get back to them within two weeks on the outcome of efforts made by the Union vis-à-vis the ex-gratia relief.
It’s now over a month since NUSI had made the promise, but the retired seafarers have till date not heard anything from the Union.
The retired seafarers have also drew attention of the South Goa district Magistrate, G P Naik, who had brokered a meeting between NUSI and the seafarers on September 22.
Sources in the know said the district Magistrate has also written a letter to NUSI reminding the Union of the promises made to solve the seafarers’ grievances.
The retired seamen and their widow’s are disappointed that NUSI has not made any effort to pursue their genuine demand to get an increase of Monthly Ex-gratia Monteary Association (MEMA) given by the Seafarer’s Welfare Fund Society since 2008 and has been silent over the matter.
Moreover, the retired seafarers pointed out that NUSI general secretary Abdul Ghani Y Serang has failed to negotiate on the demand put forth by former NUSI general secretary late Dr Leo Barnes 11 years ago.
