MARGAO: Irked over the discontinuance of the monthly ex-gratia allowance, the retired seafarers on Wednesday unanimously decided to go on a one-day hunger strike on July 11.
The retired seafarers, who held a meeting at the Goa Seamen Association of India office, have served a three-month deadline to fulfil their demands failing which they threatened to shut down the NUSI Maritime Academy.
Slamming the Welfare Society for sending letters to the seafarers regarding the stoppage of the ex-gratia allowance, the seamen criticised the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) for having played a mute spectator in this regard and for enjoying at the seafarers’ cost.
The seafarers have demanded an increase in the ex-gratia monthly amount to Rs 5,000, a One Time Settlement, if any, amounting to not less than Rs 5 lakh, a joint meeting of retired seafarers and welfare funds society in Goa, shutting down of all NUSI operations in Goa, handing over NUSI hospital land building back to Cuncolim Comunidade and shut down of NUSI Maritime Academy at Sucaldem, Chinchinim.
“We warn the NUSI and Welfare Society that if they fail to fulfil our demands we will shut down their Academy and the guesthouse facilities in Goa” warned Dixon Vaz, GSAI spokesperson.
