TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: South Goa BJP candidate, Narendra Sawaikar on Saturday promised Goan seafarers that he would effectively take up their pending grievances, including the long pending demand of Rs 500 crore central grant to the Seafarer’s welfare fund, if elected to the Lok Sabha.
Addressing members of the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) here on Saturday, Sawaikar sought support of the seafaring community for his candidature to fulfil their demands. “Your problems are not new to me. You had been demanding a hike in the pension over the years. It was only after the Parrikar government was elected to power, you are getting a pension of Rs 2500 a month from the government. Our government has delivered in Goa and we want the same model to be replicated at the Centre,” he said, while seeking votes.
NRI Commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita appealed to the seafarers to remain vigilant, accusing the opposition of trying to split the society on communal lines.
President of GSAI Dixon Vaz highlight the problems faced by the seafarer community. He demanded that the government set up a seafarers’ cell and called upon Sawaikar to help get a central grant of Rs 500 crore for the seafarers’ welfare fund.
Dixon later submitted a memorandum to Sawaikar calling for the constitution of a seafarers cell in Goa to look after the grievances by the seafaring community with the support of the central government; to ensure that original contract is signed at the time of joining the ship with projected sign on and sign off date and wages; airline ticket from home town for all seafarers and a hike in ex-gratia relief with the help of central government.
