MARGAO: Appreciating the seafarers’ suggestion that they are ready to invest their money in development of Goa, Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardessai has invited a delegation of Goan Seamen Association of India to Panjim to discuss with the NRI department so that their problems can be solved.
At the function held to celebrate Tarvottiancho Dis (Day of the Seafarers) at Ravindra Bhavan on Tuesday, various speakers pointed out the problems faced by the seafarers, specially retired ones, as even the NUSI hospital that used to cater to the seamen has since shut down.
Franklin D’Costa, president of the Association, appealed to Vijai to prevail upon the government to give them some health benefits as the retired seamen are facing severe hardships. Besides, he also pointed out that though the Centre has given relaxation to employed seafarers in having SSC to obtain Indian CDC, the same is not reflected on the net where it is showing as “pending”.
Founder member of the Association Dixon Vas pointed out that when a seafarer goes missing while on the vessel, the family suffers a lot as they have to wait for seven years to officially declare him dead and only then can they claim his various investment including insurance.
He also pointed out that many seafarers have not received their pension for two years and that many dependants of seafarers desperately wait for the pension to keep their home fires burning.
Pointing out that the Kochi airport in Kerala was constructed with funds from NRIs, he said the seafarers have lot of money which the government could utilise for development by way of bonds or some other scheme so that seafarers can invest in the State’s progress and reap the benefit later on.
