Team Herald
MARGAO: Two months have passed since the declaration of the Goa Welfare Pension Scheme for retired seafarers and widows, however, the beneficiaries are still waiting to get the amount released into their account, as the scheme is going to expire in the next four months.
In the letter to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, besides NRI commissioner and other MLAs, the Goa Seafarers Association of India (GSAI) has urged government to look into the matter at the earliest and make the scheme permanent.
“The Goa Welfare Pension Scheme for retired seafarers and widows was declared on June 25, which is celebrated as seafarers’ day, and the notification came into effect from June 1, 2021, to November 31, 2021. It’s almost two months, the seafarers and widows are waiting for the release of the amount from the NRI Department”, said Frank Viegas, GSAI president.
He said that most of the beneficiaries have submitted their life certificate and bank details to their concerned MLA and also in the GSAI office, which were put forward to the NRI Department.
“The new beneficiaries, mostly above 60 years, have to run from pillar to post to complete the formalities and to obtain various certificates, so that they are eligible and do not miss out the expiry date, which is hardly four months left”, he stated.
GSAI brought to the attention of the chief minister and NRI commissioner that the scheme should be made permanent.
GSAI made representation as per the request of the seafarer’s community to Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar, Minister for WRD Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Leader of opposition Digambar Kamat, MLA Vijai Sardesai, MLA Aleixo Reginaldo, and MLA Churchill Alemao to take it to a logical conclusion and bring it to the attention of the chief minister so the scheme for is made permanent and also to clear the arrears and not to harass the Seafarers community to knock the doors of the government again and again.
“Most of the beneficiaries are senior citizens who find it difficult to move out and especially at a time of COVID-19 pandemic”, said Frank.
