MARGAO: The Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI), led by its president Dixon Vaz and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, met Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the ex-gratia issue. They also submitted a memorandum, on behalf of the seafarer community of Goa, appealing for a hike in the ex-gratia from Rs 200 to at least Rs 5,000 per month. “Union Minister Gadkari directed his OSD Rajgopal Sharma to follow up the matter with proper documentation so that a solution can be found soon. We handed all the paperwork related to ex-gratia to the OSD, who assured that he would write to all departments as soon as possible,” said Vaz.
The delegation also briefed Gadkari about their grievances with the National Union of Seafarers. Dixon added that they had also met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in parliament and asked him to follow up the matter on behalf of the Goans.
