MARGAO: The Goa Seaman Association of India (GSAI) have appealed to the government to grant them recognition due to them for all the hard work they have been putting in on behalf of the welfare of the seafarer community in Goa.
Frank Viegas, the GSAI President pointed that there are bodies recognised by the State government like the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) and that GSAI should also be made into an official nodal body that would coordinate with the government and the seafarer community at large.
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Viegas pointed out that at present and for the last so many years, GSAI has been carrying out such coordination work between the public and the government in an unofficial capacity.
He further added that GSAI has also been repeatedly following up with not just the State government but also the Central government and national unions regarding various benefits that are due to the seafarer community in the State.
Viegas added that GSAI’s role has been unofficially recognised by the government and even legislators and so it would be prudent if this new demand of the GSAI is met.
He also gave the example of TAG and other such bodies getting funding from the government and that if GSAI receives such funding, it would help them do so much more for the benefit of the seafarer community.
Viegas also said that GSAI has coordinated with families of seafarers who have had issues on board their ships too.
When pointed out that in the past, the government used to suggest that seafarer cell under the Non-Resident India (NRI) Affairs Commissioner’s office would suffice, Viegas said what is required is for a nodal agency the way they had suggested to carry out all the scope of works that are needed to be done for the seafarer community.
