Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik attended and addressed the Seafarers Day.
Goa Seamen Association of India today celebrated Seafarers Day at Margao. Commissioner for NRI Affairs Narendra Sawaikar was present on this occasion.
Addressing the seafarers, Union Minister Shripad Naik said, Government has initiated various policies for the welfare of seafarers in the last few years, and a lot more needs to be done in the future.
The minister said,“In order to promote ‘Ease of Doing Business, all the processes related to seafarers has been made online. To bring in transparency and accountability, the Directorate of General Shipping implemented the digitalization of the services like Biometric Seafarers Identity Document, issuing the certificates, automatic rating issuance of watchkeeping certificate, the permission of multimodal transport operator, recruitment and placement agency.”
India has become the first country to issue Biometric Seafarers Identity Document. So far, more than 1 lakh 95 thousand BSID cards have been issued to Indian seafarers. DG Shipping will complete Issuing of the remaining 3 lakh 87 thousand cards soon.
‘Agnipath’ is a new defence recruitment model that allows youth to serve for the defence forces, said the minister and further added that the Indian Navy and DG Shipping will facilitate ‘Agniveers’ to join the Merchant Navy in various capacities after completing four years and MoU in this regard are already signed. Union Minister appealed to youths to take more and more benefits of the scheme.
He added that financial assistance ranging from Rs. 10,000 to 2 lakh is being provided through these schemes, which helped seafarers and their families through schemes like Survival Benefit Scheme, Invalidity Benefit Scheme, and Maternity Benefit Scheme for the female seafarers, Old Age Benefit Scheme.
In addition to these schemes, a monthly subscription-based provident fund for seafarers is also available. Financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the family of an Indian Seafarer who lost life due to Covid-19 and reimbursement of medical expenses up to Rs. 1 lakh for the Covid-19 treatment was also launched earlier.
Union Minister lauded the services of the seafarers during the Covid-19 pandemic as Seafarers provided essential services.
