Seafarers raise issue of ‘being charged’ for quarantine yet again

Margao: Families of seafarers and seafarers themselves have raised a question over charging the seafarers entering the state, for quarantine.

They have questioned as to why those entering the state by crossing the  border or by train were allowed to have the option of facility and then home (if negative for COVID-19) quarantine while only the seafarers are forced to pay Rs 2,500 per day.

Some families concerned over the rates conducted a survey on their own and found that hotels in South Goa are willing to keep the seafarers at the rate of Rs 700 per day.

Speaking to the media persons in Benaulim on Thursday, Quepem-based seafarer Sanju Borkar said that he had returned to the state well before the lockdown, but added that it is unfair to charge the seafarers for quarantine at  Rs 2,500 per day.

“A survey that was done by some family members found that South Goa hotels are ready for negotiation over the price of Rs 700 per night. But still the government wants to charge Rs 2,500. The seafarers’ companies are taking so much efforts to bring them from the US to Goa. A new clause was added to the SOP that said the company would have to bear the cost of quarantine, which will be a problem for the seafarers later. Some of these boys have been on the vessels for more than a month, and if they test negative for COVID-19 why should they go through an additional paid quarantine? Why are the people coming from across the border not being given the same treatment?” said Borkar. 

Another seafarer, Jeff Goes urged the state government not to charge such an exorbitant amount.

“The hotels in South Goa are willing to charge Rs 500 to Rs 700. Understand the difficulties of the seafarers. If companies are made to pay the price, the seafarers may in turn lose their jobs, that is something we don’t want,” he said. 

Rhean Goes, wife of one of the seafarers stranded at sea, said, “Why are the seafarers on Karnika boat still not allowed to disembark? There are many more boats on the way and the question begins to arise about what will happen to them?”

They have also appealed to other family members of seafarers to raise the issue of the paid quarantine with their  MLAs.

“Today, the stranded seafarers are frustrated, and we don’t want them to take any drastic measures wherein lives are lost. We request seafarers in the state as well as their families to ask their local MLAs to support them on this issue,” said Borkar.

Meanwhile, seafarer’s association has welcomed a recent order allowing  charter flights to India.

“We welcome the much-awaited order to repatriate stranded Indian seafarers as well as the order allowing airline companies to apply for charter flights to land in India. It will be a big relief to seafarers, however, we hope that the process starts fast as our seafarers have suffered and been through a lot. Now, it is up to the Indian embassies in each region to work with the External Affairs Ministry to arrange flights to bring them back home,” said Goa Seamen Association of India (GSAI) spokesperson Dixon Vaz.