According to documents submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office, there are around 22,500 Indian seafarers who are stranded abroad around one-third of whom are from Goa. The global shipping industry has not come to a halt but the cruise tourism industry, which employs more people, has. The Centre has refused to repatriate those Indians stranded abroad, be it students or tourists. The seafarers’ issue is different from others stranded abroad. “The Indian seafarers have contributed immensely to the economic growth and foreign exchange earnings of the country and particularly Goa.

Source: Hindustan Times April 15, 2020 08:42 UTC