Panaji: Despite chief minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement last month of a Rs 2,000 monthly pension for motorcycle taxi pilots aged 50 years and above, the welfare initiative is yet to be notified, leaving beneficiaries waiting despite assurances that it would be implemented from Aug 1.All Goa Yellow and Black Motorcycle Pilots Association president Suresh Thakur said the proposed financial assistance is a necessity to support ageing pilots who are not eligible for existing social security schemes.“It is meant to help those between the ages of 50 and 60, as the Dayanand Social Security Scheme benefits generally begin only after 60 years of age,” said Thakur.He said the association had earlier secured a similar welfare scheme, which remained in force until it was discontinued in 2017. The new proposal seeks to revive support for senior pilots through a separate monthly assistance scheme.“We were informed that the scheme would start from Aug 1, but no notification has been issued so far, and application forms have also not been released,” he said.“Many pilots continue working well into their 50s and 60s, sometimes even their 70s because they have no other source of income,” he added.The association has urged govt to expedite the notification and operationalise the scheme without further delay.
