Reiterates Administration’s commitment for Facilitating Employment Opportunities to All

Port Blair, Feb.15:  A three-day long ‘Mega Job Fair’, the first of its kind in the A&N Islands, began in the Dr. B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT), with its inauguration by the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Admiral D.K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) in the auditorium of the DBRAIT here this morning. The Mega Job Fair, a special effort of the A&N Administration in bringing employers from the mainland for recruitment of local candidates in their respective companies, is being jointly organized by the Labour, Employment & Training Department and Directorate of Education. The big employers participating in the job fair are Tata Steel, Birla Tyres, NCC Hyderabad, Roseate hotels, Club Mahindra, Sky pro and PCS Global.

The Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi, PBMC Chairperson Smti. Anusia Devi, Director, Board of Practical Training, Eastern Region (MHRD), Shri Ejaz Ahmed besides other senior officers from the Administration, employers, both from mainland and Islands and a large number of job aspirants from across the A&N Islands were present on the occasion. A one minute’s silence was also observed to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who were martyred in the terrorist attack at Pulwama in J&K yesterday.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Lt. Governor said that the Administration is acutely conscious that jobs and employment opportunities are fundamental needs of each person and is also concerned of the limitations that confront the people of the A&N Islands in this regard. He further said that the Government jobs are limited and can’t grow any further. With increasing computerization and automation, government jobs are shrinking day by day. Therefore, entrepreneurships are being encouraged by the Government throughout the country. Employment in the private sector is largely limited to hospitality and tourism sectors in these Islands, he said.

Referring to this Mega Job Fair, the Lt. Governor said, though job fairs have been organized in the Isles earlier too, this one is different owing to the reasons that earlier the job fairs were limited, with the participation of only local employers and jobs mostly confined to sectors like tourism, tour operation and other hospitality sectors, that too mostly in Port Blair area. This time, he said, the Administration organized sensitization programmes in outer Islands about the job fair and motivated the youth to participate in this fair for finding appropriate employment. The Administration also reached out to employers, on the mainland and asked about their specific needs so that suitable candidates may approach them. So far, around 1200 candidates have registered for this fair, the Lt. Governor said, further welcoming other candidates to walk in for interviews during the three-day job fair. He also assured of all logistic support to the employers who have come from mainland. The Lt. Governor reiterated that the Administration will remain dedicated and devoted for facilitating opportunities and ensure to the extent possible that no person is denied opportunity of gainful employment.

Expressing his views on the occasion, the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray at the outset welcomed the employers from mainland to this Mega Job Fair and lauded the Administration for organizing it for the youth of the Isles. With the huge number of schemes of the Govt. of India being implemented in the Islands in true letter and spirit by the Administration, the A&N Islands will see greater developments in the coming days, said the MP. He also informed the employers from the mainland about the composite culture of the Islands which are rightly known as ‘Mini India’. He assured that the children and youth of the Islands are very hardworking, simple and can achieve greater heights with their dedication and honesty. He also hailed the Lt. Governor for filling up the largest number of vacancies under the Administration, as compared to during the last 50 years, in the most fair and transparent manner.

While speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary, Shri Chetan B Sanghi invited more companies from mainland to recruit candidates from these Islands. This Mega Job Fair, which will see participation of the employers from the mainland will connect the Islands with mainland, he said. He also assured of all support from the Administration to the companies who have come here for this job fair & recruitment drive. The Chief Secretary further said that the Government today wants to be facilitator and to create opportunities. Highlighting about various projects that are being implemented in the Islands, the Chief Secretary said, with the undersea cable project in place, the connectivity here will enhance manifold. Likewise, the international flights and the regional connectivity by sea planes will also be starting this year. The expansion of the ITIs here will further fulfill the required skilled manpower in different sectors. The Chief Secretary further stated that Fishery, Agriculture & AHVS and Industries Departments are implementing various schemes whereby the people will be able to take up self employment to a large extent and will become employers themselves. He also mentioned that in big tourism projects to be implemented in the Islands, 50 to 60% employees will be local. He also urged the ACCI to employ more local candidates in their ventures. Within a year or so, the local employment and investment will see big improvement, he said.

The Director, BoPT, Shri Ejaz Ahmed, while speaking on the occasion highlighted about the efforts of BoPT, established in the year 1969, in providing technical trainings to a huge number of candidates in the country. He said BoPT is also arranging Internship programmes for the students and about 200 students will be selected for internship for the year 2019-20. He also thanked the A&N Administration for providing an opportunity to BoPT to be part of this mega Job Fair.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, the Secretary Education and Employment & Training, Shri D. Manikandan said that education, skill and employment are all related to each other. He said, for the very first time, 7 big employers from mainland are taking part in this Mega Job Fair along with 45 local employers of these Islands. The Secretary also inform that for the first time, online recruitment process has been applied and a mammoth number of 1200 candidates from across the Islands registered themselves online for participating in this job fair. Also for the first time, refresher training was organized for the candidates, free of cost, for sharpening their skills to face interviews during this job fair. The Secretary further informed that as per the directions of the Lt. Governor, such mega job fair will be conducted in the Isles, every six months. As many as 877 vacancies are to be filled during this job fair.

The inaugural function of the Mega Job Fair concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director Labour, Employment & Training, Shri Madhu Sudhan Baidya. 

A Special bus (transport facility) has been arranged for the job aspirants to reach Mega Job Fair venue at DBRAIT tomorrow (Feb 16). Accordingly, the bus will leave from Mohanpura Bus terminus at 9 AM and will return from DBRAIT at 5 PM for Mohanpura Bus Terminus.