Port Blair, Jan 20: The Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma recently met Shri Sudhir Mahajan, Secretary (Shipping), Andaman & Nicobar Administration and discussed regarding creating employment opportunities for young Islanders in the shipping sector.

Kuldeep referring to shipping as lifeline of the Islands said that this is an everlasting and ever growing sector having vast potential to generate employment and accommodate Islanders in the field of repairs, maintenance, upkeep and operation of the ships plying in these Islands, which are owned by the A&N Administration as also by the private parties. Referring to the agreement concluded by the A&N Administration with the Cochin Shipyard Limited for maintenance of the Ships owned by the Administration and upgradation of repairing facilities of the DSS dock yard , Kuldeep requested Secretary (Shipping)  to ensure that the locally available Ship Repairers who are registered with the various government and autonomous agencies such as DSS, SCI, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy etc. are given opportunity by Cochin Shipyard Limited for maintenance and repair works of the ships. 

The Member of Parliament further emphasized the need to have an arrangement worked out with the Cochin Shipyard Limited for  providing employment to the youths of these  Islands through customized skill development who have undergone training from ITI , Community Polytechnic, Industries department , etc. in courses such as Fitter, Welder, Plumber, Carpentry , Air Conditioning , Electrician, etc. so that prevailing dependency on mainland for skilled manpower in the ship repair industry gets marginalized in due course of time. This consideration of the administration will provide many eligible trained unemployed local youths to get employment in these hard days of unemployment.