Job creation in shipping sector top priority, says Mandaviya
New Delhi: Mansukh L Mandaviya, a politician who is known for riding his by-cycle to attend Parliament proceedings, is all set to strategise his employment-centric agenda for the next five years as he comes into the role of Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping.
In a brief interaction, Mandaviya told Millennium Post that there are ample opportunities of job creation in the shipping sector as this sector is economically viable for logistics sector and safe to environment too.
"The prime focus will on the promotion of coastal shipping to make it a major mode of transportation as road and rail traffic are already overloaded. The coastal transportation will be very economical in comparison to surface transport and the ministry would soon review the 'obstructive' norms and make it more seamless," said Mandaviya, who belongs to Gujarat's Bhavnagar area.
"Given the vast coastal line spread in 7,300 km, the plan is to give a push to shipbuilding and ship breaking to generate millions of employment in the country," he said, adding that seafarer is another lucrative employment option that needs to be promoted.
"There is a huge demand for seafarer across the globe. The total demand of seafarer is of over 50 lakh and India is able to produce only 2 lakh sea crews. Prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first tenure, the country's sea crew strength was just 92,000," he said.
As employment in the shipping sector means earning in foreign currency and bringing foreign exchange to the country, the plan is afoot to start short-term sea crew training courses which would be certified by Director General of Shipping. The courses would be of 3-month and 6-month. The candidates would get comprehensive training on shipping industry during their course.
Mandaviya, who is riding a bike since 2012, has inspired over 40 lawmakers to ride the cycle and formed a 'climate club' in the Parliament.
The development of Inland waterways is another important area that Mandaviya wants to focus on.
