Port Blair, Aug 18: A delegation of the inter islands seamen came to Gandhi Bhavan on 16th August, 2013 to record their sincere gratitude to the PCC Chief Kuldeep Rai Sharma, for whose earnest efforts with the officials of the AN Administration, their long pending wage revision got settled.
On 4th July, 2013 Sharma along with delegation of seamen employed in the Inter Islands vessels owned by AN Administration met the Chief Secretary Shri Anand Prakash in connection with the grievances of Home Trade seamen, when Sharma has briefed of the sufferings and hardship being faced by 150 odd Home Trade seamen employed on board inter-island vessels owned by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration due to non increase of their wages since 31.03.2006.
Batting for the seamen, Sharma briefed that due to non enhancement of wages for over 7(seven) years, these seamen are facing acute financial crunch to meet the living expenses of their dependent family members because of high cost of living in these Islands coupled with countrywide steep rise in price index witnessed in recent past. Sharma also spoken of those retired seamen, who are still waiting for the arrears to be paid to them, once the wage revision is settled. Such arrears will be of great help to those retired personnel in these hard days, Sharma submitted. Being convinced with the arguments of the PCC Chief, The Chief Secretary had assured to take proper action on the matter at the earliest and thus the long pending wage revision got settled by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
Sharma , in his brief speech to the Seamen, who have arrived to Gandhi Bhavan on 16th August, stated that whatever he is doing for the islanders, is his duty and assured them that, as and when they require his help, he will always be available to them and as well to every islanders.
