Port Blair, July 06: Representatives of CDC holders and Sailors Union of India (SUI), today called on the Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd.), at Raj Niwas and informed that they have called off their strike. They have also expressed their gratitude to the Lt Governor for his concern for the sea farers and his initiatives towards resolving their issues. On 5th July, the representatives of CDC holders alongwith Mr RP Veettil and Chairperson, PBMC had met the Lt Governor, who had asked the DSS to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution keeping in view interests of all stake holders.
The CDC holders serving on regular contract basis with the department of Shipping Services had communicated their demands to the department of shipping including permanent enrolment in the departmental rosters on the basis of seniority and employment onboard mainland ships presently under SCI manning. These issues have been taken up by the department of shipping for suitable redressals and solutions. However as these are complicated issues and would require consensus building between all stake holders including all the sea farers, the SCI and the A&N Administration, would take some time to resolve.
Whilst the department of shipping would continue its endeavours to engage the SCI for enrolment of local CDC holders in the SCI rosters and for their employment onboard mainland ships presently under SCI manning, to provide immediate relief to the CDC holders, their demand for contract engagement periods to be increased from present three months to six months has been agreed to prima facie by the Directorate of Shipping Services. This would soon be implemented after formal approval of A&N Administration. Further this will not affect the article periods of the already rostered crew who would continue to be employed on articles of nine months as hither to.
The A&N Administration is also working on revising the existing criteria for selection of candidates to be enrolled in the A&N Administration. A committee under the Secretary Shipping is looking at all issues in this regard. After the draft is ready in this respect, it will be circulated to all stake holders for their comments and suggestions before formal approval.
The above suggestions have emerged after detailed discussions between the Directorate of Shipping Services and representatives from the CDC holders. Mr. RP Veettil from Sailors Union of India (SUI) was also present.
