Port Blair, July 8: The representatives of CDC holders met the Municipal Chairperson, Smt Sheela Singh on Friday and expressed gratitude for the support and initiatives rendered for towards resolving their issues. The Lt. Governor had asked the DSS to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions keeping in view the interest of all stake holders. The demand of permanent enrolment in the departmental roasters on the basis of seniority and employment onboard mainland ships presently under SCI have also been taken up by the Department of Shipping for suitable redressal and solutions. These are complicated issues and would require consensus building between all stake holders including all the sea fares, the SCI and the A&N Administration would need some more time to resolve.
To provide immediate relief to the CDC holders, the Shipping Department would continue to engage the SCI for enrolment of local CDC holders in the SCI roasters and their demand for increasing the contract period from the present three months to six months has also been agreed. A committee headed by the Secretary (Shipping), A&N Admn. is looking at all these issues and will draft proposal for circulation to all stake holders for their comments and suggestions before final approval. All the suggestions have emerged after a detailed discussion between the Directorate of Shipping Services, Mr R.P.Veettil from Sailors Union of India (SUI) and representative from the CDC holders. The Chairperson, PBMC, Smt Sheela Singh has also expressed gratitude to the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Mr R.P.Veettil (SUI) and the administration for addressing the concerns of the local CDC holders.
