Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Aug 31: The Working President of Seafarers Confederation of India (SCI), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Liju Thangachan, has accused the Directorate of Shipping Services of non-compliance to the directions of the former Lt. Governor of these islands to formulate officer manning for the 17 Speed Boats in the foreshore sector.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, Mr Thangachan claimed that the delay in implementing the instructions of the former Lt. Governor is a deliberate act to benefit the private manning agency and to extend the contract of the firm on the pretext of ‘essential public service’.
“The former Lt. Governor in the month of May 2014 directed the Shipping Services to formulate measures for officer manning for foreshore sector vessels by setting up a suitable cell under the Directorate of Shipping Services for contracting and regulating the officers required for the manning of foreshore vessels, appoint suitable consultants/staff required for control and manning of officer cell, if required, on contract, prepare a database of NCV officers required to man the foreshore sector vessels and their availability these islands and mainland. But even after a lapse of two years, the Directorate of Shipping Services has initiated no steps to implement the directions issued by the then Lt. Governor,” said Mr Thangachan in the letter.
The Directorate of Shipping Services, in February this year, invited applications for preparing a database of NCV officers of these islands. But the engagement of supporting staff like Clerks for the New Officer Cell is still pending in the Personnel Wing of the Secretariat as a result of which the proposed Separate Officer Cell is still non-operational within the DSS, he said.
With just three months left for the contract between the private manning agency, ABS Marine and the Directorate of Shipping Services to expire, it is evident that the delay being caused in setting up the In-house Manning Cell is chiefly aimed at benefiting the private agency. It’s almost certain that in the last few days of the contract, the Directorate of Shipping Services will extend the contract with the private agency on the ground of essential public services, said Mr Thangachan speaking to Andaman Sheekha urging the Chief Secretary to direct the Director of Shipping Services to implement the directions of the former Lt. Governor with a specific time frame.
