Maritime body MUI on Monday said it has sought spending of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds by 12 major ports of India on strengthening the country’s maritime training infrastructure.
India has 12 major ports under the control of the central government — Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).
“India”s oldest union of merchant navy officers, the Maritime Union of India (MUI) has sought CSR support from 12 major ports of India to strengthen the country”s maritime training infrastructure,” the MUI said in a statement. The Lok Sabha last month passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020, that seeks to provide greater autonomy in decision-making to 12 major ports in the country and professionalise their governance by setting up boards.
The MUI said since the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 explicitly mentions that CSR benefits could be provided to the employees of port’s board, customers, business partners, local communities, environment and the society at large, thus, the major ports of India should also offer CSR support to skilling initiatives aimed at increasing the global share of Indian seafarers, it said.
The MUI also demanded that every port should invite the suitable representation from Indian seafaring community in the proposed composition of the Port Board which will replace the existing Port Trust.
The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 mandates the inclusion of two to four independent members in the creation of each port’s board. Shipping is one such industry wherein women constitute a very miniscule part of the shipboard workforce, the MUI said. It is for that very reason that the global bodies like International Maritime Organization and International Transport Workers’ Federation have laid such high emphasis on the inclusion of more women in the industry, it said.
“I propose that all major ports of India should primarily focus on providing their CSR fund support to Indian women keen on becoming world class merchant navy officers,” said Amar Singh Thakur, MUI General Secretary.
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