Youth from the northeastern states of India can expect to be trained and equipped with maritime skills in the near future. The Centre aims to create 50,000 jobs in the maritime sector in a decade’s time.
According to the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union government intends to generate 5,000 jobs a year for the youth of India’s Northeast in collaboration with the Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati, and the upcoming Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh.
The objective is to impart world-class maritime skills training so that 5,000 youth of the region become meaningfully employed in the sector every year.
In the past one decade India’s maritime sector has witnessed substantial growth in terms of cargo-handling, capacity and coastal shipping, the Minister reportedly revealed at a recent event in Guwahati. While the key ports of the country have almost doubled their capacity, cruise tourism has also grown in popularity thanks to the new terminals. With hundreds of lighthouses being upgraded and beautified, there has reportedly been a massive increase in tourists (400 per cent) in a span of ten years, which has created opportunities for livelihood in these areas.
The Central government has been working to grow India into a global maritime hub and ensure inclusive development across the coasts as well as the regions along the rivers. With port capacity being improved and cargo handling volumes increasing by leaps and bounds, this sector has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. This growth, combined with the focus on green shipping, light house and cruise tourism, as well as skill development for the youth, looks very promising.
Plans are afoot to construct four tourist-friendly lighthouses on the Brahmaputra. Additionally, 85 community jetties are also on the cards on 20 national waterways in the Northeast to further ease movement of cargo and passengers, and also generate jobs in the process.
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Beyond the initial training phase, what specific long-term support or mentorship programs will be put in place to ensure sustainable career growth and retention for the 50,000 youth in the maritime sector?