19 May 2022  |   06:29am IST

RND facing shortage of sailors for past 7 years

Team Herald

PANJIM: If not just the breakdown of the old ferry boats, the River and Navigation Department (RND) is also grappling with shortage of sailors. With the present small batch of sailors holding the fort, the department hasn’t been able to replace retired sailors in past seven years. 

RND Minister Subhash Faldessai on Wednesday said that over 100 staff including sailors retired during this period, however, response on the recruitment of new sailors has been disappointing. 

“We require skilled labour for which a recruited candidate has to then undergo training. We had advertised the posts of sailors seeking applications from superannuated sailors. Out of the 25 vacancies, only half a dozen showed interest. But they too quit thereafter. This is the state of affairs but we assure the people to improve our services,” the minister said. 

The department is currently trouble shooting problems arising out of frequent breakdowns of ferry boat to and fro Diwar island. Tuesday evening saw a huge crowd at the ferry wharf waiting to be transported to their village but the boat had a breakdown midway. Faldessai said he has sought a report regarding the incident. 


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar